UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Be inspired by the magic of the season by coming to Winter’s Glow at the Arboretum at Penn State. The community event offers paid and free activities, including live music and local food vendors, and will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Indoor and outdoor activities include a “Handmade Holidays” crafting workshop, two wreath-making workshops, a pop-up print shop featuring cards crafted in the gardens by nature-sketching students, drinks and treats by Idou Coffee, and musical performances by Bells of Grace and Walter Survivor.
Visit the Arboretum’s event webpage to preregister for the paid workshops, which range from $5 per craft to $35. Any participation fee covers the cost of materials.
“Handmade Holidays” Crafting Workshop
- Palmer Museum of Art Event Space — 4 to 8 p.m.
- $5 per craft
- Preregister for “Handmade Holidays” Crafting Workshop
Wreath Workshop 1
- Palmer Museum of Art Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom — 4 to 5:30 p.m.
- $35
- Preregister for Wreath Workshop 1
Wreath Workshop 2
- Palmer Museum of Art Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom — 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- $35
- Preregister for Wreath Workshop 2
Marek Pundzak, director of horticulture operations at the Arboretum, said the theme for Winter’s Glow and winter displays focus on showcasing plants in the collection that provide seasonal interest throughout the winter months.
“We incorporate locally grown cut trees to enrich open plaza spaces and the Overlook Pavilion. This year’s selections include Korean fir and Douglas fir, both known for their beautiful needles and texture,” said Pundzak. “Our signature feature, a 22-foot Blue Spruce fountain tree, will greet visitors with 2,000 warm-white-lights, creating a stunning focal point that can be seen from Park Avenue as you approach the Arboretum.”
Additional highlights include conifers such as Yezo spruce, “Mission Blue” Colorado spruce, Korean pine, Himalayan pine and Hinoki false cypress. Container displays created by the horticulture team will feature dwarf evergreens, red-twig dogwood stems, holly leaves and berries and dried seedheads collected from the gardens and surrounding meadows at the Arboretum.
Community-made ornaments will be featured on the CommuniTREE display in the lobby at the Palmer Museum of Art during the Winter’s Glow celebration.
Public parking in the Katz Lot is free for the event.
The Arboretum at Penn State’s light and landscape stay on for visitors to enjoy evening strolls until 9:30 p.m. and pre-dawn walks from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. in the gardens through Jan. 18, 2026.