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
Bach's Lunch – 12:10-12:45 p.m., Oct. 2, 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.
Parker McCollum – 7:30 p.m., Oct. 2, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park campus. Country music star Parker McCollum, whose highly anticipated Jan. 25 performance was unfortunately cut short due to illness, promises that this rescheduled show will be an entirely new experience, featuring new production, new support acts and new songs.
ROARS Fest – 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Oct. 3-4, Esber Rehearsal Hall, School of Music, University Park campus. ROARS Fest is the once-a-semester concert organized and run by the School of Music's music technology studio. Drop by for a concert featuring music tech students performing in a wide variety of genres including folk, rock, indie and electronic. Free.
Philharmonic Orchestra – 4-5:30 p.m., Oct. 5, Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park campus. Join the Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra for an evening of sweeping Romanticism and virtuosic brilliance. The concert includes works by Carl Maria von Weber, Edward MacDowell and Johannes Brahms for a night of towering symphonic performances.
Guest Artist Recital: Aaron White – 7:30 p.m., Oct. 6, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, State College. The Penn State School of Music welcomes Aaron White, bassist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and faculty member at Duquesne University, along with collaborative pianist Ann Deighton, for a recital titled "Old, Borrowed, and New." Free.
“Rhinoceros” – Multiple performances, Oct. 6-18, 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.
Momix: “Alice” – 7:30 p.m., Oct. 8, Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park campus. Blending illusion, acrobatics, magic and whimsy, Momix sends audiences tumbling down the rabbit hole in Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, "Alice," distantly inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice in Wonderland.”
Kurbasy: “Songs of the Ukranian Forest” – 7:30 p.m., Oct. 9, Recital Hall, School of Music, University Park campus. Musical collective Kurbasy presents an audio-visual theatrical exploration of a country’s proud peoples and their history through song. Drawing from a rich trove of lullabies and legends, the artists conjure their views of the natural world, beliefs and rituals, to trace contemporary connections to a rich cultural past through vocal harmonies and instrumentation.
Events
National Hispanic Heritage Month – Through October, various campuses. Penn State units at campuses across the commonwealth will hold events in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated as a time to honor and celebrate the historic background, culture, heritage and many influences of the Hispanic and Latino communities throughout the years.
Staged Reading: "Human Resources" – 7:30 p.m., Oct. 2, Wolf Kuhn Theatre, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. “Human Resources” is a collection of documentary poetry by Erin Murphy, professor of English at Penn State Altoona. The staged reading will feature performances of selections from the book.
2025 Berks Family and Homecoming Event – Oct. 4, Berks campus. Penn State Berks students and their family members, alumni, faculty and staff are invited to the college’s 2025 Family and Homecoming event, with the theme "Celebrating Penn State Pride." The day will include activities for the entire family, as well as events targeted to students and families and to alumni.
“United We Walk: Families Helping Families” – 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Oct. 4, Harrisburg campus. Penn State Harrisburg and the United Way of the Capital Region are teaming up to offer a 1-mile walk, which will benefit the United Way's Ready for School, Ready to Succeed initiative. The event also includes a family fun fest, where community agencies and organizations, businesses, and student clubs will provide information and resources as well to families, particularly those with younger children.
“O Brother, Where Art Thou?” – 7:30 p.m., Oct. 4, Pullo Center, York campus. “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by the Coen brothers, loosely based on Homer’s “The Odyssey.” The story follows three convicts from a Mississippi chain gang as they escape and embark on a journey to find buried treasure. This year marks the film’s 25th anniversary.
Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences Annual Symposium – 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Oct. 6, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. The ICDS annual symposium brings University students, faculty and researchers together with industry professionals to explore the transformative power of data science and high-performance computing. This year’s event is focused on fostering multi- and interdisciplinary research collaborations with a computational edge.
Allen Street Jam – 3-7 p.m., Oct. 6, downtown State College. The Allen Street Jam returns to University Park for Homecoming this year. Snap a photo with the Nittany Lion, meet the Homecoming Court, and enjoy free games, face painting, caricatures, and so much more.
Film Screening: "Da 5 Bloods" – 8 p.m., Oct. 6, Carnegie Cinema, Carnegie Building, University Park campus. As a precursor to a campus visit from actor Delroy Lindo, there will be a screening of Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods," facilitated by Matthew Jordan, head of the Department of Film Production and Media Studies in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.
Anderson Lecture Series: Edgar Orlaineta – 11:30 a.m., Oct. 7, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park and via Zoom. Edgar Orlaineta, who lives and works in Mexico City, Mexico, focuses on hybrid sculptural forms that draw inspiration from modernism, popular culture and specific historic moments. In his original works, the artist questions the symbolic and economic value of industrial design objects by either incorporating craft elements or combining them into assemblages with everyday objects that lack any historical relevance.
Penn State: Past to Present – 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 7, Old Main, University Park. Celebrate Penn State Homecoming with a throwback experience, featuring a sign shop, snacks, performances and games throughout the day. Various student clubs will also be showcasing their history, highlighting how every Penn Stater contributes to the University's story.
Banned Books Week Read-in – Noon-4 p.m., Oct. 7, Leisure Reading Room, Pattee Library, University Park campus. To take action against book bans, Penn State University Libraries is collaborating with Libro.fm and Silent Book Club to host a read-in. The event offers students and community members the opportunity to celebrate their freedom to read. Free.
Penn State For The Glory Talent Show – 7 p.m., Oct. 7, Schwab Auditorium, University Park campus. The For the Glory Talent Show is an annual Homecoming event where students from various majors showcase their talents, including singing, dancing, comedy, music, and poetry. Participants compete for prizes, with the grand prize winner earning a stage performance during THON Weekend.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: Where Great Power Meets Great Flavor – Oct. 7, 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.
Best of Penn State Carnival – 1-5 p.m., Oct. 8, HUB lawn, University Park campus. Visitors to the Best of Penn State Carnival can explore the booths hosted by student organizations and clubs, take a turn on one of the inflatable attractions, and sit for a caricature drawing with friends. Take part in a Homecoming celebration and enjoy snacks and entertainment.
Acting Workshop: Delroy Lindo – 4:30-6 p.m., Oct. 8, Penn State Downtown Theatre, downtown State College. As part of a multi-day campus visit, actor Delroy Lindo will lead a workshop with School of Theatre acting students, facilitated by Wendell Franklin and Steve Snyder, associate professors in the School of Theatre. The public is invited to observe the workshop.
Penn State Homecoming Opulence Drag Show – 7 p.m., Oct. 8, Basement NightClub, downtown State College. Penn State Homecoming will partner with Opulence to put on a drag show celebrating Penn State as part of a week of events.
Pride in Our Community Pep Rally – Oct. 9, HUB Stairs, University Park campus. The Homecoming Pride in Our Community Pep Rally put on by the Paul Robeson Cultural Center takes place every year on the Monumental Staircase. The POC Pep Rally brings the community together with dancing, stepping, and cheers.
Café Laura Theme Dinner: Heart of Ohana - A Taste of Polynesia – Oct. 9, 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
"Some Tips on Entry to Quantum Computing and Performing Impactful Research" – 12:05 p.m.-1:15 p.m., Oct. 2, E202 Westgate Building, University Park campus. Swaroop Ghosh, professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering, will present as part of IST Research Talks. Ghosh will share the story of his own lab shifting their research from hardware circuit design and security to quantum computing and making meaningful contributions as reflected by external funding and recognitions.
“Pliny the Elder’s Ethics and Aesthetics of Loss" – 6:15 p.m., Oct. 2, Room 112 Borland, University Park campus. Verity Platt, professor of classics and history of art at Cornell University, will deliver a lecture, exploring the archeological value of Pliny the Elder's natural history and its relationship to loss. Platt will address the ethics of the text and how they coincide with sensitivity to the forgotten, invisible or abandoned. This lecture will touch upon the ecological value of natural history as it relates to current issues, such as the environmental crisis.
"The Work Continues: Framing Sustainability in a Shifting Economic and Political Landscape" – Noon-1 p.m., Oct. 6, via Zoom. Climate urgency hasn’t changed, but economic and political realities have. Markets are slower to adapt than expected, and how people talk about sustainability matters more than ever. This session explores how leaders are rethinking narratives, strategies and partnerships to keep progress moving in a shifting world.
“From Ore to Metal: Designing efficient extraction pathways with mineralogical and geochemical precision" – 4 p.m., Oct. 6, 112 Walker Building, University Park campus and via Zoom. Thandie Moyo, assistant professor of energy and mineral engineering, will discuss the evolution of metal recovery across a variety of resources, including low-grade mineral deposits and recycled metals from batteries and electronic waste.
Sustainability Showcase Keynote: British Explorer and Wilderness Advocate Mark Evans – 4-5 p.m., Oct. 6, 118 Katz Building, University Park campus and via Zoom. Mark Evans is a British explorer, field guide, author and wilderness advocate whose work has taken him to the Arctic and the desert but has recently focused on Oman and the Arabian Peninsula. From camel trekking across the desert to kayaking the Omani coast, Evans’ work has focused on building cultural bridges and advocating for the oceans, ecosystems, and planet.
"PA Food Policy Council: A Recipe for Collaboration" – Noon-1 p.m., Oct. 7, via Zoom. Join the PA Food Policy Council’s director along with its workgroup representatives to learn how state agencies and community leaders are working together to improve food security across the commonwealth. This webinar will highlight the council’s goals, impact and how to get involved in building a stronger, more equitable food system in Pennsylvania.
Delroy Lindo – 4:30 p.m., Oct. 7, Penn State Downtown Theatre, downtown State College. Actor and producer Delroy Lindo, known for his many collaborations with Spike Lee, including “Da 5 Bloods,” “Crooklyn,” “Clockers” and “Malcolm X,” will participate in a public interview with B. Stephen Carpenter II, Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Dean in the College of Arts and Architecture. Wanda Knight, head of the Department of African American Studies, will moderate a Q&A session following the interview.
Stuckeman School Roundtable – Noon-1 p.m., Oct. 8, Stuckeman Family Building Jury Space, University Park campus. A public roundtable discussion panel will explore the concepts of designing across generations and designing for an aging society. The Stuckeman School Roundtable series serves as an informal platform for those within the University community to examine pressing issues and emerging design research areas as an opportunity for future collaborative research.
“Bringing the Local Farm to the Table: Can Farmers’ Markets Reduce Food Utilization Disparity?” – Noon, Oct. 8, 157 Holser Building, University Park campus. Xibo Wan, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Connecticut, will lead a seminar on visitor patterns at farmers’ markets and prospects for improving access to healthy food. Wan will discuss a study of cellphone and neighborhood socioeconomic data that tracked market visits by residents of food deserts and residents in other areas. The research illustrates discrepancies in visits and includes policy suggestions for improvement.
"PREPARE PA Launch: Building Climate Resilience Together!" – Noon-1 p.m., Oct. 8, via Zoom. Join the launch of PREPARE PA, a new statewide initiative created through a partnership between Penn State and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PREPARE PA welcomes community members into a collaborative space dedicated to advancing climate education, strengthening climate literacy and resilience, supporting community readiness, achieving climate goals and developing innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.
Echoes of Tradition: Musical Dialogue at 3 Dots – 5:30 p.m., Oct. 8, 3 Dots, downtown State College. Join members of Kurbasy, emeritus professor and music expert Jerry Zolten, and professor of Ukrainian language Michael Naydan for a musical discussion about the universality of folk music in cultural contexts. The members of Kurbasy will provide musical illustrations of the wide-ranging topics discussed.
"The Circular Economy: University of Pittsburgh’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation" – Noon-1 p.m., Oct. 9, via Zoom. Curious to learn about circular economy? In this session, the Mascaro Center will discuss its work leading circular efforts and then transition to highlight the Circularity Assessment Protocol — a tool that is being used by cities and communities to develop, measure and implement circular economy strategies
Gallery Talk: Private Lives/Public Spaces – 4:30 p.m., Oct. 9, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Enjoy a gallery conversation with exhibition co-curators and summer 2025 graduate interns Alicia Skeath and Keisha Oliver.
In-person exhibits
"ART BUILDS!" – Oct. 2-10, Patterson Building, University Park campus. "ART BUILDS!" is a group exhibition focused on the power of art making to create new possibilities. Building, constructing and imagining are all important aspects of the human experience, and making art provides a unique and necessary mode of invention. Contributors to the exhibition have explored threats to freedom and democracy through an exploration of antifascist art education.
"Signature" – Oct. 2-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.
Rooted in Resilience: Artistic Perspectives on Alopecia in Women – Through Oct. 6, Henry Gallery, Great Valley campus. This exhibit aims to bring to light the emotional and psychological impact of hair loss, showcasing powerful visual narratives from women artists. This exhibit is curated by VERSIDA, a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to women with alopecia.
“A Brief Moment in the Sun” – Through Oct. 14, HUB-Robeson Galleries, University Park campus. “A Brief Moment in the Sun” is an exhibition of paintings by Pittsburgh-based artist Jamie Earnest. Earnest's work hovers between the familiarity and ghostly incorporation of shadows, silhouettes and surfaces that serve as both material and metaphor.
“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.
“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.