From future Oscar winners showing off their films, to a band celebrating its 60th anniversary, there\u2019s plenty to check out this weekend in the area.<\/p>\n
The Morning Call has some options for weekend fun.<\/p>\n
Emerging filmmakers showcase in Allentown<\/p>\n
At Civic Theatre in Allentown, the Allentown Film Festival will feature over 100 films screened from around the world. The works were selected from an applicant pool of more than 1,000 submissions, according to the festival\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Held over four days starting Thursday, the program features high school students, college students and non-student filmmakers; it also includes frequent screening Q&A sessions. On Thursday night, the festival will showcase a \u201cHomegrown Films\u201d screening, which highlights short films produced in and around Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n The festival will also feature a gala on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. The full schedule can be found on the organization\u2019s website, allentownfilmfestival.org.<\/p>\n If you go: Ticket prices, at $10 for each screening or a $40 all-access pass, can be purchased at allentownfilmfestival.org. Civic Theatre is located at 527 N 19th St, Allentown.<\/p>\n Conference for garden academics and plant lovers<\/p>\n For the environmental studies fans or general backyard enthusiasts prepping for peak spring season, Penn State Lehigh Valley\u2019s \u201cHome Gardener Conference\u201d will provide a full day of learning about the simple gardening tactics that can go a long way.<\/p>\n Among the sessions at the conference include how to support backyard birds, planting techniques, the history of medicinal herbs and identifying poisonous plants.<\/p>\n The event Saturday will be led by university \u201cmaster gardeners,\u201d which according to the university\u2019s webpag<\/a>e, consists of completing an arduous training process \u2014 basic training and volunteering \u2014 and passing an exam.<\/p>\n If you go: Conference begins at 8:45 a.m., wrapping up around 3 p.m. Event entry costs $50; a registration link can be found at extension.psu.edu<\/a>. Penn State Lehigh Valley, 2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley.<\/p>\n A farewell tour country bash<\/p>\n Three-time Grammy winning The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will celebrate their 60th anniversary in May. The band, currently on its farewell tour, will appear at the State Theatre for the Arts in Easton on Friday to bring the community together.<\/p>\n Consisting of folk, rock, bluegrass and country music styles, the band will perform for the final time in Colorado in June. Some of the group\u2019s songs were put together in the 1960s, with more than two dozen albums released in the band\u2019s history.<\/p>\n Currently in the band include founding member Jeff Hanna, veteran members Jimmie Fadden and Bob Carpenter and Jim Photoglo, Ross Holmes, and Jaime Hanna.<\/p>\n