Shop Penn

March means that Spring is around the corner so now is the time to get out there more and enjoy everything University City has to offer. As you fill out your calendar this month, #ShopPenn has all the best exhibits, events, and shows to check out throughout the district. Find out what’s happening with the latest edition of the “Shop Penn Playlist,” a snapshot of the top events being offered by institutions, organizations, and venues on and around campus all month.

Novelty Candle Experience – Cork & Candles
All Month

The Cork & Candles Novelty Experiences invites you to transform wax into unique realistic candles inspired by favorite themes such as food, decadent sweets and desserts, refreshing beverages, seasonal nostalgia, and household décor. Each month, they introduce an exclusive new candle design, giving you the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and explore advanced candle-making techniques in this unique educational and playful experience. For the month of March, they offer a Succulent Terrarium candle, a chic life-like succulent terrarium candle that adds both greenery and glamour to your décor, without the need for watering.

Legacy on Broad – Penn Live Arts
March 8

Legacy on Broad is a non-profit collegiate South Asian Fusion Dance competition that brings together South Asian dance teams from across the nation to put on a production that incorporates creativity and showcases teamwork. As a mixture of many South Asian and Western styles, fusion dance incorporates culture from all around the world to depict classic stories, as well as to make proactive statements on current social issues. The memories and hard work put into these elaborate performances keep teams coming back to entertain audiences year after year. 

DIY Battlefest – The Rotunda
March 8

DIY BATTLEFEST is a thrilling night of Amp Vs. Amp performances by bands from Philadelphia and beyond! Bands will be facing off in high-octane, musical warfare (for 30 minutes each) to claim the ultimate prize: bragging rights! Come out for an exciting night of music, combat, and musical combat. 

Jewelry through Time: Ancient Wearers and Modern Makers – Penn Museum
March 8

Hands-on History is a series of free workshops for high school students. Meet professionals, gain experience in STEAM-focused workshops, and engage with resources at the Penn Museum. Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry you can’t leave home without? Maybe it holds special meaning, boosts your confidence, or completes your look. Throughout history, humans have used jewelry to express identity, tell stories, and showcase artistry. Join Penn Museum for a hands-on jewelry-making workshop where teens will dive into the rich history of adornment and create their own sterling silver stacker rings.

Dentro: A True Story, If You Think So – Penn Live Arts
March 13-15

A mother discovers the worst of truths. A father innocent until proven guilty. Waves of doctors, social workers and other “helpers” who don’t really want to know, furthering the secret’s concealment. In the U.S. premiere of Dentro, Giuliana Musso, one of Italy’s most interesting voices in contemporary theatre, explores the traumatic effects of silence when abuse occurs at home. Dentro is not documentary theatre but an investigation of a current happening; it’s not a work about violence but one exploring the concealment of truth and lost innocence of children.

Jeff Wittek – World Café Live
March 14

Jeff Wittek is killing it as a social media personality, podcaster, and entrepreneur, with millions of fans following his every move. His podcast, Jeff FM , pulls in over 2.4 million listeners every month, where he chops it up with celebs, creators, and friends about everything from pop culture and sports to his own crazy life stories. People love it because Jeff keeps it real, funny, and always entertaining. In addition to his podcast, his main YouTube channel, with over 3 million subscribers and fan-favorite series, Jeffʼs Barbershop, which has racked up over 100 million views. But Jeff isnʼt just sticking to screens anymore—he took things to a whole new level with his first live show in October 2024. Now, heʼs hitting the road and bringing Jeff FM to fans in person, this tour is going to be wild, hilarious, and 100% Jeff.

Rennie Harris Puremovement – Penn Live Arts
March 14-15

Rennie Harris, “the most brilliant hip-hop choreographer in America” (The New Yorker) and Penn Live Arts’ 24/25 season artist-in-residence, returns with the world premiere of a commissioned work, American Street Dancer, honoring the impact of street dance on the arts world. From the father of street dance, Master Juba, to the influence of this style on tap legends like Savion Glover, hip hop has contributed to theatre, film and culture globally, cementing its place in our history. Backed by a hip-hop orchestra of bucket and hand bone players, beat boxers and DJs, American Street Dancer will feature street and tap dancers celebrating styles from across the U.S. – jitting (Detroit), footwork (Chicago) and GQ (Philadelphia).

CultureFest!: Holi – Penn Museum
March 15

Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu celebration of the arrival of spring. Bring the whole family for a day filled with fun and cultural exploration as we immerse ourselves in this joyful Indian festival. Holi symbolizes renewal, the triumph of good over evil, and the celebration of love and unity, and it is marked by throwing vibrant colored powders, dancing to festive music, and enjoying communal feasts with family and friends. Join Penn Museum for a day filled with traditional storytelling, colorful art-making, dynamic live music, and captivating dance performances.

WXPN Welcomes Basia Bulat – World Café Live
March 22

Basia Bulat is a singer-songwriter living in Montreal, Canada. She offers both a distinctive voice and artistry that pulls as much from gospel and soul as it does from classic folk. In addition to her skills as a powerhouse vocalist, Bulat is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, recording and performing on electric guitar, piano, autoharp, ukulele, bass and charango. Her talent has also been recognized at scale: her songs have been adapted for major performances with symphony orchestras, and she has been invited to perform at prestigious tributes to Leonard Cohen, Daniel Lanois, Nick Cave, and The Band.

Ancient Alcohol: A Taste of Bygone Booze – Penn Museum
March 22

Drinking together has been a tradition for thousands of years. Take an unconventional (and boozy) journey back in time to discover what people of the past thought about alcohol, from how they made it to its role in society. View early drinking vessels that reveal secrets of ancient Greek drinking games and the beverage served at a feast hosted by King Midas. Finish by tasting a beer with a flavor profile inspired by an ancient recipe discovered by a Penn biomolecular archaeologist.

Voices of Philly Soul: Ladies Edition – World Café Live
March 26

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Philly’s own Carla Gamble has curated a local lineup of ladies in our city’s vibrant R&B and soul scene. Enjoy performances from musicians Jada Lee, Natalie Imani, Tata Sherise, poetic soul queen Evita Colon, Queen of the Pen (Valerie McNear), Naima the Poet, DJ Queen Yaszy, and a special performance by Carol Riddick.

Kenzie Cait: The Over Nostalgic Tour – World Café Live
March 27

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Kenzie Cait makes the kind of music that prompts the listener to think, “How did she put what Iʼm feeling into words?” As a guitarist and writer who was told she began humming melodies before she could speak, music is truly embedded into Kenzie Caitʼs DNA. With more and more people clamoring for music in the vein of Ariana Grande, Phoebe Bridgers, and Olivia Rodrigo, with the blueprint of Taylor Swift, Kenzie has arrived just in time.