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
“Rhinoceros” – Multiple performances, through Oct.18, Pavilion Theatre, University Park campus. Penn State Centre Stage presents "Rhinoceros," by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Sam Osheroff. What happens when everyone you know turns into a rhinoceros? In Ionesco’s razor-sharp absurdist comedy, a sleepy town is suddenly overrun by a stampede of conformity. As neighbors, co-workers and friends transform into horned beasts, one person must decide whether to follow the herd or stand alone.
Bach's Lunch – 12:10-12:45 p.m., Oct. 16, Eisenhower Chapel, University Park campus. "Bach's Lunch" is a weekly concert series during the school year. These popular concerts are brief in order to make it possible for the University community to attend during the lunch hour. Free.
Guest Artist Recital: Jim Self, tuba – 7:30-9 p.m., Oct. 16, School of Music Recital Hall, University Park campus. Renowned tuba virtuoso and composer Jim Self will visit the Penn State School of Music for a four-day residency featuring performances, masterclasses and presentations. Included in the visit is a solo recital. Free.
Chamber Orchestra: Symphonic Wind Ensemble – 7:30-9 p.m., Oct. 17, School of Music Recital Hall, University Park campus. The Penn State School of Music kicks off Family Weekend with a joint performance by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform works by Leonard Bernstein, Frigyes Hidas, Arnold Schoenberg and Barry Bronnenkant. The Chamber Orchestra will join forces with the Penn State Opera Theatre to present "Nuit d’amour."
In Low Voice Festival – 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 18, Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park campus. The In Low Voice Festival features performances by the Glee Club, the Hi-Lo’s and the massed Festival Choir of grades 8–12 students who have rehearsed throughout the day with Penn State singers, to highlight the power and tradition of singing in low voice ensembles. Free.
Dimensions in Jazz – 1:30-3 p.m., Oct. 18, School of Music Recital Hall, University Park campus. Experience the excitement of Penn State jazz with Centre Dimensions, Inner Dimensions, and Vocal Dimensions. This Family Weekend favorite highlights more than forty student performers in an afternoon filled with big band energy and smooth vocal harmonies. The program features a variety of jazz styles, from swing to contemporary arrangements.
Choral Collage – 7:30-9:30 p.m., Oct. 18, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center Worship Hall, University Park campus. As a part of Parents and Families Weekend, Choral Collage presents all six faculty-led choral ensembles in an engaging program of varying musical styles and genres, from music of the Romantic period through to vocal jazz. After each choir presents two pieces, more than 220 singers will combine with audience members to sing the Alma Mater accompanied by organ. Free.
Campus Band and Symphonic Band – 2-4 p.m., Oct. 19, Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park campus. The Campus Band and Symphonic Band will showcase the talent of Penn State’s wind, brass, and percussion students under the direction of Professor Robert Hickey and graduate students Maria Flowers and Mary Capilitan-Pulanco.
“Crazy For You” – Multiple performances, Oct. 21-Nov. 1, Playhouse Theatre, University Park campus. Penn State Centre Stage presents “Crazy for You,” with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, book by Ken Ludwig, directed by Christine O’Grady, with music direction by Darren Cohen and choreography by Michele Dunleavy. Put on your dancing shoes and step back into the Roaring Twenties with the Tony Award-winning, toe-tapping romantic musical comedy.
Rhapsody Series: “No Strings Attached” – 4 p.m., Oct. 21, School of Music Recital Hall, University Park campus. The wind faculty and students present a vibrant program ranging from Mozart’s "Harmoniemusik" to jazz-inspired trios and octets. This grand finale to Penn State’s "Woodwind Day" promises a kaleidoscope of colors, styles, and traditions — celebrating the rich heritage of wind music.
Events
Café Laura Theme Dinner: The Blind Tiger — Feast Like It’s Forbidden – Oct. 16, 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.
Creative Studio at the Palmer: Collage Fodder – 5:30-7:30 p.m., Oct. 16, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Zen out with mark-making, painting, and printing to create a collection of decorated papers to use for later collage in your Sustainable Art Journal. Creative Studio sessions offer art-based creative activities designed to encourage relaxation, connection with others, and rejuvenation of spirit. Hosted by art educators, interns or guest artists, these sessions will focus on the practice of creativity, exploring artistic mediums and making personal connections rather than on final products.
Penn State Altoona Candy Crawl – 5:15 to 6:45 p.m., Oct. 16, Altoona campus. The Trunk-or-Treat-style event will feature 20 student organizations with members handing out candy to children from the community.
Community Fall Festival – 5:30-7:30 p.m., Oct. 16, Soccer fields, Scranton campus. Penn State Scranton is inviting the local community to celebrate the autumn season at its first-ever Community Fall Festival. The festival is free and open to the public and will offer a variety of fun, family-friendly activities for kids and adults of all ages.
Haunted Valley – 7;10 p.m., Oct. 17, Hintz Family Alumni Center and University House, University Park. Join the Lion Ambassadors for tours of University House, attached to the Hintz Family Alumni Center - the oldest standing structure on the University Park campus and home to 11 Penn State presidents. Lion Ambassadors will also lead lantern tours around campus, beginning at the Hintz Family Alumni Center. Free.
Fall 2025 Tap Class (Session 2) — 7-8 p.m., Oct. 17, Dance Studio, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. Open to adults of all experience levels.
2025 Pumpkin Fest – Oct. 17-18, the Arboretum, University Park campus. Celebrate the season with dazzling jack-o’-lantern displays, contests, crafts and activities for all ages, and live music. Seasonal bites will be available from local food trucks.
Penn State Behrend Parents, Families and Alumni Weekend – Oct. 17-19, Behrend campus. Penn State Behrend’s Parents, Families, and Alumni Weekend includes a carnival, a picnic lunch and tours of the historic Glenhill Farmhouse, a fall tradition at Behrend.
School of Music Family Weekend – Various events, Oct. 17-19, University Park campus. The School of Music will celebrate Family Weekend with three days of performances featuring student ensembles from across the school, performing diverse lineups showcasing choral, opera, orchestral, wind and jazz music.
Community Day: Journey to Nature's Underworld – Noon-4 p.m., Oct. 18, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Drop in to participate in gallery experiences, hands-on activities, and brief tours of the current special exhibition “Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld.”
Fall 2025 Ballet Classes (Session 2) — 10:30-1:30 a.m., Oct. 19, Dance Studio, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. Open to adults of all experience levels.
Drop-in Tour: PSU Family Weekend – 2 p.m., Oct. 19, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Drop in and discover the Palmer’s world-class collections and exhibitions with a friendly and knowledgeable museum guide.
2025 Hard Freight Café – 7 p.m., Oct. 21, Titelman Study, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. An open mic event invites attendees to read or perform their own work or music or share a favorite piece of poetry or prose. Free.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: Cowboy Cookout - Enjoy Life on the Range – Oct. 21, 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.
Palmer Art Kids: Art in Bloom – Noon-1 p.m., Oct. 22, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Preschool children and caregivers can discover fascinating works of art inspired by the natural world, listen to stories, and create crafts inspired by the museum’s collections. Through sensory rich experiences, young learners can deepen their connection to the world around them while expressing themselves through art. This program is designed for preschool children ages 3-5 who have not yet started kindergarten, accompanied by an adult caregiver. Free.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: Midnight in Manhattan - A Jazz Escape – Oct. 23, 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
Emily Dickinson Lecture in American Poetry: Ross Gay – 6 p.m., Oct. 16, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park campus. Ross Gay is the author of four books of poetry and three collections of essays, and has received several awards and accolades for his work. He will discuss his works for the the Emily Dickinson Lecture in American Poetry. Free.
“Are You a Librarian? Black Librarians and Freedom through Literacy” – 3-5 p.m., Oct. 20, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park campus. University Libraries will host a screening of “Are You a Librarian? Black Librarians and Freedom through Literacy” followed by a Q&A discussion with the film’s producer, Rodney Freeman. The film documents librarians who not only fought systemic racism and resource inequality but also took bold stands against censorship and erasure of Black history. Free.
John R. Bracken Lecture: "Mediating Landscapes" – 6-7 p.m., Oct. 20, Stuckeman Family Building Jury Space, University Park campus. Karen M’Closkey is co-founder of PEG office of landscape + architecture, and co-founder of the Environmental Modeling Lab (EMLab) in the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design. Her work focuses on the opportunities and limitations enabled by recent advancements in digital mapping and modeling and how they shape our understanding of landscapes and environments.
“Leadership Unscripted: The Power of Improvisation” – 7:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 20, Freeman Auditorium, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. Michele Dunleavy, professor of dance and 2024-25 Penn State Laureate, will speak about how improvisation has led her to work in dance and accessible theater. The presentation will include interactive elements, as well as a performance from Dunleavy and guest musician Eric Ian Farmer.
Anderson Lecture Series: Yaw Owusu – 11:30 a.m., Oct. 21, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park and via Zoom. Yaw Owusu, who lives and works in New York, will discuss his work as part of a lecture series. Owusu creates sculptural paintings and installations by transforming otherwise “worthless” materials into valuable objects and encounters. His work questions the foundations of contemporary economies and exploring the shifting nature of value across cultural and economic contexts. Free.
"AI's Role in the Hiring Process: The Breakdown of Applicant Tracking Systems" – Noon-1 p.m., Oct. 22, via Zoom. In today's fast-paced job market, companies are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to streamline their hiring processes. But how do these technologies work, and what do they mean for both employers and job seekers? This webinar will explore how ATS platforms use AI to efficiently filter resumes, assess candidate qualifications, and ensure a more data-driven, bias-reduced hiring process.
“Water Scarcity Management and Housing Markets: Evidence from Impact Fees in Colorado” – Noon, Oct. 22, 157 Holser Building, University Park campus. Benjamin Edelstein, an assistant professor of economics at Loyola University Chicago, will lead a seminar on the effects of water-scarcity management in part of the western United States. as part of the fall seminar series hosted by the Initiative for Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy (EEEPI). Edelstein will discuss his research about water impact fees (WIFs) paid by homebuilders to connect new units to a water system.
Gallery Talk: Journey to Nature's Underworld – 5:30 p.m., Oct. 23, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Enjoy an interdisciplinary gallery conversation with Raymond Najjar, professor of oceanography, and Joyce Robinson, interim director, about special exhibition “Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld.”
“Lawyers of Law: New Republic’s Unwritten Legal Terrain” – 5:30 p.m., Oct. 23, Robb Hall, Hintz Alumni Family Center, University Park campus. Laura F. Edwards, Class of 1921 Bicentennial Professor in the History of American Law and Liberty at Princeton University, will deliver the 2025 Steven and Janice Brose Distinguished Lecture Series. Edwards is a historian and prize-winning author who focuses on the legal history of the 19th-century United States with an emphasis on federalism, the history of legal institutions, and people’s interactions with the law.
In-person exhibits
"Our House is on Fire" – Oct. 21-Dec. 18, Henry Art Gallery, Great Valley campus. "Our House is on Fire" celebrates the power of art to inspire environmental action and advocate for a greener, healthier future. The five artists who contributed to this exhibit see a need to advocate for harnessing imagination, wealth and technology to make their communities and country greener and healthier places for everyone to live.
"Body, Landscape, Myth" – Oct. 23-Nov. 21, McLanahan Gallery, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. A body of work by Ivyside Juried Exhibition winner Lauren Woods featuring paintings and videos that explore the relationship between physical experience and metaphysical awareness.
"Altered Ecology" – Oct. 23-Nov. 21, Sheetz Gallery, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. A body of work by Ivyside Juried Exhibition winner Kari Varner examining the traces of industry and human impact on the landscape, as well as the ecological and economic value of altered environments.
“Parenthetic Passages” – Through Oct. 30, HUB Gallery, University Park campus. Camille Hoffman is a painter who critically reimagines the romantic American landscape through layered and immersive site-specific installation. In “Parenthetic Passages,” she creates an environment that emphasizes the wisdom of water and the concept of shell memory, reflecting on the evolving relationships and accumulated human experiences alongside oceanic knowledge.
"Signature" – Through Nov. 12, Freyberger Gallery, Berks campus. A new exhibition honors the works of art created by Penn State Berks students and faculty. “Signature" showcases the vision, talent and voices of students and the campus community. Works ranging from paintings and drawings to photographs, sculpture and mixed media pieces will be on display, representing the diversity that makes Penn State Berks such a lively and vibrant campus.
“Fused: Works in Encased Wax” – Through Nov. 20, Friedman Art Gallery, Wilkes-Barre campus. A new solo exhibition by artist Terri Yacovelli, titled "Fused: Works in Encaustic Wax," examines themes of nature and spirituality through encaustic paintings created with vivid color, dramatic texture and luminosity. This ancient technique combines heated resin, beeswax and pigment applied in layers onto any porous surface.
Anna Boothe: “Icons for Sagacity” – Through Nov. 30, Exhibition Cases, HUB-Robeson Gallery, University Park campus. Anna Boothe creates icons out of cast glass and found objects referring to the female form of facets of herself. Boothe initially hand-carves individual elements in wax or case directly from botanicals. After being transformed into glass, the parts are combined with other glass components. The technique results in translucent objects that glow from within.
“A Puncher’s Chance” – Through Dec. 5, Abington Art Gallery, Abington campus. In this exhibit, interdisciplinary artist James Maurelle explores the “puncher’s chance” — a term used when an underdog has the potential to win by landing a powerful blow. In an instant, the smallest opportunity shifts the scales, defying the insurmountable odds.
“A Study of Movement: The Fleet, Fierce and Feathered” – Through Dec. 5, Abington Art Gallery, Abington campus. Penn State Abington student Sophie Bell mimics stop-motion animation of animals in movement through a series of graphite animal drawings. The works aim to allow viewers to truly appreciate the individual characteristics and personalities of each creature depicted in the work.
“Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld” – Through Dec. 7, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. The first two-person survey exhibition of these renowned artists, “Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld” explores their shared allegiances and sustaining friendship over three decades. The exhibition will unite some 25 sculptures and paintings by both artists along with related works on paper and a major new collaborative piece, offering an absorbing journey into the depths of the threatened natural world.
“Structures, Systems, and Society: Work at the Interface of Art and Engineering” – Through Dec. 21, 2025, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. A diverse selection of objects from the Palmer’s collection appear alongside works by Penn State makers to investigate three intersections between art and engineering. Structures explores the physical forms and frameworks that support innovation, blending function and aesthetics in design. Systems examines the interconnected processes behind artistic and technological creation, highlighting shared methods like visualization and iteration. Society focuses on the cultural and ethical impact of engineering, showing how art fosters empathy, equity and responsible innovation.
“Public Spaces / Private Lives” – Through Dec. 21, 2025, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. “Public Spaces/Private Lives” presents a selection of works on paper that explore how we live, navigate and express ourselves in both private and public settings. Spanning from the mid-1800s to the early 2000s, the exhibition includes scenes of homes, neighborhoods, rooftops, sidewalks, city streets, parks, eateries, public institutions and transit systems mostly set in the United States, with a few works depicting Ireland and France.
“Sounding the Abstract” – Through Jan. 2, 2026, Woksob Family Gallery, downtown State College. "Sounding the Abstract" is a multimedia installation created by Woohun Joo, assistant professor of digital arts and design in the Penn State School of Visual Arts. The installation explores the relationship between visual and auditory perception by creating ambient soundscapes that correspond to geometric artworks through a real-time "reading" of the images.
“Dispositions” – Through Jan. 2, 2026, Woksob Family Gallery, downtown State College. “Dispositions” is an exhibition of art installations by Yasmine Abbas that explores the experience of existing between cultures and places, with a focus on "neo-nomads" and their strategies for navigating life between cultures and unfamiliar territories. Abbas is an assistant teaching professor of architecture in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School.
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.