Our campus hosts a variety of community events including film screenings, author talks, guest lectures, and music performances that are open to the public.
An Evening of Four Tops: Motown and Jazz
Thursday, Sept. 17, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Experience Motown hits infused with soulful jazz! Whether you’re familiar with classic hits or you’ve memorized the lyrics to every deep track, you won’t want to miss Warren Oree and The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble’s performance at Penn State Great Valley. In this special program, Oree will lead audiences on a journey celebrating the enduring legacy of The Four Tops—one of Motown’s most iconic vocal groups.
Presented by the Philadelphia-based Lifeline Music Coalition, this concert highlights the unmistakable harmonies, rhythms, and emotional storytelling that defined The Four Tops’ sound. Through a fresh jazz lens, the ensemble will reimagine beloved hits and explore how the group’s signature style is deeply rooted in jazz traditions of expression, groove, and improvisation. The performance will feature a dynamic lineup of instrumentalists and vocalists alongside The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble.
“This is not a ‘cover’ band trying to play the music exactly the same as the recordings,” explains Oree. “Our goal is to show the harmony that existed — and still exists — between two styles of music that were considered distinctly different. Together these two styles create a sound that propels and moves the listener to a place where memories stimulate and refresh.”
This performance continues Lifeline Music Coalition’s tradition of presenting engaging and innovative programs. Since 2003, their concerts, festivals, and workshops have drawn enthusiastic audiences by creating unique musical experiences that both honor and reinterpret classic sounds.
Still Creating: UArts Live Performance Showcase
Thursday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.
University of the Arts: Rest in Peace, by Daniel Rice
"Still Creating: UArts Live Performance Showcase" is a curated event highlighting former UArts students, faculty, staff, and alumni in the performing arts. This performance will honor the legacy of UArts, uniting artists in resilience and celebrating a creative community that continues to thrive.
The Still Creating initiative—both the exhibition and this performance showcase—emerges from a shared belief that art can preserve memory, honor resilience, and reconnect people across time and place. This showcase extends that mission beyond the Henry Art Gallery walls, offering a space for UArts performers to share their voices, stories, and creative practices. This collective remembrance and celebration honors a legacy that continues to inspire.
Ways of Seeing, Ways of Being
Presented in partnership with We are the Seeds
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7 -8 p.m.
This community program features Indigenous storytelling, regalia, beadwork, and flute music. The program begins with a presentation by Joy Tonepahhote, in which she shares the meaning behind her beadwork, the significance of regalia, and the music, dances, and stories carried through these art forms.
Next, the program focuses on the magic of storytelling with Tchin, who brings audiences into the world of Indigenous story through his signature blend of humor and historical and cultural knowledge. He shares narratives that illuminate the values, teachings, and lived experiences of Native peoples. The program will feature the Native Courting Flute.
Register for ways of seeing, ways of being
Paws of Honor: A Veterans Day Event
Wednesday, November 4, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Penn State Great Valley and Valley Forge Park Alliance commemorate Veterans Day with a special event honoring human and K9 veterans who have served our country. We are honored to host:
- Timothy Fleming, a USMC Special Ops veteran who is now executive director of Paws of Honor, a nonprofit that provides critical support for retired military and first responder K9s, many of whom suffer from service-related injuries and trauma. These dogs protected lives without hesitation, strengthened national security, and kept our communities safe. They deserve dignity, care, and comfort in retirement.
- Ben Ridings, curator of the Emlen Physick Estate in Cape May and author of the compelling historical book "War Dogs in WWII."
The event is pay-what-you-wish, with donations benefiting Paws of Honor and the Valley Forge Park Alliance.
Hyperlocal Tribal Cultures in the Heartland
Thursday, November 20, 7 - 8 p.m.
In this presentation, Oscar Hokeah guides the audience through the multi-voiced narrative of his novel, Calling for a Blanket Dance, which follows a young Indigenous man named Ever Geimausaddle as he navigates the complex realities of poverty, systemic injustice and historical trauma. Moving beyond the pages of the book, Hokeah connects his fiction to his 20-plus years of real-world experience as an Indian Child Welfare advocate and youth worker. He illustrates how the "blanket dance"—a traditional ceremony of community support and mutual aid—serves as a beautiful, living metaphor for how Indigenous families utilize tribal culture, ritual and collective love to heal intergenerational wounds.
This program is a masterclass in modern storytelling that challenges single-narrative stereotypes of Native communities. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of multi-tribal identities, the vital role of community in personal survival, and the enduring power of cultural resilience. A Q&A session and book signing will follow the speech.
Register for cultures in the heartland
With These Hands: A Collaborative Poetry Experience
Thursday, February 11, 7 p.m.
Join Erin Murphy, Penn State's 2026-27 Laureate, for an engaging program that combines poetry, conversation, and creativity.
Murphy will read from and discuss her latest books, The Book of Jobs: Poems About Work and Swoon: New & Selected Poems, exploring themes of work, identity, and everyday life. Participants will also have the opportunity to contribute their own lines of poetry as part of an interactive collaborative writing experience.
A professor of English at Penn State Altoona, Murphy is the author or editor of 16 books. During her year as Penn State Laureate, she is presenting workshops and events across Pennsylvania that highlight the power of the arts and humanities to connect communities and inspire meaningful dialogue. At the conclusion of her term, she will create a collaborative poem using lines contributed by students, faculty, staff, and community members from across the University.Register for with these hands
Women's History Month and the Valley Forge Justice Bell
Presented in partnership with Valley Forge Park Alliance.
Wednesday, March 3, 7 - 8 p.m.
Join Washington Memorial Heritage Executive Director Patricia Nogar for an engaging presentation on the Justice Bell, Katharine Ruschenberger, and the remarkable Pennsylvania women whose determination helped secure voting rights for millions of Americans. Discover the story behind this unique historic landmark and its enduring relevance today.
Washington Memorial at Valley Forge is a 42-acre campus adjacent to Valley Forge National Historical Park. Home to Washington Memorial Chapel, Washington Memorial Heritage, and the iconic Justice Bell, the campus preserves and shares stories that have shaped our nation's history.
Forged in 1915, the Justice Bell was commissioned by Katharine Ruschenberger, a Tredyffrin resident and leader in Pennsylvania's women's suffrage movement. Created to rally support for women's voting rights, the bell traveled throughout Pennsylvania to promote the cause and build momentum for passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.Register for valley forge justice bell
Birds of a Feather
Presented in partnership with Valley Forge Park Alliance.
Tuesday, April 13, 7 - 8 p.m.
Join Valley Forge Park Alliance board member Jason Hall, one of the region's most respected birding experts, for an engaging introduction to birding in Valley Forge and beyond. A scientist at Merck by profession, Jason is also widely known as the "Birding Beardsman," leading bird walks for both novice and experienced birders in Valley Forge National Historical Park, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, and parks throughout Pennsylvania.
Passionate about making birding more inclusive and accessible, Jason founded In Color Birding to encourage participation among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. He is also co-host of The Bird Joy Podcast and a sought-after speaker who has shared his expertise with audiences across the United States.
Whether you're new to birding or looking to deepen your appreciation of the birds that call Valley Forge home, Jason will share practical tips, fascinating insights, and plenty of enthusiasm for this rewarding outdoor hobby.Register for birds of a feather
