TGIF: State College Weekend Events for April 8-10

The Happy Valley weekend has arrived and the events calendar is packed with things to see and do.

Popular comedian Amy Schumer takes the stage at the Bryce Jordan Center; Roald Dahl’s ‘The BFG’ comes to life at Eisenhower Auditorium; the red hot Penn State baseball team is in action at Medlar Field; and the Banff Mountain Film Festival comes to the State Theatre — and that’s all just on Friday.

We’ve compiled the highlights from the upcoming weekend’s community events in the State College area for you to enjoy.

FRIDAY

Amy Schumer
Limited tickets still remain for comedian Amy Schumer’s 8 p.m. performance at the Bryce Jordan Center. The creator of the award-winning Comedy Central series “Inside Amy Schumer” and screenwriter and star of the critically acclaimed movie “Trainwreck,” Schumer is one of entertainment’s leading comedians and actresses.

The BFG
A classic Roald Dahl story brought to life by Dallas Children’s Theater, The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) hits the Eisenhower Auditorium Stage at 7:30 p.m. The show tells the story of an orphan “human bean” and the giant who shows her heroes come in all sizes. Ticket info.

Banff Mountain Film Festival
Featuring some of the world’s best outdoor, recreation-based films, the Banff Mountain Film Festival brings 17 movies to the State Theatre on Friday and Saturday night. Doors open at 6 with shows starting at 7 both nights. Ticket info and showtimes for each film.

Penn State Baseball
Penn State baseball brings its eight-game win streak into a weekend series against conference power Michigan State. The Lions and Spartans square off at 6:30 p.m.  Friday at Medlar Field and a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Sunday (Saturday’s game was moved to a Sunday doubleheader due to weather.)

Volleyball in Rec Hall
The Penn State men’s volleyball team is back home for two weekend matchups. At 7 p.m. Friday, the Lions take on Harvard, and at 7 on Saturday they welcome Sacred Heart

Kids’ Clothes and More
The annual children’s and maternity consignment sale “Just Kids Resale” continues Friday from 2-8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Lambert Hall, 303 Forge Road in Bellefonte

SATURDAY

Minerals, Crystals, Gems
The Nittany Mineralogical Society’s Minerals Junior Education Day starts at 9:30 a.m. at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology in Pleasant Gap. This event for students in grades 1-8 and their parents will teach about minerals, crystals, gems, fossils and geology, with fun demonstrations and samples to take home. Registration ends at noon on FRIDAY.

World Stories Alive
Recommended for children 3-8 and their families — and fun for speakers of all languages — this week’s edition of World Stories Alive features Japanese stories, songs and art. The program starts at 11 a.m. Schlow Library’s Downsbrough Community Room.

Children’s Festival
The Global Connections International Children’s Festival is a community event for children and families that displays the many cultures of the world through music, dance, games, crafts, hands-on activities and more. It gets under way at 2 p.m. at Calvary Harvest Fields in Boalsburg. Global Connections requests that attendees make a goodwill donation of $5 per person or $15 per family of three or more people.

The First Team
Historian and naval aviation enthusiast Jim Krombach will present “The First Team: U.S. Naval Aviation at the Dawn of WWII” at 1 p.m. at the PA Military Museum in Boalsburg. The lecture focuses on  the inadequacy of Navy and Marine aviation after the Pearl Harbor attack and how pre-war training, tactics, ingenuity and luck held the line for almost two years until better technology in aircraft design and pilot training turned the tide. Regular admission rates apply.

Hair
It’s the last day to catch Penn State Centre Stage’s production of the iconic rock musical “Hair.” A matinee and evening performance are scheduled at the Downtown Theatre Center. Check the Penn State Theatre website for details.

Orchid Show
The 51st Annual Central Pennsylvania Orchid Show is 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday in Snider Agricultural Arena on the Penn State campus. Free admission and parking, and the show includes vendor tables, raffles and informative tours.

SUNDAY

Spring Carnival
Penn State Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils host their annual spring carnival — free to children and their families — with games, a bouncy house, snow cones, popcorn and cotton candy from 2:30-5 p.m. on Penn State’s Old Main Lawn.

Municipal Band Spring Concert
Dr. Ned Deihl, principal conductor, and 70 volunteer members of the State College Municipal Band perform a free spring concert for the community at 3 p.m. in Mount Nittany Middle School, Boalsburg. Donations are appreciated.

Remembrance
State College Choral Society will present the Pennsylvania premiere of the “Yizkor Requiem” by American composer Thomas Beveridge as part of “Remembrance” to close its 67th season at 4 p.m. in Penn State’s Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. The concert also includes music by Mendelssohn and Brahms. Tickets may be purchased in advance through the Choral Society website or at the door.

LOOKING AHEAD

On Monday, IST Startup Week gets under way at Penn State and the musical “Chicago” takes the stage at Eisenhower Auditorium. On Tuesday, a second performance of “Chicago” is at Eisenhower and the State Theatre hosts An Evening with George Winston. Penn State women’s lacrosse hosts Cornell at 3 p.m. and softball has a doubleheader at 5 on Wednesday. Penn State’s Research Unplugged series continues Thursday with “Assisted Aging: How Smart Technology Will Change How We Grow Old,” at 12:30 p.m. in Schlow Library’s Downsbrough Community Room. That night at 7, State College Area High School Thespians present “Fiddler on the Roof” and Get The Led Out brings a live re-creation of classic Led Zeppelin to the State Theatre at 8.

If all that isn’t enough for you, there’s more happening in State College. Check out our calendar page to explore the weekend’s events, and feel free to add your own if it isn’t listed.