October is always a busy time on the East Tennessee State University campus, but the university is pivoting from several events planned for early in the month to focus on caring for members of the Buccaneer family and our neighbors throughout the region affected by Hurricane Helene. 

The following previously published events listing has been updated to include assistance programming and notes of cancellations and postponements of previously planned events on campus. These events are open to the public and are free unless otherwise noted:

Helping Our Neighbors

Supply Drive for Those Affected by Hurricane Helene
Through at least October 4, all day – D.P. Culp Student Center, second floor 

October 5, 1-3:30 p.m. – Tailgate area near Greene Stadium
ETSU’s Student Government Association, working closely with the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement and other campus partners, has established a collection site on the third floor of the D.P. Culp Student Center for donations toward flood buckets and hygiene kits for those affected by Hurricane Helene. Click here for more information, including a list of needed items.

Bucs Stuff the Bus
Saturday, October 12, 3:30 p.m. – Greene Stadium 
A campus-wide campaign to collect needed supplies for select schools as part of ETSU’s Founders Week (October 7-12) has been expanded to include schools affected by the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene. Members of the community are invited to participate by bringing school supplies to “Stuff the Bus” at Greene Stadium in conjunction with the Bucs football game vs. Samford on October 12 at 3:30 p.m., or drop off supplies at the Information Station on the first floor of the D.P. Culp Student Center through Friday, October 11. Click here for a wish list.

For complete information on "Bucs Rebuild Together" – ETSU's Hurricane Helene response – and ways you can help, visit etsu.edu/response. 

Music

Homecoming: Gospel Choir Concert
October 6, 2 p.m. – D.P. Culp Student Center, Martha Street Culp Auditorium
The ETSU Gospel Choir hosts this traditional worship experience to close out the university’s Homecoming celebration each year. 

Acoustic Autumn Series
October 10, 6 p.m. – Founders Park Amphitheatre, 225 Commerce Street
ETSU sponsors the October event in Johnson City’s Acoustic Autumn Series, featuring performances by local musicians.

Guest Artist Recital: Pianist Dr. Jay Hershberger
October 12, 7:30 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, Powell Recital Hall
Dr. Jay Hershberger, president of the American Liszt Society and professor of piano at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, will perform in a Guest Artist Recital. 

Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour
October 17, 7:30 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer brings his Paper Airplane Request Tour to ETSU. During the show, fans will be invited to launch song requests to the stage via paper airplanes. Ticket prices range from $45-$99.50.

Choral Collage
Rescheduled to October 20, 3 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
ETSU's choirs – the ETSU Chorale, BucsWorth, East Tennessee Belles, Greyscale and Ascension – present their opening concert of 2024-25, with an entertaining mix of everything from jazz to pop to classical. Tickets are $12.

Opening Bands Concert
Rescheduled for October 20, 7:30 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
The ETSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will perform traditional, classical, contemporary and popular works during their first concert of the fall semester. 

The Sixteen
October 24, 7:30 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
The Sixteen, one of the world’s most renowned choral ensembles, brings to ETSU its repertoire of music from a wide range of periods, from Baroque to the 21st century. Ticket prices range from $20-$28. 

ETSU Orchestra Concert
October 26, 7:30 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
The ETSU Symphony Orchestra presents its fall concert, “Simply Romantic,” featuring the music of Romantic era composers, including Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Tickets are $12. 

Faculty Recital: Dr. Roya Farzaneh and James West
October 27, 2 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, Powell Recital Hall
ETSU Department of Music faculty members Dr. Roya Farzaneh, flute, and James West, guitar, will perform a joint recital. 

Theater/Cinema

Homecoming Movie Night: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
October 4, 7 p.m. – Amphitheatre
“Top Gun: Bucs Take Flight” is the theme of ETSU’s 2024 Homecoming, and in keeping with that theme, Buctainment will show the 2022 action-adventure film “Top Gun: Maverick” for students, faculty, staff and the community. Bring a lawn chair and blanket for this outdoor showing at ETSU’s historic Amphitheatre.

CANCELLED - First Friday Film Screening
October 4, 7 p.m. – Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
The Bud Frank Cinema has cancelled its monthly First Friday film screening for October. 

Film Screening: ‘It’s Only Life After All’
October 11, 7 p.m. – Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
The Bud Frank Cinema presents “It’s Only Life After All,” a film blending 40 years of home movies, raw film archive and intimate present-day verité, giving a look into the obstacles, activism and life lessons of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls.

Highlands Horrorfest
October 19, 7 p.m. – Wallace Theatre, 215 E. Main Street
This third annual competitive film festival features short works by ETSU students and alumni and other filmmakers from across the region, with a costume contest during intermission.

ETSU Theatre: ‘The Moors’
October 24-26, 7:30 p.m., and October 27, 2 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, Bach Theatre
The ETSU Department of Theatre and Dance presents “The Moors” by Jan Silverman, “a dark comedy about love, desperation and visibility.” Ticket prices range from $10-$20.

Film Screening: ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
October 30, 7 p.m. – Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
The Bud Frank Cinema presents the classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Fine Arts

‘Stitch Together: The Social Seamstress in Southern Appalachia’
Continuing through January 10, 2025, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday – Reece Museum
The Reece Museum hosts this exhibit exploring the social connections of seamstresses by showcasing the fashion and clothing of the museum’s permanent collection. 

‘Process as Practice: Patricia Mink’
October 3-25, various times – Tipton Gallery, 126 Spring Street, Johnson City
This fiber arts exhibit features works by Patricia Mink, who taught in ETSU’s Department of Art and Design for 20 years. An opening reception will be held Friday, Oct. 4, from 6-8 p.m. Tipton Gallery is regularly open Thursdays and Fridays from 5-7 p.m.

Quilts: More Than an Heirloom
October 25, 9 a.m. – Archives of Appalachia, Sherrod Library, room 422
The Archives of Appalachia will host a live quilting demonstration featuring experts from several regional quilting guilds, who will share how to preserve family history through the art of quilting. 

Poetry

POSTPONED, DATE TBA - Speaking Queerly: An LGBTQ+ Poetry Night
October 2, 7 p.m. – D.P. Culp Student Center, East Tennessee Room (room 272) 
This evening of open mic poetry reading is an informal community event featuring members of “The Mockingbird” student publication staff and other students, faculty and staff. 

Lectures and More

CANCELLED - An Evening with NASA at ETSU: A Presentation on the Europa Clipper Mission
October 3, 4:30 p.m. – Brown Hall auditorium, room 112
NASA is scheduled to launch the Europa Clipper Mission in October to learn more about Jupiter’s moon Europa. Dr. Trina Ray of NASA was scheduled to discuss the project and take part in a special workshop for teachers, but this event has been cancelled.

ETSU Elevates
October 7, 5:30 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
ETSU Elevates features collaborative community engagement projects between ETSU students and regional community partners that address economic, social or environmental issues. The students will present their pitches in front of a live audience and three judges. 

Presidential Lecture: ‘The Life and Times of Burgin E. Dossett’
October 8, 6:30 p.m. – Martin Center for the Arts, Powell Recital Hall
Fred Sauceman will share details about a remarkable era in ETSU’s history and the life of the man who defined it – the university’s third president, Dr. Burgin E. Dossett. 

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

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