In commemoration of Jim's and Jane's collective creative contributions to society (you can read about them and their contributions in the latest TERP Magazine feature: 25 Terp Innovations That Changed History), there will be numerous activities and events hosted throughout the week on and off campus promoting the themes: CREATE. MAKE. PLAY.  

We hope you can join the fun by discovering something new, sharing your creative vision, seeking out inspiration from untapped sources, and making a few new friends along the way. 

There will be dozens of events, workshops, and programs taking place before, during, and after Henson Week. 

Scroll below to preview the lineup of activities happening on campus, in the community, and online. 

You can also click on the following to jump to these sections:

• Activities Leading up to Henson Week
• Activities Across Campus
• Activities in the Community
• Activities Online
• Activities After Henson Week

Download the RandeVous App in preparation for The Great Terp Quest open to all UMD Students interested in participating in this one day campus-wide adventure filled with trivia, challenges, and photo missions taking place Thursday, September 24th from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM in celebration of Jim Henson's 90th birthday.

Also, the launch of a dedicated Henson Week app will be available for download during the week of Henson Week. Check back on September 20th for more details.

NextNOW Fest features performances, workshops and other types of events by genre-pushing, nationally renowned touring artists, as well as campus-based artists. You can expect an eclectic lineup of artists across music, theater, dance, visual art, comedy and more genres.

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.

Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.

Activity: Visit the Jim Henson Statue and Memorial Garden

Audience: Open to All

Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Location: Located on the left side the main entrance of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union.

Description: Spend a moment visiting this bronze statue of Jim Henson '60 and one his most famous creations, Kermit the Frog. Learn more about the statue and this prominent University of Maryland landmark.

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Activity: Visit the "Students Change the World" Exhibit

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Location: Thurgood Marshall Hall, Ground Floor and Do Good Plaza

Description: Visit this interactive exhibit that tells the stories of Terps who are making an impact on campus, in their communities, and across the world. Explore four touchscreen stations featuring life-size, in-depth storytelling, with overhead holosonic speakers that make it feel like each subject is speaking directly to you. 

Two more stories will be viewable this week including Bitcamp and Dare to Dream! And many more videos will be released during the fall semester featuring Sustainabli, Black People Die By Suicide Too, American Diversity Group Free Clinic, and Game Changers. 

Make sure to share: "Which story moved you most?" via @dogoodatumd — and if it's got you thinking "I want to do that too," please check out resources and opportunities to get started at dogood.umd.edu.

While you are visiting Thurgood Marshall Hall, snap a photo in the Do Good Plaza with these iconic campus landmarks: Do Good sign and The Do Good Rings where you can walk through them to be further inspired by stories of student impact.

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Activity: Celebrate Henson Week at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Audience: Open to the Public.

Time: During operational hours

Location: Adele H. Stamp Student Union 

Description: Stop by the first floor, near the coffee bar, to appreciate a visual showcase celebrating Jim Henson's history at the University of Maryland. Also, visit the lobby for a stunning balloon art display celebrating Jim Henson's Muppets. Plus, consider filling out the on-site survey for a chance to win prizes.

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Activity: Visit the University Book Center

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: Check online for the latest on Store Hours

Location: Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: Check out all the University Book Center has to offer including its numerous Henson Week-related merchandise.

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Activity: Visit the Maryland Dairy

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: Check online for the latest on the Maryland Dairy Hours

Location: Adjacent to the Food Court within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: Stop by to savor a special flavor commemorating Henson Week - Imagination Inspiration!

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Activity: Visit the Special Collections in Performing Arts on Jim Henson

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: An appointment is required to access the Special Collections between Monday, September 21st - Friday, September 25th from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  The Special Collections are not accessible on Sunday or Saturday. Find the latest Libraries' hours online.

Location: The Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library is located within The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Description: Make an appointment to explore the:

• Jim Henson Collection (Finding Aid)

• Jim Henson Video Collection (Finding Aid)

• Edward L. Longley Papers (Finding Aid)

• Polly Smith Collection on Jim Henson (Finding Aid)

• Sam and Friends scrapbook facsimile (Catalog Record)

Activity: College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Asks "How Do You Henson?"

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: Throughout the day and online

Location: Symons Hall

Description: Students, Faculty, and Staff are prompted to consider where might your imagination take you? Participants will be given the opportunity to dream up your own Henson-inspired creation and to create or describe their own character (i.e. personality traits, interests, inventions, or how they contribute to the community) 

Also, there will be a Door Decorating Contest within Symons Hall encouraging teams within the building to show off their creative door decorating skills.

Lastly, anyone entering Symons Hall will have the opportunity to write their responses to these prompts: How do you inspire creativity? How do you make others smile? How do you bring people together? What Henson value speaks to you most? - and place their sticky notes on the AGNR Community Board. 

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Activity: Reflections with Jim Henson’s Red Book

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location:  The Graduate School Conference Room in Lee Building, Room 2124

Description: In 1965, Jim Henson started a diary that he would go on to keep for over two decades. This diary, which became known as the Red Book, began with a list of the memorable events from the first 28 years of his life. 

Join us for a reflective zine-making session where you can create your own version of the Red Book! 

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Activity: Henson Week Collaborative Mural

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff; Registration is required

Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Studio A within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: Come to Studio A to view a mural that Jim Henson created while he was a student here at the University of Maryland, then participate in a collaborative Henson Week mural which will be put on display in the Stamp Union for Henson Week!

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Activity: Fireside Chat with Christiano Malik Terry, CEO of N LITE

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: Ulrich Recital Hall within Tawes Hall

Description: Attendees will get to hear from Christiano, who is the Founder & CEO of N LITE, an anime studio & media company bridging Japanese anime with the magic of Hollywood. He is also the Co-creator, Producer, and Screenwriter of MFINDA: Manga, the first Black & Japanese-led anime feature film, and the first foreign original IP to be serialized by a major Japanese publisher. 

Activity: Get Creative with Improv

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 10:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Location: Room 1130 within Edward St. John Learning & Teaching Center

Description: This workshop will be facilitated by Instructors from the Academy for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Learn some basic practices and mindsets of improvisational theater to improve your creativity through a few fun and easy exercises. No prior improv experience necessary. To attend, please sign up online for IDEA459/659 The Innovation Studio: Experience Design in Performance Contexts.

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Activity: "They Call this Editing. I Call it Cheating!" Script Drafts from the Greatest (and Cheapest) Muppet Movies (N)ever Made"

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Location: Piano Room within the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Description: Paul Cote, Principal Lecturer for the English Department, will be discussing one of the most famous unproduced screenplays, "The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made," as well as other Henson-related scripts.

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Activity: College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Asks "How Do You Henson?"

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: Throughout the day and online

Location: Symons Hall

Description: Students, Faculty, and Staff are prompted to consider where might your imagination take you? Participants will be given the opportunity to dream up your own Henson-inspired creation and to create or describe their own character (i.e. personality traits, interests, inventions, or how they contribute to the community) 

Also, there will be a Door Decorating Contest within Symons Hall encouraging teams within the building to show off their creative door decorating skills.

Lastly, anyone entering Symons Hall will have the opportunity to write their responses to these prompts: How do you inspire creativity? How do you make others smile? How do you bring people together? What Henson value speaks to you most? - and place their sticky notes on the AGNR Community Board. 

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Activity: Artist Talk: Artist and Maker Chris Combs

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: The Stamp Gallery inside of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: Hear from Chris Combs, one of the artists whose work is included in Afterhours, an exhibition featuring six artists - Cecilia Kim, Leslie Holt, Chris Combs, Trystan Luah, McCoy Chance, and Electra Pelias - whose works examine how obsolescence shapes individual and collective experiences. Reflecting on capitalist definitions of purpose, utility, and worth, these artists invite viewers to reconsider how these systems of categorization have molded our relationships with objects, spaces, ourselves, and each other. 

Speaker Bio: 

Chris Combs is an artist based in Washington, D.C and Mount Rainier, Maryland, whose sculptural artworks both incorporate and question technologies. Chris was the 2025 Artist in Residence at the Sanford Underground Research Facility and is a five-time recipient of the DC CAH Arts and Humanities Fellowship. He is a graduate of the Corcoran College of Art + Design and was a photo editor for National Geographic. He has shown at VisArts, McLean Project for the Arts, IA&A at Hillyer, and other DC-area institutions. His artwork Periscopes is permanently installed in Buzzard Point, D.C., and Madness Method, a collaboration with David Greenfieldboyce, was part of Georgetown GLOW. The Next Big Thing (MoCA Arlington Innovation Studio, 2024) recreated Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa with E-waste that reacted to visitors’ faces and movements. His show Supercycle (IA&A at Hillyer, 2023) invoked cycles of hype, such as “AI” and cryptocurrencies. Outsized Effects (Gradient Projects, Thomas, WV, 2023–4) included the room-sized Allegheny Data Company, examining data mining through the visual lens of coal mining. Chris is a member of Otis Street Arts Project.

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Activity: Maryland 2050: Design the Future You Want to Live In

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: LeFrak Hall Undergraduate Computer Lab & Undergraduate Lounge (Room 1150)

Description: Explore Maryland through a creative, hands-on mapping experience. Participants will imagine a future Maryland and use GIS to design and map a solution to a spatial challenge of their choice. Work individually or collaboratively to experiment with maps, data, and ideas, and turn your vision for Maryland into something you can see and share. No prior GIS experience is required and everyone is welcome!

Please Register by Monday, Sept. 14 so the team can plan accordingly for food and supplies. Registration is encouraged but not required—you are welcome to drop in even if you haven't registered.

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Activity: Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 8:00 PM

Location: Hoff Theatre within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: Catch a free screening of the Super Mario Galaxy movie as part of Henson Week, which celebrates beloved franchises Mario and Nintendo.

Activity: Henson-inspired Button-Making

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: Tawes Plaza

Description: Got 10 minutes between classes? Join the Office of Sustainability on September 23rd from 11am-1pm at the UM Farmers Market, taking place at Tawes Plaza where you can craft your own Henson-inspired button! You can wear it for the day, pin it on your backpack, or even give it to a friend. What's your vision? Come show us!

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Activity: TerpPALS: Advancing Neurodiversity

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Location: Outside LeFrak Hall and across from the South Campus Dining Hall

Description: Students are invited to create TerpPALS (Promote Allies and Leveraging Strengths) wee folk and also learn how they can help advance lifelong success and belonging for neurodivergent Terps within our campus community.

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Activity: College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Asks "How Do You Henson?"

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: Throughout the day and online

Location: Symons Hall

Description: Students, Faculty, and Staff are prompted to consider where might your imagination take you? Participants will be given the opportunity to dream up your own Henson-inspired creation and to create or describe their own character (i.e. personality traits, interests, inventions, or how they contribute to the community) 

Also, there will be a Door Decorating Contest within Symons Hall encouraging teams within the building to show off their creative door decorating skills.

Lastly, anyone entering Symons Hall will have the opportunity to write their responses to these prompts: How do you inspire creativity? How do you make others smile? How do you bring people together? What Henson value speaks to you most? - and place their sticky notes on the AGNR Community Board. 

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Activity: Spin The Wheel with Technica!

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Hornbake Plaza

Description: Have a minute? Come spin the wheel with Technica and have fun (and win free merch) by answering fun questions!

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Activity: Made in Japan: Ponyo Movie Night with JASA!

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Susquehanna Hall Room 1120

Description: Join the Japanese American Student Association (JASA) for a Japanese Movie Night celebrating Henson Week’s theme, “Create. Make. Play.” Experience the creativity of Japanese film making, storytelling, animation, and entertainment while enjoying a fun and relaxing night with the UMD community. Attendees can explore Japanese culture through film, and connect with others through a shared movie experience!

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Activity: Terps After Dark: Build-A-Terp

Audience: UMD Students

Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Location: Grand Ballroom within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: It's Jim Henson Week! Come out and build a Terp Friend, have some ice cream, and celebrate all things Jim Henson. Only 600 students can RSVP, so be sure to sign up before all the spots are filled. To meet your pal, arrive by 7:00 PM. After 8:30 PM, any unclaimed pals may be matched with another adventurer (waitlist). Reserve your spot for the adventure!

Event Hosts: This enchanting evening is brought to you by Terps After Dark, UMPD, SEE, and STAMP.

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Activity: Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 8:00 PM

Location: Hoff Theatre within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: Catch a free screening of the Super Mario Galaxy movie as part of Henson Week, which celebrates beloved franchises Mario and Nintendo.

Activity: M in Teamwork & Muppet Chaos Theory Board

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 07:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Location: INFO Commons (Hornbake Library Basement)

Description: Add your perspective to the White Board or take a few moments to explore how people around campus engage with one another in team settings or in larger organizations.

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Activity: Hornbake Library Letterpress Studio Pop-up Button Making Experience

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Location: Hornbake Library Lobby

Description: Print and make your own button using the Hornbake Library Letterpress Studio’s mobile Kelsey press! Use linocut carvings to add stamps to your print and create your own button! 

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Activity: It's Not Easy Being a National Treasure: The Henson Collection at the National Museum of American History

Keynote Speaker: Ryan Lintelman, Entertainment Curator, Division of Culture and the Arts, for the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. 

Watch this YouTube video on How Kermit the Frog got his start in DC (NBC4 Washington) to preview some of Ryan's keynote presentation.

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location: Hornbake Library Lobby (1st Floor) in front of the Gallery and Maryland Room

Description: Find out why the Henson collection is among the favorites of visitors, researchers, and museum staff as well! Many visitors to the National Museum of American History walk past Abraham Lincoln's hat, the First Ladies' dresses, and the Star Spangled Banner to find the national treasures they're really looking for: Jim Henson's Muppets. The collection of over 40 historically significant Henson puppets and props date back to 1975, when Ernie and Bert puppets from Sesame Street were displayed in an exhibition titled We The People. Jim Henson himself visited the museum to donate a Kermit puppet in 1980 while in Washington DC for the World Puppetry Festival, and Jane Henson made a gift of the original Sam and Friends puppets including the original 1955 Kermit to the museum in 2010. 

If you are interested in learning more about the Muppets collection at the National Museum of American History, then explore the content in these Smithsonian Magazine articles:

• A Peek Inside Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, Where ‘Sesame Street’ Characters and Other Whimsical Puppets Are Designed
• A Theory About Muppet Master Frank Oz
• Kermit the Frog and Friends Join American History Museum’s Collections
• Kermit the Frog Was Just Trying to Put on a Variety Show. Fifty Years Later, the Muppets Are Some of the Biggest Stars in Television History
• The Muppets Take the Smithsonian
• Q&A: Cheryl Henson
• What Made Jim Henson, the Visionary Behind the Muppets, One of the Nation’s Most Beloved Cultural Figures

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Activity: Experience AADHum and NarraSpaceXR

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH) Suite, Room 0301 (Hornbake Library Basement)

Description: Explore the intersections of arts, humanities, and technology with the African American Digital and Experimental Humanities (AADHum) and NarraSpaceXR through a range of hands-on creative computing and interactive technology stations.

• Remix with LiteraryDJ

• Play with Retro-Gaming

• Make Augmented Reality Zines

• Creative Computing (Co)Lab: DIY Lanterns

• Experience Interactive Projections

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Activity: Kami's Impact: When Sesame Street took on HIV/AIDS

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Location: Hornbake Library Lobby (1st Floor) in front of the Gallery and Maryland Room

Description: Dr. Borzekowski ("Dr. B.") will discuss the development and 24-year impact of Kami, South Africa's HIV-positive and orphaned Muppet. This fun lecture will include video clips and data.

Title: Terps After Dark: The Great Terp Quest

Audience: UMD Students

Location: Download the RandeVous App before you begin so you’re ready to participate and complete the Quest!

Time: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM 

Description:  Get ready for a campus-wide adventure filled with trivia, challenges, and photo missions using the RandeVous app! In celebration of Henson Week and Jim Henson’s 90th birthday, we’ll feature special Henson and Muppet trivia along the way, plus questions that put your UMD knowledge and campus history to the test. Some clues can be solved with a quick Google search, while others will send you exploring campus to find the answer. Complete challenges, earn points, and compete for prizes and bragging rights!
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Activity: Meet Yourself at the Museum

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 10:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Location: Room 1130 within Edward St. John Learning & Teaching Center

Description: This workshop will be facilitated by Instructors from the Academy for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Reimagine how museums can meet people (yourself included) at the moments that matter most through hands-on exercises. Museum professional Isabella Bruno will be the guest facilitator. To attend, please sign up online for IDEA459/659 The Innovation Studio: Experience Design in Performance Contexts.

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Activity: Celebration of Jim Henson's 90th Birthday 

Audience: Open to All

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Location: Jim Henson Statute and Memorial Garden located on the left side the main entrance of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union.

Description: Join the festivities commemorating Jim Henson's 90th birthday by taking a selfie and enjoying a few tasty treats. Learn more about the statue and this prominent University of Maryland landmark.

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Activity: Minecraft Creative Build Competition

Audience: UMD Students

Time: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Location: Cambridge Community Center: Home of the New Esports Center

Description: Join Terps Esports for a Minecraft Creative Competition in our brand-new Esports facility! Build your best creation and compete for a prize, with entries judged by our creative student staff. Come create, compete, and get a look at our new space! Those wishing to compete should arrive early, as the competition begins at 4pm. The last 30 minutes will be allocated for judging & prizes.

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Activity: Henson Mania: A Night of Art, Innovation & Imagination

Audience: UMD Students; Registration is required

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Riggs Alumni Center

Description: Henson Mania: A Night of Art, Innovation & Imagination is a dynamic celebration hosted by the Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC) that brings Terps together through creativity and campus traditions. Featuring Henson-themed tie-dye shirts, a guided drawing experience with a Terp alum and a showcase of student-created work, come celebrate the lasting impact of Henson's work and connect with others! 

Organizing Hosts and Activity Sponsors: Thank you to the following supporters and partners in making this event possible: Henson Week, Terps After Dark, Pepsi, Student Entertainment Events (SEE) and Immersive Media Design.

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Activity: Counted Cross Stitch: Terp Wall Hanger

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff; Registration is required

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Studio A within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: Join Studio A to learn the basics of counted cross stitch, and come home with your own Terp Cross Stitch Wall hanger! This event is limited to 30 participants

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Activity: Back to School Q&A Featuring...Lamorne Morris

Audience: FREE admission for UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff with a valid ticket and UID. 

Time: Doors open at 7PM with line up starting at 6:30! There will be a 30 minute open door period after the events begins, with doors closing at 8:30PM!

Location: Grand Ballroom within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union 

Description: Join SEE for an unforgettable night with actor Lamorne Morris!! Have your burning questions ready to be answered with a fun audience Q&A and engaging mini-games! Lamorne is starring in the unforgettable TV series New Girl and the recent Marvel crime series Spider Noir. 

For ENTRANCE into the venue, all participants MUST have a valid TICKET AND UID to present for scanning. Tickets can be found on UMDtickets.com. TICKETS ARE FREE FOR THIS EVENT. 

Event Sponsors: SEE, ODK, and Terps After Dark
 

Activity: Henson Mania: A Night of Art, Innovation & Imagination

Audience: UMD Students; Registration is required

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Riggs Alumni Center

Description: Henson Mania: A Night of Art, Innovation & Imagination is a dynamic celebration hosted by the Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC) that brings Terps together through creativity and campus traditions. Featuring Henson-themed tie-dye shirts, a guided drawing experience with a Terp alum and a showcase of student-created work, come celebrate the lasting impact of Henson's work and connect with others! 

Organizing Hosts and Activity Sponsors: Thank you to the following supporters and partners in making this event possible: Henson Week, Terps After Dark, Pepsi, Student Entertainment Events (SEE) and Immersive Media Design.

Activity: Erasable Inc.'s Weekly Friday Show!

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location: Steps outside of McKeldin Library

Description: UMD's only all-improvised comedy troupe puts on their weekly Friday show! Swing on by for an hour of high-energy shenanigans and storytelling, made up completely on the spot.

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Activity: Computing Catalyst Henson-Inspired Music With Micro:bits

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Location: Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering Lobby

Description: Celebrate Henson Week with the Computing Catalyst and bring a little Henson-inspired magic to life through code! Stop by the Iribe Center lobby for a hands-on introduction to micro:bits, where our undergraduate staff will help you code Henson-inspired creations—from playful music and animations to colorful shapes and characters. No coding experience needed, just bring your creativity and get ready to create, make, and play!

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Activity: Sock Puppet Party

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, Staff, and Families

Time: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Grand Ballroom (Room 1206) within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: In collaboration with the Office of Family Engagement, attendees will gather to attempt to break the Guinness World Records number of sock puppets worn in one venue. Join the fun, as members of the campus community will bring their wacky and zany sock puppets to the Grand Ballroom for this historic moment. And for those without a sock puppet, you will get the opportunity to adopt a sock puppet or make your own puppet (as long as supplies last) as we will offer a facilitator-led creativity and prototyping session. 

Event Sponsor: Office of Family Engagement, Division of Student Affairs

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Activity: Terps Against Hunger (TAH) x Delta Sigma Pi (DSP) Sandwich Packing

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Unity Center within Cole Field House

Description: Join Terps Against Hunger and Delta Sigma Pi for a hands-on sandwich packing event supporting food-insecure children in the surrounding community. In the spirit of Henson Week’s “Create. Make. Play.” theme, participants will work together to make sandwiches, create a positive impact, and connect with fellow members of the UMD community through service. Come lend a hand and help turn a simple meal into meaningful support for local children in need!

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Activity: The Muppet Movie

Audience: UMD Students, Faculty, and Staff

Time: 8:00 PM

Location: Hoff Theatre within the Adele H. Stamp Student Union

Description: Round out Henson Week with a screening of The Muppet Movie.

Activity: Smith Alumni Tailgate

Audience: Smith School Alumni and Families

Time: Game Time TBD 

Location: Ludwig Field

Description: Get ready for an epic pre-game setup featuring great food, cold drinks, music, yard games, and quality time with fellow Smith alumni before the Maryland Terrapins take on UCLA! Reconnect with old friends, make new connections, and bring the Terp pride. For more information and to attend this event, please go online to register by September 22nd.

Activity: Science of Flight Pop-Up Exhibit

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: College Park Aviation Museum

Description: Jim and Jane Henson created many iconic bird characters, but not many of them could actually fly. This pop-up exhibit celebrates curiosity and imagination while exploring the science of bird flight. Learn about the forces that keep birds aloft, the formations they use when flying together, and the mysteries of migration. This engaging experience invites visitors of all ages to wonder at the natural world and see science take flight.

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Activity: PastPort to History: Rainbow Connection

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: After Story-Time Program from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location: College Park Aviation Museum

Description: What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing, and what do we think we might see? Discover how light helps us unlock the mysteries of the universe. In this hands-on activity, participants will explore how light bends and separates into colors through refraction and learn how space telescopes like Webb are studying distant galaxies, stars, and exoplanets. After experimenting with color and the light spectrum, everyone can create their own rainbow window decal to take home. No registration required.

Activity: Henson Week Game Night

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Board and Brew, College Park

Description: Spend an evening playing games and making new friends at Board and Brew.

Activity: Science of Flight Pop-Up Exhibit

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: College Park Aviation Museum

Description: Jim and Jane Henson created many iconic bird characters, but not many of them could actually fly. This pop-up exhibit celebrates curiosity and imagination while exploring the science of bird flight. Learn about the forces that keep birds aloft, the formations they use when flying together, and the mysteries of migration. This engaging experience invites visitors of all ages to wonder at the natural world and see science take flight.

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Activity: Floral Workshop

Audience: WeWork Members and Open to the Public

Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location: WeWork College Park

Description: WeWork UMD is inviting members and the UMD community to let their creativity bloom! Inspired by Jim Henson’s legacy of imagination and creativity, attendees can choose their own vase, pick from a variety of flowers, and create a one-of-a-kind mini floral arrangement. Stop by, get creative, and leave with something beautiful to brighten your space!

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Activity: Science of Flight Pop-Up Exhibit

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: College Park Aviation Museum

Description: Jim and Jane Henson created many iconic bird characters, but not many of them could actually fly. This pop-up exhibit celebrates curiosity and imagination while exploring the science of bird flight. Learn about the forces that keep birds aloft, the formations they use when flying together, and the mysteries of migration. This engaging experience invites visitors of all ages to wonder at the natural world and see science take flight.

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Activity: A Jazz Jam @ Busboys and Poets, Hyattsville

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: Begins at 7:30 PM

Location: 5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781

Description: Clarice Presents' Jazz Jams, in partnership with Busboys and Poets, brings D.C.-based saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed to perform and lead a community-wide jam! Elijah's band will play a set starting at 7:30PM. This is an opportunity to hear live jazz music and jump in, play music, experiment, and have a shared experience through the arts. 

After Balbed's band performs their set, you’ll have a chance to call a tune! 

Bring your instrument. All levels welcome!

Activity: Science of Flight Pop-Up Exhibit

Audience: Open to the Public

Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: College Park Aviation Museum

Description: Jim and Jane Henson created many iconic bird characters, but not many of them could actually fly. This pop-up exhibit celebrates curiosity and imagination while exploring the science of bird flight. Learn about the forces that keep birds aloft, the formations they use when flying together, and the mysteries of migration. This engaging experience invites visitors of all ages to wonder at the natural world and see science take flight.

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Title: Misfits & Trailblazers: Fireside Chat with Jim Henson's Biographer Brian Jones

Location: Zoom (Registration Required)

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Description: Join Jim Henson biographer Brian Jay Jones and writer and Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House director Ross Angelella for a fireside chat about creativity, storytelling, and the people who refuse to fit neatly into the expected mold. A conversation about misfits and trailblazers, the creative lives we build around them, and what Henson’s work can still teach us about making something unmistakably our own.

Speaker Bios:

Brian Jay Jones - New York Times bestselling biographer who is known for covering iconic creative geniuses who have made indelible contributions to popular culture. He has explored the lives and legacies of Jim Henson, George Lucas, Washington Irving, and Dr. Seuss for serious fans and newcomers alike. Jim Henson: The Biography (Ballantine, 2013) was a New York Times bestseller, and chosen as the Best Biography of 2013 by Goodreads, as well as one of the year’s Top Ten books by CNN viewers. 

Ross Angelella, teaches creative writing at the University of Maryland College Park where he directs Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House, a literary center for the study of creative writing across cultures and languages. He is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter and professor. He is also the author of the irreverent and twisted coming-of-age novel Zombie (2012). His short fiction has been anthologized in Eight Very Bad Nights (2024) and appeared in various journals. 

Title: Copyright for Creatives

Location: Zoom  (Registration Required)

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Description: UM Ventures is pleased to support UMD's Henson Week via this webinar with its own Dr. Beth Sheckler, Innovation Manager. Everyone makes copyright protectable work, especially those in creative fields or with creative hobbies. Join us for a review of some copyright basics, while we explore case studies of some of the most famous copyright creators. Consider how to think strategically about your own copyrighted work, and learn how copyright works with the intellectual property policy here on the UMD campus. We will have plenty of time for Q&A.

Speaker Bio:

Elizabeth Sheckler, PhD, RTTP (Beth), is an innovation manager for UM Ventures, College Park. She specializes in copyright and trademark-protectable intellectual property management, commercialization, and broad impacts, including software and creative works. 

At UM Ventures, Dr. Sheckler solicits innovation disclosures from the UMD community and guides those innovations toward business models for impact beyond campus, including liaising with companies. She facilitates licenses (from lead generation to negotiations), including startups; provides outreach, engagement, and education related to intellectual property and licensing; and works with community members on valuation and pathways for translation.

In celebration of Jim Henson's 90th birthday, tet ready for a campus-wide adventure taking place Thursday, September 24th from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

We’ll feature special Henson and Muppet trivia along the way, plus questions that put your UMD knowledge and campus history to the test. 

Some clues can be solved with a quick Google search, while others will send you exploring campus to find the answer. Complete challenges, earn points, and compete for prizes and bragging rights!

Download the RandeVous App in preparation for The Great Terp Quest open to all UMD Students interested in participating in this one day campus-wide adventure filled with trivia, challenges, and photo missions.

Please join us on September 24th from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM on Zoom to hear from several entrepreneurs addressing ecological and collective health in communities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

This online space is intended to highlight environmental and social entrepreneurs, helping to connect them to resources, build awareness of their work, and amplify their current needs (including funding, partnership-building, customer introductions, team-building, and more). 

Agenda:

Introductions from Dave Feldman and Scott Christensen (~10 minutes)

Presentation by Kathy Magruder (~20 minutes)

​Startup Pitches (~5-7 minutes each) 

• ​Venki Energy is making it easy to get solar, by offering innovative residential solar systems that are affordable, fast to install, and can be moved or expanded in the future.
• TerraFusion is developing centrifugal magnetic mirror fusion technology: a cost-effective and scientifically proven pathway to commercial fusion energy.
• ​OpenGrid is building a network of distributed energy assets by owning and operating behind-the-meter battery storage at everyday commercial sites.

​This online event is open to all. This event may be of interest to those who are:

• ​Interested in understanding novel and entrepreneurial approaches to ecological and social challenges in the watershed.
• ​Seeking to build partnerships and collaborate with ecological and social entrepreneurs in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
• ​Interested in finding an internship or job with an organization working on ecological or social challenges.
• ​Want to fund novel and entrepreneurial approaches to ecological and social challenges.

​Each entrepreneur will speak for no more than 7 minutes and will end their portion with a summary of their needs. Examples of needs might include talent, fundraising, customer intros, stakeholder and government connections, etc. Q&A for each entrepreneur will happen after all presentations in breakout rooms.

The value of this event is in increasing connectivity between different stakeholders in the regional climate and entrepreneurship ecosystems. By holding this call, we hope to facilitate connections between entrepreneurs, supporters, funders, government, community members, and more. 

College Park Day 2026 will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD 20740)! 

This annual festival is the City of College Park's biggest event of the year featuring free activities and entertainment for all ages!

Participants can enjoy live music and performances on three stages throughout the day. The Main Stage will feature an exciting lineup of live bands while the Family Stage will offer interactive shows and kids music. There will also be a Performance Area that will include a mix of music and entertainment for all.

Guests can also expect non-stop action with wandering performers, inflatables, carnival-style games and a helicopter fly-in.

For those who prefer to stroll through the festival, there will be over 20+ local artists and craftsmen displaying and selling unique, handmade arts & crafts at Artist Alley, and exhibitors will be sharing great information with the community.

The day also includes free admission to the College Park Aviation Museum where attendees can explore historic aircraft and discover why the city is a birthplace of American aviation!

There will also be a wide variety of food and drink vendors with local restaurants, food trucks and breweries in attendance.

Free parking will be available nearby, along with free shuttle service from select locations, and bike racks will be available on site. The event site is minutes away walking from the College Park-UMD Metro Station (on the Green Line).

Jim Henson: A Creative Life in Six Objects - In Person

Date: Friday, ​October 23, 2026 - ​12:00 PM ​to 1:30 PM ET​ 

Code: 1J0580

Location:

National Museum of American History
Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music
14th St & Constitution Ave NW

Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/jim-henson

Jim Henson’s boundless imagination and enduring legacy are best revealed through his creations. From inventing beloved characters such as Kermit the Frog and Rowlf and crafting fantastical worlds in The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth to creating television for the whole family in The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock, Henson’s creative genius was unparalleled.

The Jim Henson Company Archives Director Karen Falk and biographer Brian Jay Jones explore six extraordinary objects donated by Henson’s family to the National Museum of American History. Each offers a unique window into Henson’s creativity, artistic evolution, and long-lasting cultural impact. Ranging from early experiments to iconic creations, these artifacts reveal how Henson blended artistry, technology, and storytelling to reshape modern entertainment. Guided by Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator in the Smithsonian’s Division of Culture and the Arts, the discussion weaves together biography, behind-the-scenes insights, and historical context.

Following the program, attendees have the rare opportunity to see objects from the National Museum of American History’s collection that are not on public display.

General Information

• Registration for this program will end by 2:00 PM ET on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

Information about the Henson Week Mini-Grants pilot will be announced in mid-September.