A weekend full of events awaits!

From Penn State Dance Marathon Facebook page

From movies in Clarion to philanthropic fun all the way down in State College, this weekend is jam-packed for those who are willing to brave the weather in the next few days.

In the University Theater in Clarion’s Suites on Main North, Seth Rogen’s Christmas comedy, “The Night Before,” starts the weekend off early at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 and also at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. “The Good Dinosaur,” Pixar Studio’s latest animated film, will be showing in CU Movies on Main at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Pennsylvania State University hosts its annual IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon or THON weekend starting Friday with its 46-hour dance marathon to raise money to combat childhood cancer in Pa. and help families with young cancer victims pay for medical expenses.  The event is open to the public, and the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s main campus will be hosting those who will dance for donations.

Last year over $13 million was raised with the large majority of it going towards the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital that cares for childhood cancer patients and continues to search for a cure along the way.  Your donation can help in this massive student-run philanthropic movement by visiting this link http://donate.thon.org/ and taking a stand against the No. 1 disease killer of children in the United States.

THON itself starts at 6 p.m. on Friday and lasts until 4 p.m. on Sunday with a pep rally, fashion show, speeches and family testimonials mixed in with all the dancing.

If you are into more traditional music, look no further than the Oil Country Bluegrass Festival at 6-10:30 p.m. Friday night, 1-11 p.m. Saturday and 9-11:30 a.m. Sunday at the Days Inn in Oil City.  The “Red, White and Bluegrass”-themed event will feature bands in 40-minute sets throughout the weekend, and you can check out the free event’s musical lineup at www.facebook.com/Oil-Country-Blue-Grass-Festival-164475130312045.

All of these events this weekend, from Clarion’s movies and Oil City’s bluegrass festivities to Penn State’s charity extravaganza take place from Friday through Sunday! For the well-rounded lover of going out in Pa. you can stock up on a full weekend of movies, music and fun!

(Eric Zavinski is a Clarion University student contributor to VenangoExtra.com & ClarionExtra.com. Email Eric your weekend events to venangoextra@gmail.com.)