Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams announced the Fourth of July Food Truck and Fireworks Festival on Wednesday, along with event sponsors.
As July rounds the corner, Harrisburg plans to kick off the month with food, music and spectacle.
The city announced, at a press conference on Wednesday, its annual Fourth of July Food Truck and Fireworks Festival, which will return to N. Front Street on Tuesday, along with an upcoming summer music series.
“The 4th of July is when Harrisburg shines,” said Mayor Wanda Williams. “We urge everyone to come happy and definitely hungry and ready to have a good time.”
The festival, from 1 to 9 p.m., will include nearly 50 food trucks, featuring everything from dumplings to shaved ice to specialty waffles to PA Farm Show milkshakes. There will also be a wine and beer garden with selections from several local brewers and vineyards.
For families, the festival will have free kids’ activities with balloon animals, face painting, yard games, a magician and more.
Live music can be heard all day at the main stage, located between Liberty and State streets.
New this year, the city will host a “shop local” vendor area near the Civic Club of Harrisburg, where people can shop wares from local artisans and small businesses.
To close out the day, a fireworks display will shoot off from City Island beginning at 9:15 p.m. and will be visible from the riverfront. The display, which officials called “one of the best fireworks shows in central Pennsylvania,” will last about 15 minutes and include some 2,000 fireworks shells.
After an incident at last year’s Fourth of July festival in Harrisburg that caused attendees to flee from the riverfront just before the fireworks show, city officials assured the public that this year’s event will be safe.
“There will be a large complement of officers detailed just to the riverfront for the festivities and will be there all day,” explained Lt. Kyle Gautsch of the Harrisburg Police Bureau. “We are taking every step we can to ensure that last year’s events don’t take place again this year and everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July.”
Police vehicles and officers will be located along N. Front Street throughout the day, as well, he added.
Free street parking will be available in the city on July 4. Parking is also available on City Island for $5 and $10 parking, from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., can be found at the Square Garage.
N. Front Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from Forster to Walnut streets, from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m., on July 4. The Market Street Bridge will close westbound from 6:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.
In addition to the holiday festivities, Harrisburg announced its new July Music Series, which will take place at the Reservoir Park bandshell, from July 2 through 30.
The series, hosted by the city and Harrisburg-based nonprofit Pop’s House, will offer the community six free nights of music in the park.
The program will include the following events:
- July 2—Mayor Williams’ Rising Stars Youth Showcase, 6-8:30 p.m.
- July 4—Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- July 9—Gospel Night with R.E.I.G.N., 6-8:30 p.m.
- July 15—Jazz under the Stars with Mike Philips-5-10 p.m.
- July 23—Reggae Night with Jah Works, 6-8:30 p.m.
- July 30—Latin Night with Mako Swing, 6-8:30 p.m.
“There is something for everyone in July at the bandshell,” Williams said.
For more information, visit Harrisburg’s website.
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