Linfield University invites the community to campus this spring for a diverse lineup of public events celebrating the arts, ideas and connection. From immersive art exhibitions and eclectic music performances to engaging lectures and wine education experiences, there’s something for every interest. Events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.
Through March 7: Holden Head exhibition “Stay A While Longer”
The Linfield Art Gallery‘s newest exhibition features artist Holden Head. “Stay A While Longer” will be on display Feb. 11 through March 7. Head, who was born in Nashville and grew up in the south, uses his experience to shape his understanding of the world. He works primarily in sculpture, with an emphasis on the figurative and performative, often using humor and restraint to navigate darker subject matter. He holds a BFA in photography from Watkins College of Art and an MFA from the University of Chicago. Recent exhibitions include a solo show at the Hallie Ford Museum. Head is currently a visiting assistant professor of sculpture at Willamette University.
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. This exhibition is sponsored by the Lacroute Arts Series and the Department of Art.
March 8: Second Sunday Pop-Up Wine Tasting
Enjoy wine direct from the winemakers! Acorn to Oak Wine Experience, Linfield’s student-run wine bar on Third Street, hosts pop-up tasting events from 12-6 p.m. every second Sunday of the month, featuring different partner wineries. The event is free, but bottles are available to purchase and take home from the wineries. Check out Acorn to Oak’s social media the week leading up to the event to see what partners will be pouring. Reservations are appreciated but not required.
March 10: Frank Larsell Lecture: Nicholas Buccola on “Goldwater, King and the Meaning of Freedom”
Join Nicholas Buccola as he discusses his recent book, “One Man’s Freedom: Goldwater, King, and the Struggle over an American Ideal,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 in Nicholson Library. Buccola tells the dramatic untold story of Barry Goldwater and Martin Luther King Jr.’s decade-long clash over the meaning of freedom — and how their conflicting visions still divide American politics.
Buccola is professor of government and the Jules L. Whitehill Professor of Humanism and Ethics at Claremont McKenna College. He is also the author of “The Fire Is upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley Jr., and the Debate over Race in America,” which was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, and “The Political Thought of Frederick Douglass.” A Q&A session moderated by Linfield’s Scott Selberg, assistant professor of media studies and CaTaLyst faculty fellow, will follow the talk.
March 10: Arcturus Winds woodwind quintet
The Linfield Department of Music presents Arcturus Winds in a special performance at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 in Delkin Recital Hall within the Vivian Bull Music Center. Created in 2018 as part of the 45th Parallel Universe expansion, Arcturus Winds features the following musicians from the Oregon Symphony:
- Joe Berger, horn
- Zach Galatis, flute
- James Shields, clarinet
- Karen Wagner, oboe
Old, new, standard, obscure — they celebrate every opportunity to play and share with audiences. They perform selections from “The Planets” and other iconic space-themed music, taking you on a delightful journey through the most celebrated sounds of space from the past 50 years — including favorites from “2001: A Space Odyssey”, Gustav Holst: “The Planets” (arr. Russell), James Shields: “Anemos Arcturus,” and Samuel Barber: “Summer Music.”
The performance is free. Reserve your seat at https://events.linfield.edu/event-details/arcturus-winds-woodwind-quintet
March 11: interACT Performance – “No Is a Complete Sentence: A Proactive Prevention Approach to Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence”
Linfield University welcomes the interACT Performance Troupe at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 in Riley 201 for a free interactive program addressing intimate partner violence and stalking prevention.
Through interactive theatre techniques, the performance engages audience members in examining how abusive dynamics can develop, how boundaries are tested and how harmful behaviors escalate. Participants explore early warning signs, discuss strategies for assertive boundary-setting and consider how individual and community responses can promote safety and accountability.
March 11-14: OSAA / OnPoint Community Credit Union 2026 5A Basketball State Championships
McMinnville and Linfield University once again play host to the OSAA / OnPoint Community Credit Union 2026 5A Basketball State Championships March 11-14. The top boys and girls basketball teams in the state converge on Ted Wilson Gym for 22 games, ending in championship matchups on Saturday, March 14. Ticket prices range from $6-12, or all-session passes are available for $70 adults and $40 students. Tickets are available online at https://www.osaa.org/shop/tickets.
March 13: AI Book Club: “How to Think With AI”
Part of the School of Business’ Artificial Intelligence and I (AIAI) Initiative, the community is invited to discuss influential AI research papers and books in a collaborative setting. The spring semester book is “How to Think With AI” by Alison McCauley. Hosted by Nicholson Library, the AI Book Club meets on the second Friday of the month from 12-1 p.m. in Nicholson Library’s Austin Reading Room.
March 19: “Built to Last: How Businesses Thrive Through Generations”
Linfield University’s Center for Wine Education presents “Built to Last: How Businesses Thrive Through Generations,” a conversation with iconic company representatives to examine how they remain relevant and resilient amid shifting markets and evolving consumer expectations. The event runs from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, March 19 in Graf Auditorium (room 120).
Featured panelists include:
- Kela Driggs, brand leader at fifth-generation Wente Vineyards
- Scott Dylag, vice president and managing director of direct-to-consumer sales at Pendleton Woolen Mills established in 1909
- Gary Mortensen, CEO of Stoller Wine Group which follows a 200-year plan
- Mia Ponzi Hamacher of Sosta House and Winery Lane Collective, bringing a third-generation perspective to regional wine and hospitality
Moderated by Wine Director Maria Ponzi, the discussion will explore the real challenges legacy businesses face, how leaders evolve without losing identity and what it takes to build organizations designed not just to last, but to thrive across generations. The event is presented by the Marka & Thomas Hughes Wine Lecture Series. It is open to the public and includes a wine reception. Ticket proceeds support Linfield University wine studies students.
Public admission is $10, and the event is free for Linfield students, faculty and staff. Registration is required at https://linfield.edu/wine/news/events.html. For more information, email wine@linfield.edu.
March 19: Spring Choral Concert
The Linfield Department of Music presents Wildcat Glee, Cascara Voce and Concert Choir in the Spring Choral Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19 in Richard and Lucille Ice Auditorium within Melrose Hall. This eclectic concert features a mix of music from classic to contemporary, showcasing the versatility and talent of Linfield’s choral ensembles. The performance is free. Reserve your seat at https://events.linfield.edu/event-details/spring-choral-concert
March 24: Wine Business Executive Workshop
Linfield University’s second annual Wine Business Executive Workshop is a one-day intensive designed to give working wine professionals immediate, real-world tools to boost their careers. Whether you’re managing a winery, running a tasting room or preparing for a leadership role, you’ll walk away with practical strategies in sales, marketing, finance,and operations — plus actionable insights you can apply the very same day.
The day also offers plenty of time for discussion and networking with peers across the industry, all while enjoying a light breakfast, lunch and a wine reception. Sessions are led by accomplished wine professionals, including:
- Amanda Wittstrom Higgins, owner, Full Cup Solutions
- Rebecca Oliver, general manager, Domaine St. Laurent
- Joseph Orlando, ASA, vice president of valuation services, Exit Strategies Group, Inc.
- Bill Sweat, former owner and winegrower, Winderlea Vineyard and Winery
Pricing for this workshop is $350 per guest. A discounted rate of $100 is available for Linfield students. Registration is required by March 20, 2026, at https://linfield.edu/wine/news/events.html. For more information contact: wine@linfield.edu
See more Linfield events at linfield.edu/calendar.html or view the comprehensive athletic schedule of events at golinfieldwildcats.com/calendar.
