McDaniel College Announces Community Events for Spring

Edited by Shannon Rogers McDaniel College will offer a wide range of cultural, educational, and community events during the spring 2026 semester, welcoming the public to campus for art exhibitions, concerts, theatre productions, film screenings, lectures, literary events, and family-friendly programming, most of which are free and open to the public. Events run from late January through early summer across campus venues including the Esther Prangley Rice Gallery, Baker Memorial Chapel, WMC Alumni Hall, Coley Rice Lounge, and the Naganna Forum.

Art Exhibitions and Visual Arts

The spring season begins with “Beyond the Objects: The Grammar of Things” at the Esther Prangley Rice Gallery, followed by the Honors Art Exhibition, the Kathryn E. Wentz Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, and two Senior Capstone exhibitions in April and May. A visiting artist lecture by sculptor Clarissa Pezone will be held on February 11. These exhibitions highlight student, faculty, and visiting artists working in a wide range of media from traditional painting and sculpture to digital and mixed media. For more information and to view future events, visit McDaniel College’s exhibit calendar.

• Honors Art Exhibition (March 3–20)

• Kathryn E. Wentz Juried Undergraduate Exhibition (March 24–April 10)

• Senior Capstone Exhibition One (April 14–24)

• Senior Capstone Exhibition Two (April 28–May 14)

Music, Theatre, and Film

Music offerings include performances by the College Choir, Student African Drum Ensembles, the Green TerrorTones A Cappella Ensemble, the College Band, and Jazz Ensemble. The theatre department will present “9 to 5: The Musical” in March and the One-Act Play Festival in late April. Film students will showcase their work during the McDaniel Cinema Showcase, which features student-produced fiction and documentary films followed by filmmaker Q&A sessions. For more information and to view future events, visit McDaniel College’s musical event calendar.

• College Choir Concert (April 26)

• Student African Drum Ensembles (April 28)

• A Cappella Ensemble featuring the Green TerrorTones (May 4)

• Jazz Night (May 7)

• College Band Concert (May 8)

Lectures and Literary Programming

McDaniel will host a number of academic and literary events, including the Bothe Poetry Reading with poet and essayist Bernard Jankowski, the Ira G. Zepp Jr. Memorial Lecture featuring scholar Ruha Benjamin, the Wenner-Wingate Memorial Lecture with political sportswriter Dave Zirin, the Rembert Lecture in Enterprise Economics, Shakespeare in the Square, and a range of virtual discussions on women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and health-related topics.

• Bothe Poetry Reading with Bernard Jankowski (March 31)

• Ira G. Zepp Jr. Memorial Lecture with Ruha Benjamin (Feb. 19)

• Wenner-Wingate Memorial Lecture with Dave Zirin (April 7)

• Rembert Lecture in Enterprise Economics (April 9)

• Shakespeare in the Square (April 23)

Community, Alumni, and Admissions Events

Additional highlights include Carroll County Scholars information sessions, admissions open houses, Earth Day Fair, the 1867 Challenge fundraiser, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge, Alumni Weekend, Juneteenth in Carroll, Commencement ceremonies in late May, the Green and Gold Golf Classic in June, and Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Week in July, which brings artists and educators from around the world to campus for workshops and performances.