Fall Festival Activities, Saturday, Sept. 29: morning, afternoon, evening

FOURTH ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENT, CHANCELLOR’S GALA
Friday and Saturday, September 28 and 29
Friday Evening: Chancellor's Gala with 
Penn State volleyball coach Mark Pavlik
Saturday Morning: Motorcycle Run, Food, Crafts, Kids Zone, DJ
Saturday Afternoon: Tailgate Party, TV football, Bed Race,
Outdoor Concert Series
Saturday Afternoon/Evening: Concert headliners
Gene the Werewolf, Chris Higbee

Penn State New Kensington's mission to develop a larger presence in the community continues this weekend with the fourth annual Fall Festival, geared to local residents as well as campus students and alumni.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, with activities for all ages taking place across the campus' 72 acres. Prior to the festival, the Chancellor's Gala gets under way at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, in the campus’ Athletics Center.

Festival events include food vendors, crafts, motorcycle run, bed races, kids' activities, an alumni tent with the Penn State-Illinois TV football game, and an outdoor concert series featuring Gene the Werewolf and Chris Higbee. All festival events, except the motorcycle run, are free to the public.

"We’ve also made great strides re-establishing ourselves as the community’s campus by engaging residents and opening events to the public," said Kevin Snider, chancellor of the campus. "Our intent is to forge even stronger bonds between the New Kensington campus and the community by developing partnerships to make the Alle-Kiski Valley an even greater place to live, work and learn."

In advance of the festival, campus students are celebrating "Spirit Week" from Sept. 24-28, a five-day schedule of student-centered activities.

 Friday Evening: Chancellor's Gala with Emcee Mark Pavlik
Dinner, dancing and a silent auction will highlight the fourth annual Chancellor's Gala, set for 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, in the campus’ Athletics Center. Mark Pavlik, head coach of the men’s volleyball team at Penn State, will serve as the master of ceremonies, and Dr. Zoot, a Pittsburgh swing band, will provide the musical entertainment. The cost is $100. All proceeds benefit the campus' Advisory Board Trustee Scholarship, which is a part of the University-wide fundraising effort, "For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students."

The theme of the gala is "Blue and White Lions Night," and the event will bring together founders, donors, alumni, students, faculty and staff, and features a silent auction, a mystery box sale and raffle items. While the contents of the mystery box cannot be revealed, the auction items include two tickets to the Dec. 21 Penguins ice hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets at the Consol Energy Center, two tickets to the Oct. 24 Steelers game versus the Washington Redskins at Heinz Field, a football signed by Penn State coach Bill O’Brien, and a golf package. For those who cannot make the gala, a special auction feature, "Buy it Now," allows Penn Staters and friends from around the world to purchase items prior to the auction at a predetermined price. To "Buy it Now", visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/44751.htm online. For more information, contact Tina Sluss at 724-334-6056 or tms57@psu.edu.

 Saturday Morning: Motorcycle Run, Food, Crafts, Kids Zone, DJ
The opening activities kick into gear at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, with a motorcycle run, craft and merchandise booths and food vendors in the upper parking lot.

The motorcycle run is three-hour, 100-mile ride from the campus to Indiana Borough and back includes a stop at Indiana Memorial Park.  Upon the return to the New Kensington campus, a complimentary pig roast awaits participants. The cost is $10 for a solo rider and $15 for a rider and passenger. To register, contact Danielle DeStefano at 724-334-6019 or dnd125@psu.edu via email.

Fourteen craft booths and five food vendors will set up in the upper parking lot beginning at 11 a.m. Crafters will include purveyors of jewelry, silk flowers, wood products and more. The food booths will feature peanuts and cotton candy, a nacho bar, Belgium waffles, ice cream, and beef brisket and pulled pork sandwiches. For more information, contact Sharon Levett at 724-334-6012 or sql1@psu.edu.

The Kids Zone, located in the Athletics Center, opens its doors at 11 a.m. and is open throughout the afternoon. Activities include inflatibles (Rattler Run obstacle course and moon bounce slide), a balloon artist, face painting and crafts. A pumpkin patch will be set up in the adjacent parking lot. DJ Mr. Z entertains until 2 p.m. For more information, call 724-334-6063 or ldb14@psu.edu via email.

 Saturday Afternoon: Alumni Tailgate Party, TV Football,
Bed Races, Outdoor Concert Series
The afternoon schedule gets rolling with a Penn State TV football game in the Alumni Central tent, the running of the beds, and the first acts of the concert series.

Dubbed "Alumni Central," the tent opens its flaps at 11:30 a.m. and is located on the front lawn of the Engineering Building. A special section of the tent is set aside for a big screen TV so alumni and friends can root on the Lions against Illinois. Kickoff is at noon. Tailgate refreshments and food will be available. Penn State supporters are asked to bring canned food and nonperishable items to the tent for distribution to the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank. For more "Alumni Central" activities, contact Bill Woodard at 724-334-6046 or uxw1@psu.edu.

The preliminary heats of the iconic Bed Race, believed to be the first of its kind at a Penn State campus, begin at noon in the parking lot of the Athletics Center. The championship is slated for 3 p.m. The competition features five-person teams (four pushers, one rider) who navigate a rolling bed over a measured course while performing tasks at various stations along the way. In addition, judges will award prizes in various categories including wackiest design and best theme. All proceeds benefit THON. For more information, contact Lauren Blum at 724-334-6063 or ldb14@psu.edu via email.

The four-band concert series opens with an acoustic group, 3 Dudes Chillin at 12:30 p.m., followed by the classic rock band Dimwit, led by drummer and Penn State New Kensington alumnus Matt Knapp, at 2 p.m. A student group, 3 Dudes Chillin includes Ethan Kovalcik (vocals and ukulele), Dan DeFalco (vocals/guitar), and Ken Beck (percussion). Their sounds range from alternative rock to reggae and from pop to hip-hop.

Dimwit, which was formed in 2009, plays classic rock from the 1960s to the present. They cover a wide variety of legendary bands including the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and Ted Nugent. In addition to Knapp, an Allegheny Township resident, the group features Pat Bono (lead vocals and guitar) from Vandergrift, Mikey Pallone (guitar) from Monroeville, and Danno Antel (bass) from Penn Hills.

For more information, contact Lauren Blum at 724-334-6063 or ldb14@psu.edu via email.

  Saturday Afternoon/Evening: Concert Headliners - Gene the Werewolf, Chris Higbee
The rock and roll band Gene the Werewolf and country rock fiddler Chris Higbee headline the concert series. Higbee takes the stage at 3:30 p.m. and Gene the Werewolf closes the show beginning at 5:30 p.m.

A Western Pennsylvania native, Higbee is a founding member of the Povertyneck Hillbillies. He began a solo career in 2008 and released his eponymous album, “Chris Higbee,” a year ago. Besides the fiddle, Higbee is equally proficient with a guitar and banjo. The show is a mixture of original material with cover songs sprinkled with rock and roll. His band includes Mark Vinisick (bass), Dean Minerva (drums), and Ben Bond (guitar and vocals). His wife, Melissa Higbee, an Army veteran, makes an occasional singing appearance. Chris Higbee wrote “Write to Me,” while she was in Iraq.

A five-man band, Gene the Werewolf was formed in 2006 and has released two studio albums, “Light Me Up” in 2009 and “Wicked Love” last fall. The second album brought the quartet’s gritty pure-rock roots to the forefront. A staple of local radio play, the group is headed by Gene, guitarist and lead vocals.

For more information, call 724-334-6063 or contact Lauren Blum at ldb14@psu.edu via email.

FALL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Saturday, September 29
Upper Parking Lot, Lower Parking Lot, Athletics Center

10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Information Booth – Main Entrance

10:00 a.m. - Noon
Motorcycle Run, Upper Parking Lot
Registration: 9:00 -10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DJ – Mr. Z, Upper Parking Lot

11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Craft Show, Upper Parking Lot
Food Vendors, Upper Parking Lot

11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Kids Zone Activities, Athletics Center
Inflatables: Rattler Run Obstacle Course and Moon Bounce Slide; Balloon Artist, Face Painting & Crafts

11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Pumpkin Patch, Athletics Center Parking Lot

11:00 a.m. - Noon
Bed Race Registration, Lower Parking Lot

Noon - 3:00 p.m.
Bed Races, Lower Parking Lot
Fundraiser for THON to fight Pediatric Cancer

11:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Alumni Central Tent, Front Lawn
Noon, TV Football game, Penn State vs. Illinois

12:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Outdoor Concert Series, Four Bands, Main Stage, Upper Parking Lot

12: 30 – 1:30 p.m.
Concert Series Opener, 3 Dudes Chillin

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Kids Zone, Athletics Center -
Wild World of Animals Special Show

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Concert Series Act II, Dimwit

2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Soccer, PSNK vs. Penn State Brandywine, Valley High School

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Concert Series Featured Performer, Chris Higbee

5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Concert Series Headliner, Gene the Werewolf

FESTIVAL VENDORS AND PRODUCTS

BJKP Dolls, Dolls-Ceramic, Jewelry
Origami Owl Independent Designer, Jewelry, Lockets, Charms Dangles
Flowers by Louise, Silk flower arrangements, Xmas Stars
Tastefully Simple, Tastfully Simple Products
It Works Global, Schedule Parties, Recruit Distributors
Scented Snugglers, Scented and Waxed Stuffed Animals
Molly Frank, Popcorn Shirts
Peg's Pampered Pet Products, Pet Products
Tupperware, Tupperware
Clearview Federal Credit Union, Memberships
Kara Vita Clinical Skincare, Skincare Products
Penn State Bookstore, Penn State Merchandise
Chain Saw Carving, Carved Wood Statues and Demonstrations
Jane's Creative Sewing, Doll Clothes & Quilted Items
Lia Sophia Jewelry, Lia Sophia Jewelry
Silpada Jewelry, Jewelry
Kellee's Country Blessings, Holiday decorations
Barb & Dave's Peanuts, Nuts, Cotton Candy, Candy Apples, Soda
Burrell Area Rotary, Apple Cider - Pressed on Site
Fat Daddy's Roadside BBQ, Pulled Pork and Beef Brisket
T & B Ice, Shaved Ice, Belgium Waffles, Ice Cream
AVI, Nacho Bar, Hot Dogs, Pop & Coffee

SPIRIT WEEK ACTIVITIES
Sept. 24-29

Monday: Scavenger Hunt, Geocaching, noon, Café 780
Tuesday: Get Rec’d Nite, 8:00 p.m., Athletics Center
Wednesday: Minute to Win It, noon, Café 780;
Aquapalooza, 8:00 p.m., Multi-purpose Field
Thursday: Blue and White Day, 2:00 p.m., Café 780
Men’s Soccer vs. Mt. Aloysius, 4:00 p.m., Valley High School
Women’s Volleyball vs. Greater Allegheny, 7:00 p.m., Athletics Center
Friday: Mocktail Mix-Off, noon, Café 780