Berks & Beyond Blog

Looking for something fun to do in the Harrisburg, PA area?  Whether you want to spend a day outside or stay indoors, here are two local events to check out:

Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral

Carlisle PA Fairgrounds

Apr 25 – Apr 29, 2012

Adult Admission: Wed.-Sat. $10 / Sun. $5 / 5-day Pass $30
Child Admission: 8 and under – FREE
Gate Times: Wed.-Sat. 7am-6pm / Sun. 7am-3pm

Spring Carlisle – a collector and classic car swap meet, car corral and auction – marks the beginning of the show and swap meet season for thousands of collector and classic automotive enthusiasts, who travel to the 150-acre Carlisle PA Fairgrounds from all points of the globe to buy, sell and celebrate all things automotive.  This is a fun-filled weekend the entire family will enjoy.  All roads lead to Carlisle, PA where you’ll find a community of passionate motorheads and a commitment to superb service that can only be achieved through more than three decades of know-how.

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Special Centennial Titanic Celebration

The State Museum of Pennsylvania

Sun., April 22, 2012

2 pm, Reception following

Join The State Museum for a fascinating presentation and panel discussion, “The Titanic and Its Pennsylvania Passengers,” led by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commissioner William V. Lewis, Jr.

Dr. Lewis will be joined by two descendants of Titanic passengers from Pennsylvania as well as a journalist who has profiled the commonwealth’s connections to the infamous voyage which took place 100 years ago in April.  The State Museum event is free with museum admission and is followed by a reception and signing by the panelists of a new pamphlet Dr. Lewis has written on the disaster published by the Luzerne County Historical Society.  The reception will be hosted by the Pennsylvania Heritage Society.

Spring is in the air!

Time to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and have some fun.  Here are three great ways to celebrate the season in Pennsylvania’s midstate region:

It’s Springtime in the Park at Hersheypark

April 22 – 24, 2011

Enjoy Springtime In The Park this weekend! Put the chill of winter behind you and preview the coming summer fun with dozens of rides, live entertainment, strolling Hershey’s Product Characters, and more.  Visit with the Easter Bunny at Hershey’s Chocolate World on 4/22.

For more information, visit the Hersheypark website or call or call 1-800-HERSHEY (437-7439).

Spring Egg Hunt in Reservoir Park

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Grab your baskets and head over to Harrisburg’s Reservoir Park this Saturday for some family fun (weather permitting).  Registration is required for this event and will take place at the park pavilion, located behind the playground.  Here’s the scoop:

REGISTRATION TIME: 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM
HUNT TIME: 11:00 AM

LOCATION: Reservoir Park, 100 Concert Drive, Harrisburg

Pennsylvania State Police Benefit Bicycle Ride

Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Harrisburg Bicycle Club and The Pennsylvania State Police Historical, Educational and Memorial Center – HEMC are pleased to present the 7th Annual State Police Benefit Bicycle Ride.  Over the past 6 years many thousands of riders have enjoyed this event while helping to raise money to benefit the Pennsylvania State Police Historical, Educational & Memorial Center (PSP-HEMC) AND various local bicycle/run/walk projects such the Capital Area Greenbelt Association, Jonathan Eshenour Foundation, Lebanon Valley Rails to Trails, and the Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails Council.

REGISTRATION FEE: $25

Complete ride details and registration information (including online registration) are available on the PSP Benefit Ride Website.

Apple orchards, pumpkin patches, haunted hayrides…this is what autumn in Central Pennsylvania is all about.  If you’re looking for some seasonal fun, here are a few links that offer a little something for everyone:

Easter Seals Scarecrow Competition and Halloween Hoedown

Where:  Brown’s Orchard – Emigsville 3100 North George Street, Emigsville, PA 17318, 717-767-4142

When:  Saturday, Oct 23, 2010, 11:00 am Price Info Not Available

This event is planned by Easter Seals of Central PA to benefit their organization.  The scarecrow competition is followed by a silent auction.  Pumpkin treat contest at noon.  Winner announced immediately following the judges’ decision.

Strites’ Orchard Farm Market and Bakery

Where:  1000 Strites Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111, 717-564-3130

Open:  Monday through Friday 8am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 5pm, Closed Sundays

Pumpkins, pick-your-own apples, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, fall festival, corn maze, honey from hives on the farm, cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand.

Free Halloween Party at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center

Where:  Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, Herr St. and Susquehanna St., Harrisburg, PA 17102, 717-441-7506

When: Sunday, Oct 31, 2010

Please contact the Arts Center for more details.

Come enjoy Central Pennsylvania’s largest array of arts, activities and entertainment at the Labor Day weekend KIPONA Celebration.  This festival provides family fun for all, and is offered FREE on the banks of the beautiful Susquehanna River!

Event Dates:

Saturday, September 4th – 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 5th – 12:00 Noon to 9:00 p.m.
Monday, September 6th – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Event Details:

• ArtFest, featuring over 150 Artist and Craftspersons
• Activities, rides and performances for children and families
• Live music and entertainment
• Food and beverage vendors
• The Dick Reese Canoe Classic Race
• Capital City Bassmasters – Bass Classic
• Giant’s Pennsylvania Chili Cook-Off
• Gala Fireworks Display

And much, much more!  For more details, including a complete schedule of events, visit the City of Harrisburg’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Enrichment’s website.

Can you believe Memorial Day Weekend 2010 is here already?  Time to fire up the grill and enjoy some time with family and friends.  But if you’re looking for something to do beyond the traditional backyard barbeque, here are a few suggestions in the Harrisburg / Camp Hill area:

• One of Camp Hill’s longest-running traditions, the 91st Annual Camp Hill Memorial Day Parade will commemorate the men and women who have died in military service to this country.  The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. and starts downtown in the Market St. / N. 25th Street area.
• The Harrisburg Area Road Runners Club has details on three runs going on:  a 5K this Saturday in Lebanon; a 5K or 5 mile run in Lower Paxton Township this Sunday; and a 5K run/walk in Camp Hill.  Details are available via links on the website.
• The Greater Harrisburg Arts Council is pleased to host the 2010 Patriot-News Artsfest in Riverfront Park this Saturday through Monday, May 29th through 31st.  Kick off your summer by viewing amazing art, listening to great live entertainment and eating fantastic food.  The event offers something for everyone!

Wintertime is the perfect time to explore one of Harrisburg’s greatest treasures – The State Museum of Pennsylvania.  Located at 300 North Street, this interactive museum covers all aspects of Pennsylvania’s history and holds extensive collections relating to some of America’s most significant events.

From January 24 through May 2, 2010, the museum will host the traveling exhibition Tusks!  Ice Age Mammoths and Mastodons.  The exhibit tells the story of modern elephant’s extinct relatives who roamed much of North America until the end of the last Ice Age.

The exhibition opening marks the debut of The State Museum’s newly remounted Marshalls Creek Mastodon, one of the most significant fossil specimens recovered from Pennsylvania.

Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.

General admission is $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children and senior citizens.

For more information on Tusks! as well as other programs, exhibitions, and events at The State Museum, click on www.statemuseumpa.org.