250 Community Day: We the People

Celebrate the spirit of independence and creativity at the Palmer with a festive day of art and community inspired by special exhibition Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the Invitational, which features works by Penn State students, staff, faculty, and alumni as well as local and regional artists.
At 11 a.m., start the day with a plant walk at the Arboretum to celebrate the semi-quincentennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Start at the Overlook Pavilion to join this guided walk led by Arboretum program coordinator and plant nerd Rebecca Horwitt. Discover the surprising stories of plants that sparked the American Revolution and sustained the soldiers of the Continental Army.
From noon to 4 p.m., enjoy free ice cream from the Penn State Berkey Creamery, hot dogs from Brown Dog Catering, and cookies from the Penn State Bakery!
Beginning at 1 p.m., enjoy public readings of notable historical declarations, including the Declaration of Independence and rousing speeches by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass, and other American activists. Readings will be performed by community members, including Mayor Ezra Nanes, political activist, actor, and professor emeritus Charles Dumas, and Elaine Meder-Wilgus, president of Webster’s Cafe, as well as Palmer staff and others. Readings will include ASL interpretation.
At 6 p.m., join a special community reading and gallery conversation with Dreaming American Futures artists to explore themes of change, connection, happiness, and the ongoing work of building a more perfect union. The conversation will include Jeremy David Engels, Liberal Arts Endowed Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and author of On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World (Parallax, 2026) and Assistant Director Joyce Robinson.
Drop in for an hour or stay for the day! Enjoy light refreshments, art activities like making buttons, and gathering with others to reflect, connect, and imagine shared futures together.
Free parking all day!