What's happening at Penn State? Here's a look at some of the cultural events — both in-person and virtual — taking place across the University:
Performances
“Hit the Wall” — Oct. 3-12, Pavilion Theatre, University Park campus. Centre Stage presents “Hit the Wall” by Ike Holter, a story of the Stonewall Uprising and the generation that disrupted the marginalization and invisibility of the LGBTQIA+ community. The show is directed by award-winning producer and alumnus Robert W. Schneider.
Andes Manta — 7 p.m., Oct. 5, The Pullo Center, York campus. Andes Manta performs the vibrant music of the Andes on more than 40 traditional instruments, from the lyrical sound of the quena, or Andean Flute, to the haunting tones of the six-foot long pan-pipes.
Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show — 7 p.m., Oct. 6, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park campus. Chris Stapleton is bringing his "All-American Road Show" to the BJC, with guests Margo Price and Nikki Lane.
Mercy Me — 7 p.m., Oct. 7, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park campus. Grammy-nominated band MercyMe will perform, joined by past tourmates Crowder and Andrew Ripp.
American Girl LIVE! In Concert — 7 p.m., Oct. 8, The Pullo Center, Penn State York. In this upbeat and interactive concert, attendees will join Claudie, Melody, Julie, Courtney and Nicki as they help their new friend Madison get ready for her big performance debut.
Rhapsody Series: "Figure and Form" — 4 p.m., Oct. 8, School of Music Recital Hall, Music Building, University Park campus. Percussion professor Lee Hinkle will perform a recital of solo and chamber music for percussion featuring works by Juri Seo, Molly Joyce and Anders Koppel, among others. Free.
Las Cafeteras — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 10, Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park campus. Las Cafeteras, a Los Angeles-based artivist collective known for protest songs and use of traditional instruments to connect cultures and generations, will perform during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Events
Hispanic Heritage Month — Through Oct. 15, Various campuses. Penn State units at campuses across the commonwealth will be holding events in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated 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 Latine community throughout the years.
Pumpkin Festival — 6 to 9 p.m., Oct. 6, and 3 to 9 p.m., Oct. 7, The Arboretum at Penn State, University Park campus. Hundreds of jack-o-lanterns, carved by contest entrants, will be displayed during the festival and will be lighted from 6 to 9 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Free.
Penn State Homecoming Week — Oct. 8-14, Various locations. A number of events will be held to celebrate tradition and instill pride in all members of the Penn State family, including the Allen Street Jam, BoPS carnival, alumni ice cream social and Homecoming parade.
"Seeking Asylum" — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 10 Kulkarni Theater, Penn State Harrisburg and Zoom. Penn State Harrisburg's Diversity and Educational Equity Committee and the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing will co-sponsor an event featuring the film documentary "Seeking Asylum." Free.
PA Dignity Day — 5:30-7:30 p.m., Oct. 10, Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, State College. Penn State Outreach and State College Borough are partnering to bring town and gown together for PA Dignity Day, a local celebration of Global Dignity Day.
Lectures
“Great American Solar Eclipses: Sun... Moon.. You!” — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 5, General Studies Auditorium, Mont Alto campus and Zoom. What is an eclipse? What is the difference between total, annular, partial, solar and lunar eclipses and how do they occur? How do solar eclipses feature different areas of the sun? Kim Herrmann, associate professor of physics and astronomy, will answer these questions, provide an overview of the sun and astronomical transits, and describe two upcoming solar eclipses and safe ways to observe them.
"What is Quantum Information Science?" — 12:15 p.m., Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building, Penn State Berks. During this presentation, Robert Forrey, distinguished professor of physics at Penn State Berks and program director for Quantum Information Science, Division of Physics, National Science Foundation (NSF), will describe the Quantum Information Science (QIS) program at the NSF. Free, registration required.
In-person exhibits
“Interplay” — Through Oct. 5, McLanahan Gallery, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Penn State Altoona. Interplay will display artwork from Ivyside Juried Art Exhibition winner Morgan Thomas Shankweiler’s “By-Chance Connection” series, “Tie Formation” series, and her newest exploration of indeterminacy.
“Viet Kitsch: Lacquer Luster” — Through Oct. 5, Sheetz Gallery, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Penn State Altoona. Ivyside Juried Art Exhibition winner Millian Pham intertwines her native Vietnamese culture with her adopted American culture through imagery and text.
"Unplucked Gems" — Oct. 12 through Dec. 9, McLanahan Gallery of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Penn State Altoona. The exhibit by Juried Art Exhibition winner Taylor Pilote reveals ties to notable aspects of car culture, both personal and industrial, using physically distorted recognizable vehicle features. Free.
"I Sang You A Song Though I Didn't Know the Words" — Oct. 12 through Dec. 9, Sheetz Gallery of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Penn State Altoona. Juried Art Exhibition winner Boryana Rusenova-Ina utilizes experiences of learning English in post-communist Bulgaria to influence this exhibition. Free.
Tiles & Mosaics: Student Works from the Collaborative Course at TileWorks of Bucks County — Through Oct. 13, Art Gallery, Penn State Abington. An exhibition showcases pieces created by students during courses taught by faculty in collaboration with professional artisans at the Moravian Pottery and TileWorks in Doylestown, Bucks County.
"Petroglyphics: Stories from the Earth" — Through Oct. 31, Penn State New Kensington Art Gallery. The exhibition by Carolyn Haas invites visitors to embark on a unique artistic journey that uncovers captivating stories and intricate patterns hidden within rocks. Free.
"Evan Pugh: Student to Scientist" — Through October, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum and Art Gallery, Deike Building, University Park campus. The exhibit explores two distinct stages in the life of Evan Pugh, Penn State's first president. Free.
Gall wasps exhibit — Through October, Frost Entomological Museum, University Park campus. This exhibit is aimed at cultivating awareness about gall wasps and showcasing their beauty and diversity. Free.
"Black Feminist Embodiments of Self-Love and Self-Recovery" — Through Nov. 20, Outside of Paterno Reading Room, Pattee Library, University Park campus. Inspired by a scene in Toni Morrison's novel "Beloved," set in Ohio prior to Emancipation, the exhibition displays sources of self-love and self-recovery found in a variety of literature by and about Black women. Free.
“Andrea Doria: Dive to An Era” — Through Nov. 30, Friedman Art Gallery, Wilkes-Barre campus. The Friedman Art Gallery will feature a collection of items recovered on more than 200 dives to the shipwreck of the Andrea Doria. Diver and author Gary Gentile has recovered dishes, cups, glasses, plates, jewelry and ceramic panels created by the internationally known artist Romano Rui and more.
"Eudaimonia" — Through Dec. 5, Ronald K. DeLong Gallery, Lehigh Valley campus. Featuring works from artists Sasha Meret and Michelle Neifert, "Eudaimonia" explores themes related to mindfulness, acceptance, purpose, skill mastery and positive relationships.
"High Strung" — Through December, Woksob Family Gallery, University Park campus. Sculptures by local artist and educator Melissa Forkner Lesher transform commonplace materials into delicate works of art. Lesher weaves her creations with precision and efficiency by carefully assembling small hand-built pieces into larger, meticulously crafted configurations.
"Sad Purple and Mauve: A History of Dye-Making" — Through Jan. 15, Special Collections exhibition space, 104 Paterno Library, University Park campus. The science, art and history and textile and paper dyes and their uses in books and manuscripts will be the focus of this exhibit.
"I Am a Penn Stater: Nittany Lions in World War II" — Through June 2025, Penn State All-Sports Museum, Beaver Stadium, University Park campus. Timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the conflict, "I Am a Penn Stater" chronicles the contributions of Nittany Lion varsity lettermen and Women’s Recreation Association athletes during the conflict and follows their service from training in the United States, to fighting on battlefields around the globe, to their postwar occupations. Free.
Virtual exhibits
In addition to in-person events, a number of virtual exhibits are available through University departments. The Palmer Museum of Art and University Libraries offer a rotating selection of historical and artistic collections to view online.
Current exhibitions include an examination of women’s athletics at Penn State and Title IX, editorial cartoons from The Jerry Doyle Papers, and an exploration of the impact of the 1918 influenza pandemic.