Here's a look at some of the cultural events — both in-person and virtual — open to the University and local community:
Performances
Music in the Gardens – 6-9 p.m., Sept. 10, the Arboretum at Penn State, University Park campus. Visitors can enjoy an outdoor concert featuring the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble, conducted by Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, director of Wind Band Studies. Before the performance, family-friendly activities and food trucks will be available during the evening. Free.
Ella Langley – 7 p.m., Sept. 11, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park campus. Ella Langley will bring The Dandelion Tour to the Bryce Jordan Center with special guests ERNEST and Gabriella Rose, following a landmark year that includes major award wins and the success of her album.
What is Justice: Community Poetry Performance and Celebration – 6 p.m., Sept. 16, Schlow Centre Region Library, downtown State College. Celebrate the power of poetry to build connection, understanding and belonging. This event highlights the work of activist-writers in State College and the Centre Region. Poets and speakers will share original work and engage in collective storytelling and reflection. Free.
Bach's Lunch – 12:10-12:45 p.m., Sept. 17, 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.
Centre Stage Sneak Preview – 5:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 17, Theatre Building, University Park campus. The Penn State Centre Stage Sneak Preview event will offer audiences an exclusive look at the productions, artists and experiences that will shape the 2026–27 season, with hors d’oeuvres and performances featuring upcoming scenes and songs. With the season theme “Out of Many — One,” the stories presented invite audiences to consider how theater connects people from all walks of life.
Events
9/11 Remembrance events – Multiple dates and locations throughout September. Several events are being offered for Penn State campus and community members on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the attacks and their aftermath.
National Hispanic Heritage Month events – Multiple dates and locations throughout September and October. From mid-September through the end of October, Penn State units at campuses across the commonwealth will hold events in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as a time to honor and celebrate the historic background, culture, heritage and many influences of the Hispanic and Latino communities throughout the years. The unifying theme for this year’s observances is "La unidad es nuestra fuerza" — “Unity Is Our Strength."
Color and Connection Date Night – 5:30-7 p.m., Sept. 10, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Begin the evening with an exclusive curator-led journey into the limited-time exhibit "Out of the Shadows: Drawings and Watercolors by American Women." Then, join a hands-on workshop where couples will blend luminous earth-based pigments, experiment with washes and bring their visions to life on paper. Registration required.
Bird Walk – 8-9:30 a.m., Sept. 10, the Arboretum at Penn State, University Park campus. Drop in for a morning bird walk led by an expert birder! Central Pennsylvania is an exceptional birding location, where diverse habitats and long, parallel ridges and valleys create natural ‘leading lines’ for the waves of migrating birds.
Harvest for Hunger – 10 a.m.-noon, Sept. 12, 814 Cider Works Farm, University Park campus. Visit local farms, gain hands-on experience and help support agricultural operations when they need it most. These events are open to all students and community members and offer the chance to learn a variety of useful gardening skills, enjoy a free meal, and make a meaningful impact by volunteering and supporting the local food systems
Great Insect Fair – 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sept. 12, Snider Agricultural Arena, University Park campus. Amid insect-related vendors and exhibits, staff and faculty experts will be on hand to explain the behaviors and characteristics of various insects found within the commonwealth and answer questions from visitors of all ages. An annual favorite exhibit is the insect zoo, which features live insects that can be viewed and held.
Shaver’s Creek Open House – 1-4 p.m., Sept. 12, Shaver's Creek, Petersburg, Pennsylvania. This fall open house at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center is a chance for all ages to explore the natural world and embrace curiosity. In addition to live music and access to hiking trails, Shaver's Creek's ongoing 50th anniversary celebration continues with a variety of events and activities like scavenger hunts and guided meditation.
The Joyfull: Hispanic Heritage Month Edition – 6 p.m., Sept. 14, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. The Joyfull free community event is an invitation to experience the sights, sounds and flavors of a new culture with an intimate arts-based experience. This program will celebrate the rich history and contributions of Latinx culture. The event will also feature highlights from the Center for the Performing Arts 2026–27 season. Free.
Faculty Workshop: American Galleries Reinstallation Project – 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sept. 15, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Join museum curators and educators to review draft gallery themes, proposed object checklists and interpretive strategies for the museum’s reinstallation of the American Galleries, slated to open fall 2027. Faculty may choose to attend one of the three sessions. Registration is required.
Nature Sketching – 10-11:30 a.m., Sept. 15, the Arboretum at Penn State, 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.
Yoga and Mindfulness at the Palmer – 12:30 p.m., Sept. 16, 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.
Yoga in the Gardens – 6-7 p.m., Sept. 16, the Arboretum at Penn State, University Park campus. Join a serene yoga experience amidst the beauty of nature. Embrace tranquility, stretch, and find your inner peace in the heart of nature. Bring your own mat for optimal comfort.
Bird Walk – 8-9:30 a.m., Sept. 17, the Arboretum at Penn State, University Park campus. Drop in for a morning bird walk led by an expert birder! Central Pennsylvania is an exceptional birding location, where diverse habitats and long, parallel ridges and valleys that create natural ‘leading lines’ for the waves of migrating birds.
Harvest Fest – 4:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 17, Ross Student Farm, University Park campus. Hosted by the Student Farm Club, this annual festival offers farm-grown food samples from local chefs and caterers. Guests can make sun prints, plant a succulent, visit a petting zoo and participate in other farm-themed activities.
Lectures
Curator Talk: Jane Carpenter-Rock – 5 p.m., Sept. 10, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. This talk traces the intricate web of artistic, cultural, and spiritual influences that converge within "Beyond Boundaries: The Artistic Constellations of Betye Saar." Jane Carpenter-Rock, acting Margaret and Terry Stent Director from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery, examines Saar’s navigation of the complex social, artistic and political terrains of the twentieth century, revealing how she transformed found materials into powerful sites of ritual, memory and resistance.
In-person exhibits
“Constellations: Celebrating the Legacies of Betye Saar” – Through Sept. 13, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. In 1996, the Palmer Museum of Art mounted a groundbreaking installation by Los Angeles-based artist Betye Saar. Thirty years later, the Palmer is honoring the artist’s 100th birthday with an intimate show exploring the constellation of legacies inspired by her work.
"In Dreams" – Through Sept. 20, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. The exhibition features 100 sculptural rabbits, each transformed by a unique handcrafted mixed-media mask and paired with a specific song. While the sculptures share a common form, each mask introduces its own visual language and personality. One original gray clay rabbit stands apart from the others, reinforcing the exhibition's exploration of sameness and individuality.
“Still Creating: The UArts Community Lives On” – Through Oct. 1, Henry Gallery, Great Valley campus. In the wake of the unexpected closure of the University of the Arts (UArts) in 2024, the creative community was left with a deep sense of loss. "Still Creating: The UArts Community Lives On" emerges from a shared belief that art can preserve memory, honor resilience and reconnect people across time and place.
“Beyond the Ridge” – Through Oct. 2, Art Space, Schuylkill campus. Artist Jon Bond often finds subject matter for his art in the nature surrounding his Berks County home, and twenty-five works in this show were inspired during Jon’s hikes on the lands surrounding Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. In this selection of paintings, his muted palette brings forth mysterious elements, scenarios and objects with an almost dreamlike quality.
Hidenori Ishii – Through Oct. 31, HUB Gallery, University Park campus. Hidenori Ishii's practice encompasses painting, screen-printing, and installation, focusing on the complex interplay between civilization and nature. A diverse array of paintings, mixed media pieces, and installations delve into themes of reflection and transparency, as well as the connections between inside and outside spaces.
“Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250” – Through Nov. 29, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the Palmer invited artists to submit works that address the following themes: Activating Change, Bridging the Divide, Pursuit of Happiness and A More Perfect Union. The works on view include paintings, sculpture, ceramics, mixed-media assemblages, photographs and works on paper.
“Telling Stories: Rethinking American Art at the Palmer” – Through Nov. 29, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. This installation experiments with thematic approaches to the Palmer Museum of Art’s American art collection, grouping works of various genres, styles and periods together under the themes “Follow the Money” and “American Places" and exploring multiple interpretations of individual artworks.
“Out of the Shadows: Drawings and Watercolors by American Women” – Through Dec. 6, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Brought literally and figuratively out of the shadows, these works by American women artists from the 1820s to the 1950s illuminate an often overlooked yet fundamental history of American art. The audience is invited to consider the relationships between access, medium, and gender that this exhibition brings to light.
“LIGHT” – Through Dec. 11, Ronald K. De Long Gallery, Lehigh Valley campus. This group of artists examines the layered definitions of a single concept, LIGHT. Through a deliberate juxtaposition of contrasting materials and conceptual frameworks, the exhibition fosters dynamic, unexpected visual relationships.
“America Works: Building and Sustaining the Nation” – Sept. 16 to Dec. 13, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. “America Works: Building and Sustaining the Nation” traces the deep connections among work, power and nation-building in the United States. While exploring the culture and politics of working people, America Works addresses how changes in technology, law and policy, and activism on the part of workers have impacted labor dynamics throughout history.
“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.
"Recipes" – Through Jan. 8, 2027, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. Working in encaustic — a process that uses molten paint made from beeswax, pigment and damar resin — artist Christine Sajecki grinds pigments harvested from her environment and incorporates recycled commercial pigments saved from years of studio practice. Her work explores ways to use waste and culinary byproducts in painting.
“Hybrid Zones” – Through March 4, 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.