What's happening at Penn State? Here's a look at some of the cultural events — both in-person and virtual — open to the University and local community:
Performances
‘The Oregon Trail’ by Bekah Brunstetter – 7:30 p.m., Through March 27, Wolf Kuhn Theatre, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. Brunstetter’s play invites us to reflect on our own struggles with depression and unfulfilled dreams while nurturing the hopeful desire for a fresh start.
"Head Over Heels" – Multiple performances, Through March 28, Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre, Harrisburg campus. Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Humanities will present its spring musical, "Head Over Heels," featuring the music of the Go-Go’s, including songs such as “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “Vacation,” as well as Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.” The story follows a royal family on a journey to save their kingdom, discovering along the way that the key to its survival lies within themselves.
Peppa Pig: My First Concert – Multiple performances, March 27, Pullo Center, York campus. Peppa Pig, along with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and George star in a fun, interactive introduction to a live orchestra for ages 2 and older. Learn all about the different sounds that instruments make together and enjoy music from the show played by The Muddy Puddles Orchestra, as well as other exciting orchestral pieces perfect for children.
Pre-Powwow Celebration – 4 p.m., March 27, Bellisario Media Center, University Park campus. A special, hour-long preview of the upcoming Penn State Powwow will feature Native American storyteller Patrick Littlewolf Brooks, an artist, musician and storyteller who is a member of the Tuscarora Nation. The event is an opportunity for members of the Penn State community to come and learn and ask questions about the importance of powwows for Native American communities. Free.
Winter Jam 2026 – 6 p.m., March 28, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park campus. Winter Jam 2026 will bring Christian music to the Bryce Jordan Center, featuring Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, Katy Nichole, Hulvey, Disciple, Emerson Day, Newsong, and speaker Zane Black, with a pre-jam party featuring Jeremy Rosado, Heath Brothers, and Cliff Preston.
Rhapsody Series: “Dialogue of Self and Soul” – 4 p.m., March 29, School of Music Recital Hall, University Park campus. The Rhapsody Series concludes with "Dialogue of Self and Soul," presented by oboist Andreas Oeste and collaborators. Featuring music by Brett William Dietz, Reena Esmail and André Jolivet, the program explores spirituality through sound, from protective charms to sacred chant, reflecting on the shared human search for meaning across cultures and traditions.
Decoda – 7:30 p.m., March 31, Recital Hall, School of Music, University Park campus. Chamber music collective Decoda, the affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall, offers artfully scripted performances, leading inventive community projects, and training the next generation of artists to rethink and reimagine their role in society. The program, Reverberations, explores the profound relationship between inspiration and imagination, revealing an interconnected web of musical influence.
The Paradox – 7:30 p.m., April 1, Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park campus. Up-and-coming Atlanta-based band The Paradox – Dangerfield on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Donald Bryant on bass, Christopher “Xelan” Bernard on lead guitar and background vocals, and Percy “PC3” Crews on drums – will visit Penn State to perform their viral songs and fan favorites.
Penn State Trombone Choir – 7:30 p.m., April 2, School of Music Recital Hall, University Park campus. The Penn State Trombone Choir will perform a spring concert, featuring guest soloist, Myles Blakemore, assistant professor of trombone at the University of Maryland. This concert will also feature two new student compositions.
Events
National Women's History Month – Through March, multiple campuses. Penn State student organizations and units at campuses across the commonwealth are offering events during National Women’s History Month, held during the month of March each year.
Happy Valley Animation Festival – Various events, March 26-28, University Park campus. The Happy Valley Animation Festival is an international competition that showcases compelling animated works by student, early career and practicing professional artists, designers and filmmakers. The festival will feature works ranging from animated short films and experimental animation to animated motion graphics and design and push the innate ability of animation to communicate across cultures. Free.
Bird Walk – 8-9:30 a.m., March 26, the Arboretum, University Park campus. Drop in to the Arboretum for a guided bird-watching walk, led by avian expert Joe Gyekis. Please dress for the weather, wear shoes suitable for walking on rustic trails, and bring binoculars if you have them.
"Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future" – Noon, March 26, Fireside Lounge, Slep Student Center, Altoona campus. In this panel discussion for Women's History Month, women leaders from the region will share how they are driving environmental, social and economic sustainability in their communities. Free.
“Standing Above the Clouds” – 6 p.m., March 26, Freeman Auditorium, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park. The Indigenous Peoples Faculty/Staff/Student Alliances will host a delegation of activists from Hawai’i who stand in protest of the development of Mauna Loa. A documentary about their activism will be screened March 26.
Art After Hours: College Couture – 5-8 p.m., March 26, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Show off your fit and celebrate fashion during this edition of Art After Hours. Hear from experts about special exhibition “Who Wears the Pants?! Fashion History One Leg at a Time” and take a front-row seat for an in-gallery fashion show. Discover your own aesthetic through a fun art-making activity, explore artistic style with an interactive scavenger hunt, and enjoy light refreshments.
Wet Weather Biking 101 – 6:15-7:15 p.m., March 26, Bike Den, University Park campus. Workshop instructors will share tips to keep cyclists safe and bikes in working order during seasonal rain. As this is an indoor, classroom-style workshop, a bicycle will not be required for participation.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: March Madness – March 26, Café Laura, Mateer Building, University Park campus. Students in HM 430 Advanced Food Production and Service Management prepare a series of themed dinners throughout the semester to be served in the student-run Café Laura restaurant. Reservations required.
Planetarium show – 7 p.m., March 26, Allied Health Building White Box (Room 115), Mont Alto campus. Participants can explore the night sky, fly around solar system objects, and immerse themselves as they enter one of many astronomy-themed full-dome videos. Hosted by Penn State Mont Alto associate professor of physics and astronomy Kim Herrmann, evening planetarium shows will be offered to the public.
Graduate Exhibition – March 27, Multiple locations, University Park campus. The annual community showcase, hosted by the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, provides graduate students with the opportunity to share their research and creative scholarship to a broad audience, receive constructive feedback, and compete for cash prizes. Students may present research posters, video presentations, musical performances, visual art exhibitions, and design projects before members of the Penn State graduate community and the public.
Holi Celebration – 4:30-7:30 p.m., March 27, Perkins Lawn, Berks campus. The Penn State Berks International Klub will host a Holi event to celebrate love, the arrival of spring and the spirit of inclusiveness and community. The Penn State Berks celebration will include colorful fun activities for all ages, food, music and color powder-throwing.
20th Annual Penn State Traditional American Indian Powwow – March 28-29, C3 Sports Complex, 200 Ellis Place, State College. The annual Traditional American Indian Powwow event brings together Native dancers, singers, artisans and vendors from across the United States and Canada. Free.
Family Gardening Club – 1:30-3:30 p.m., March 29, the Arboretum, University Park campus. This monthly program series will take place on Sunday afternoons from January to June. Participants will receive all the supplies necessary to grow six seasonally appropriate plant varieties from seed to harvest, including seeds, soil, and full-size containers suitable for small outdoor spaces. Registration required.
Nature Sketching – 10-11:30 a.m., March 31, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. This art class for adults explores a variety of art materials and techniques as we connect art and nature. All experience levels are welcome, from beginner to professional. Free.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: Art Gallery Archives – March 31, Café Laura, Mateer Building, University Park campus. Students in HM 430 Advanced Food Production and Service Management prepare a series of themed dinners throughout the semester to be served in the student-run Café Laura restaurant. Reservations required.
Yoga and Mindfulness at the Palmer – Noon, April 1, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness.
Wheel Building Clinic – 6:15-8:15 p.m., April 1, the Bike Den, University Park campus. Participants in this clinic will assemble a bicycle wheel from scratch. Spokes, hubs and rims will be provided, or participants can bring their own.
Bird Walk – 8-9:30 a.m., April 2, the Arboretum, University Park campus. Drop in to the Arboretum for a guided bird-watching walk, led by avian expert Joe Gyekis. Please dress for the weather, wear shoes suitable for walking on rustic trails, and bring binoculars if you have them.
Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Women Listening Session – 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 2, Wolf Kuhn Theatre, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. The Commission invites all women to attend and share their lived experiences. These conversations will directly inform the State of the Woman Report — the first comprehensive report on the status of women in Pennsylvania in more than two decades. Moderated by Penn State Altoona professor Beth Seymour.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: Global Goals - A Taste of the World Cup – April 2, Café Laura, Mateer Building, University Park campus. Students in HM 430 Advanced Food Production and Service Management prepare a series of themed dinners throughout the semester to be served in the student-run Café Laura restaurant. Reservations required.
Lectures
“Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future” – Noon, March 26, Fireside Lounge, Slep Student Center, Altoona campus. Penn State Altoona will hold a panel discussion for Women’s History Month. Women leaders from the region will share how they are driving environmental, social and economic sustainability in their communities.
Gallery Talk + Conversation: Who Wears the Pants?! – 6 p.m., March 26, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Enjoy an interdisciplinary gallery conversation about special exhibition “Who Wears the Pants?! Fashion History One Leg at a Time” with Charlene Gross, Associate Professor of Costume Design and Director of the Fashion Archive.
“Bridewealth Payments in Ghana: Marriage Prestations and Women’s Marital Autonomy” – 2:30-4 p.m., March 27, Rooms 121 G and H, 100 Innovation Boulevard, University Park and via Zoom. Francis Dodoo is an academy professor and distinguished professor emeritus of sociology, demography and African studies. Dodoo will provide conceptual background on bridewealth payments in sub-Saharan Africa and argue that such marriage-related payments undercut women’s sexual and reproductive autonomy within marriage.
“Indigenous Women and Violence: Thinking Beyond Settler Capitalism” – Noon, March 27, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park campus. Shannon Speed, Paula Gunn Allen Chair and professor of American Indian studies, gender studies and anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), will deliver the annual E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Endowed Lecture. Speed will discuss how combining a human rights framework with strengthened tribal sovereignty may help combat that violence and hold settler states accountable.
“Cultural Deliteracy: The Project of Offloading the Humanities” – 3 p.m., March 27, Hintz Family Alumni Center, University Park campus. Matthew Seybold, associate professor of American literature and Mark Twain studies at Elmira College, will examine why humanities education has been continuously defunded and decentered in U.S. higher education while also being propagandistically treated as having sirenic control of student political actions.
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition – 3 p.m., March 28, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park campus. Ten finalists representing nine disciplines across seven academic colleges will participate in the annual academic research competition intended to help graduate students effectively communicate their research or scholarship in three minutes or less to a general, non-specialist audience.
"Moveable Books and Unblackboxing" – 4-5 p.m., March 27, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park campus and via Zoom. Graphic designer and paper engineer Kelli Anderson will reveal aspects of the essential infrastructure of moveable books, highlighting the painstaking work of animating paper with the turn of a page.
Poetry reading: James Daniels – 12:05 p.m., March 31, Fireside Lounge, Slep Student Center, Altoona campus. A reading by James Daniels, author of more than 30 collections of poetry, seven collections of fiction, four produced screenplays and a collection of essays. Free.
Amy Fowkes – Noon-1:15 p.m., March 31, Eiche Library, University Park campus. Guest speaker and Penn State Altoona alumna Amy Fowkes was the first woman recruited into the national women’s Army ROTC program, which was brand-new at the time. Fowkes will speak about her trials and tribulations during her more than 25-year career in the military.
Jose Hernandez – 6 p.m., March 31, Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre, Harrisburg campus. Former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez will give a talk on his experiences and life, from growing up a child migrant worker to achieving his dream of becoming an astronaut and traveling to space. Hernandez’s presentation will be followed by an audience question-and-answer session and a meet and greet. Free.
Osaze Osagie Memorial Lecture: Chamique Holdsclaw – 6:30 p.m., March 31, Hintz Family Alumni Center, University Park campus. Olympic medalist, WNBA hall of famer and mental health advocate Chamique Holdsclaw will share her experience as a lauded professional athlete learning to live with depression and mental illness, in the hopes of inspiring or helping others. Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean of the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, will moderate the conversation.
Gallery Talk + Conversation: Insistent Presence – 11 a.m., April 1, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Enjoy an in-depth gallery conversation with Amanda Hellman, Palmer director and specialist in African art, about new special exhibition Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection.
Africana Research Center 25th Anniversary Symposium – 4-6 p.m., April 1, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park. The Penn State College of the Liberal Arts’ Africana Research Center (ARC), a committed home for scholarship devoted to Africa and its diaspora and conversations designed to advance the research, teaching and outreach missions of the University, will feature center alumni, postdoctoral fellows and other special guests who will recognize the history of student activism that led to its creation. Free.
Artist Lecture: Sharif Bey – 6 p.m., April 2, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Sharif Bey is a Syracuse-based artist and educator. His ceramic and mixed-media work explores the visual traditions of African and Oceanic art and African American culture. Inspired by modernism and functional pottery, Bey’s works investigate symbolic and formal properties of archetypal motifs, while questioning how the meaning of icons and function transform across cultures and time.
In-person exhibits
‘Teathers and Ties’ – April 2 through 10, Sheetz Gallery, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. An exhibit of work by visual art studies student Sophie Replogle. Replogle explores how the experiences that shape who we become and the paths we take are endlessly linked to our past, present and future lives.
‘Creating: Whispering Pines’ — April 2 through 10, McLanahan Gallery, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. An exhibit of work by visual art studies student Taylor Wheeler. Wheeler creates a conceptual world made for highlighting the importance of creative labor, concept art and visual development, which takes place behind many beloved shows, movies, graphic novels and other media.
"Rough It Out" – Through March 28, Patterson Gallery, University Park campus. Through "Rough It Out," Katie Talis explores the profound parallels between the cycles of life and the transformative journey of clay. From raw earth to refined ceramic, clay reflects how hardship can transform people into stronger, more compassionate individuals.
Student art exhibit – Through May 1, Friedman Art Gallery, Wilkes-Barre campus. Artwork created by students enrolled in the "Renaissance through Modern Times," "Perceiving the Arts," "Rhetoric and Composition" and "Crime and Detection in World Literature" courses will have their artwork on display.
“Squeeze Me In” – Through May 2, Woksob Family Gallery, downtown State College. This exhibition features artworks created by Beatrice Opokua Atencah, John M. Anderson assistant teaching professor of art in the College of Arts and Architecture’s School of Visual Arts. The exhibition explores how identity is rediscovered and transformed through clothing by combining craft processes — dyeing, sewing and beading — with spatial considerations and the complex history of corsetry as frameworks for examining acceptance and belonging.
"Like It Is" – Through May 9, Ronald K. DeLong Gallery, Lehigh Valley campus. This exhibit features the work of abstract artist Femi J. Johnson. Johnson was born in Manhattan, New York, and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania. His early talent in graphite and charcoal led to a professional career as a master draftsman and designer for companies in Pennsylvania and New York before he returned his focus to fine art.
"Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection" – Through May 10, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. The exhibition presents 40 works of sculpture, painting, ceramics, printmaking and photography by 22 living artists who have lived and worked on the African continent or in the diaspora.
"Playing Favorites: Highlights from the Special Collections Library" – Through May 13, 104 Paterno Library, University Park campus. For this endeavor, those who teach, catalog, research, acquire, curate and describe rare book and archival materials were invited to choose one or two items to share with a wider audience — in hopes that visitors will be enraptured with the eclectic results.
"Refugee" – Through June 5, Woskob Family Gallery, 146 S. Allen St., Downtown State College. An exhibition of large-scale paintings created by School of Visual Arts alumnus Michael Fratangelo.
“Sweet Solidarity: Portraits of Learning and Liberation” – Through June 8, Exhibition Cases, HUB-Robeson Galleries, University Park campus. Jasmine Cho’s work intertwines activism, artistry, and culinary creativity to explore the intricate relationship between food, cultural identity, and community care. Through the unique medium of pastry art, she invites visitors to reflect on how our shared experiences and culinary traditions can nourish not just the body, but also the spirit of solidarity among diverse communities.
“Expanding the Collection: Recent Acquisitions” – Through June 14, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Reflecting the nearly encyclopedic nature of the Palmer’s permanent collection, new acquisitions represent a wide range of cultures, time periods, and artistic approaches. In this exhibition, a wide range of artistic pieces cover the continued relevance of art throughout history and into today. The exhibit also offers insight into how works of art enter the museum’s holdings. All collecting is guided by the museum’s Collections Plan, which defines the scope of the collection, identifies areas for growth, and establishes priorities to ensure that each acquisition contributes meaningfully to the museum’s mission and long-term vision.
“Puss an dawg nuh have di same luck” – Through July 19, Art Alley, HUB-Robeson Galleries, University Park campus. Krystle Lemonias’s multifaceted art practice explores the intersections of labor, identity, and social justice, providing a powerful commentary on the experiences of Black immigrants and the complexities of working-class life. Her work not only highlights the often-overlooked contributions of these individuals to society but also challenges the stereotypes associated with their roles in the workforce.
“Through Different Eyes: Industrial Worlds by Women Artists” – Through December, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery, University Park campus. This exhibit explores the lives of women artists in 20th-century industrial Pennsylvania through their artwork and premiers the curatorial work of undergraduate students Alexis Woodring, a public relations major, and Gabriella Heidorn, an art history major with a minor in French and Francophone studies, who both have special interests in American art.
“Hybrid Zones” – Through March 8, 2027, HUB Gallery, University Park campus. “Hybrid Zones” is an immersive exploration of the post-industrial landscape of Eastern Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal region. Through drawing, photography, and video installation, the artists trace the environmental and psychological imprint of centuries of resource extraction. In this powerful new body of work, Rachel Bacon and Meredith Davenport confront the entanglement of human and nonhuman systems, reflecting on how deeply industrial history is inscribed into the land—and into us.
"The Way I Saw It: A Photography Retrospective" – Through Aug. 1, 2027, Penn State All-Sports Museum, University Park campus. “The Way I Saw It” celebrates the work of Penn State alumnus Pat Little, who started out with the Daily Collegian and spent over three decades as a photojournalist with the Centre Daily Times, Associated Press and Reuters. Starting from a million photo negatives then narrowed down to a set of 5,000 photographs, the exhibit presents a final curated collection of 100 unique and powerful images of Penn State athletes, coaches, venues and fans, shot by Little between 1977 and 2005.
Virtual exhibits and online resources
In addition to in-person events, a number of virtual exhibits and online resources are available through University departments. The Palmer Museum of Art and Penn State University Libraries offer a rotating selection of historical and artistic collections to view via their websites, as well as other online resources.