Author Archives: Alexandra Jones

Dauphin County to cooperate with other counties to address juvenile detention bed shortage

January 29, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

Dauphin County commissioners met on Wednesday.

The Dauphin County commissioners have entered into a 20-year intergovernmental cooperation agreement with several neighboring counties for a new Multi-County Regional Youth Detention Center agency.

Approved during a legislative session on Wednesday, the agreement is designed to address a shortage of juvenile detention beds in the county.

Cooperating counties include Berks County, Lackawanna County and Lehigh County. The new detention agency will operate out of Berks County, and its detention program director will serve as the new agency’s director.

Dauphin County will appoint three out of 12 members of the new agency’s council. It will be responsible for 25% of the ongoing operating costs of the agency, which will be paid to Berks County on a quarterly basis. Half of Dauphin County’s money for the agreement comes from the state; the other half from the county.

The commissioners unanimously approved the contract, as one of 44 line items, at their weekly meeting.

To learn more about the Dauphin County Commissioners visit this website.

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Happenings: Our February Calendar of Events

January 29, 2026 | by Missy Smith

Museums & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Mustang Then and Now,” through April 19

“Old School Rods and Customs, through April 19

SAAB Showroom, through April 19

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“Women of the Permanent Collection,” featuring a variety of female artists from the 20th century with their own distinctive style and unique perspective, through March 27

“Figuratively Speaking,” winter membership exhibition, focusing on the human form in all shades, sizes and media, through Feb. 19

“A Day in the Life,” featuring the work of Sarah Mendez, Mark Dennis, Rebekah Campbell and Lisa Moore, Feb. 27-April 2; reception: March 20, 5-8 p.m.

The Art Center School & Galleries
18 Artcraft Dr., Mechanicsburg
717-697-2072; theartcenterschoolandgalleries.com

Small Works Exhibit, Feb. 6-26; reception: Feb. 6, 5:30-7 p.m.

Arts on the Square
20 S. Second St., Harrisburg
717-257-1270; marketsquarechurch.org

“Faces & Places,” works by Mindy Deardorff and Sherryl Heberlig Sunday, through April 19 (select dates)

Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“Dandelion—CALC’s 2026 Members’ Show,” exploring the many shades of yellow and/or visual puns, Feb. 13-March 14; Feb. 13, 5:30-7 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

Middle School Student Art Winners, Feb. 4-28

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

“For The Love of Art” show and sale of paintings, photographs, ceramics, glass and handmade jewelry at the Hershey Gardens, Feb. 13-15

HAAA Member Artwork at Hershey Public Library, hallway gallery, Feb. 14-April 11

HAAA Member Artwork at Hershey Public Library, community room, through May 30

Historical Society of Dauphin County
John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion
219 S. Front St., Harrisburg
717- 233-3462; dauphincountyhistory.org

Mansion Tours, Tuesdays-Friday, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Lebanon Picture Frame & Fine Art Gallery
847 Cumberland St., Lebanon
LebanonPictureFrame.com

Gallery’s Choice—a selection of paintings by local artists, Feb. 7- March 29

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Works by Ali Wunder and Emily Fussner, through March 3

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

“Ned Smith—Unseen,” through March 21

“Reflections,” mixed media artwork by Kristen Wierman, through April 4

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

Hooked Rugs by Debra Smith, through Feb. 26

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Ceramic sculptures by Travis Winters, through Feb. 13; public lecture and reception: Feb. 11, 12 p.m.

Art Faculty Exhibition, Feb. 23-March 20; reception: March 12, 5:30-7 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“Bannered Heroes—Celebrating Pennsylvania’s African American Veterans,” presented by Beta Pi Boulé, Harrisburg chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (the Boulé)

“Game Changers—Pennsylvania Women Who Made History,” celebrating women from across PA in diverse fields, detailing their contributions and challenges they faced

“Horse2Auto—A Transportation Revolution,” exploring the transition from horse to automobile through the history of three vehicles from Pennsylvania’s last transportation revolution

“Illuminating Independence,” featuring 35 original “illuminations” of the Declaration of Independence, completed by Harrisburg resident and penman Sherman Notestine

“Revolutionary Things—Objects from the Collection,” special exhibit bringing together a wide range of objects that testify to Pennsylvania’s outsized role in the American Revolution

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; susquehannaartmuseum.org

“SAM Celebrates 10 Years—An Anniversary Exhibition,” through Feb. 15

“If Herr Street Could Talk,” the homecoming exhibition of award-winning abstract artist and Harrisburg native, Alteronce Gumby, through Feb. 22

“Nightfall,” juried exhibit exploring the concept of oncoming night, whether metaphorically or through medium and technique, through April 5

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“The Secret Paris of the 1930s—Vintage Photographs by Brassaï,” through April 4

The Trout Gallery
Dickinson College
240 W. High St., Carlisle
717-254-8159; troutgallery.org

“Her Dreams Are True,” a new perspective on the role of archives, museum collections and the personal memory in Apsáalooke (Crow) artist Wendy Red Star’s prints and photos, through Feb. 7

“A Measure of Value,” works by Faith Ringgold, Sue Coe, Andy Warhol, the Guerilla Girls and others that consider how art and artifacts intersect with economic principles of markets, through April 4

Dissecting Locomotion, examining Eadweard Muybridge’s groundbreaking scientific and photographic project Animal Locomotion, through April 4

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

“Our Journeys,” a powerful multimedia exhibition created by Vietnamese boat people, Feb. 2 to 28

Wheel of Light Studio
3738 Peters Mountain Rd., Halifax
wheeloflightstudio.com

“Cabin Fever—What Saves an Artist from Insanity and Boredom,” through Feb. 21; reception: Feb. 21, 2-4 p.m.

Read, Make, Learn

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

Feb. 4, 9, 18, 23, 25: Dance classes, 6-9:30 p.m.

The Art Center School & Galleries
18 Artcraft Dr., Mechanicsburg
717-697-2072; theartcenterschoolandgalleries.com

Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: Supervised Lampworking Lab, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Feb. 3-March 3: Watercolor of the Very Beginner, Tuesdays, 11-1:30 p.m.
Feb. 4, 18: Watercolor Step-by-Step Painting, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Supervised Lampworking Lab, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Feb. 5-26: Beginning Drawing, Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 10-March 3: Next Steps for the Very Beginner in Watercolor, Tuesdays, 3-5:30 p.m.
Feb. 24-March 31: Figure Drawing Studio, Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 24-March 24: Intermediate Pottery, Thursdays, 12-3 p.m. (no class on March 10)
Feb. 26-March 26: Intermediate/Advanced Pastel Painting, Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (no class on March 10)
Feb. 26-March 26: Pottery Wheel Throwing Morning (all levels), Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (no class on March 12)

Bosler Library
158 W. High St., Carlisle
717-243-4642; boslerlibrary.org

Feb. 2: Monday Night Book Group, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Tabletop Gaming, 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 6, 13: Mah Jongg Club, 9:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Feb. 11: Wicked Wednesday Book Group, 1-2 p.m.
Feb. 11: Adult Coloring Night, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 23: Graphic Novel Discussion Group, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 27: Just Mysteries, 1-2 p.m.

Capital Blue Cross Connect
4500 Marketplace Way, Enola
www.capitalbluecrossconnect.com

Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Gentle Yoga, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Fitness Flow, 4:15 p.m.
Feb. 2, 16, 23: Virtual Pilates, 5 p.m.
Feb. 3: Blood Drive, 11 a.m.
Feb. 3: Empower Your Mind—Take Charge of Your Emotional Wellness, 11 a.m.
Feb. 3, 17: Chair Yoga at York Connect Store, 11:30 a.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Virtual INSPIRE, 9 a.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Virtual Pilates, 12 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Kickboxing & Strength in person and virtual, 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Ready, Steady, Action in person and virtual, 4:15 p.m.
Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27: Strong and Fit in person and virtual, 10 a.m.
Feb. 11: Virtual Cooking Demo, 12 p.m.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

Feb. 3: Glass Valentines, 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Wednesday Daytime Beginning Watercolor, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Wednesday Evening Beginning Watercolor, 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 5: Ice Fest Snowflakes and Icicles (ages 12-adult), 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Intro to Pastels, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 6: Paint Your Partner Workshop, 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 7: Gelli Painting, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 9: Third Space Craft Night, 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 10: Experimental Mixed Media, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 12: Galentine’s Girls’ Night Out—Fused Glass Pendants (ages 12-adult), 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 14: Traveler’s Notebook, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 14, 21: For the Love of Horses (ages 9-14), 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Feb. 21: Collage and Painting Together, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 21: Mushroom Fairy Houses (ages 6-12), 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 28: Put Your Color Pedal to the Metal (ages 13-adult), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Feb. 6: Recreating Takeout Dishes at Home, 6-9 p.m.
Feb. 14: Valentines Day Dinner, 6-9 p.m.
Feb. 20: Not Just Fish Fry Fridays, 6-9 p.m.
Feb. 21: Chefs Table Pop Up Dinner, 6-9 p.m.
Feb. 26: Winter Comfort Foods, 6-9 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

Feb. 10: Books on Tap at Rubber Soul Brewery, Hummelstown, 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 14: Reading the Rainbow at LGBT Center of Central PA, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

East Pennsboro Library
98 S. Enola Dr., Enola
717-732-4274; eastpennsborobranch.org

Feb. 3: Read to Dogs, 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 5: Drop-In Valentine’s Day Fingerprint Love Canvas, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10: Drop-In Valentine’s Day Card Craft, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12, 26: Story Time and Craft, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 17: Olympics Mini Games, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19: Drop-In STEM Play, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: BINGO for Books, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

Feb. 1: The 1619 Project—Capitalism, 2-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 2: The Stitch Sitch, 2-3:30 p.m.
Feb. 3, 10: Crafting with the Classics—“Frankenstein,” 5:30-7 p.m.
Feb. 7: Figment Forge, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 9: The Stitch Sitch, 2-3:30 p.m.
Feb. 11: Retirement 101 (Taking Care of Your Financial Future), 1-2 p.m.
Feb. 19: Sip and Speak, 3-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 21: Black Makers Fair, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 22: Pigment of Your Imagination, 2-4 p.m.
Feb. 23: The Stitch Sitch, 2-3:30 p.m.
Feb. 25: East Shore Cinema, 2-4 p.m.

Elizabethtown Public Library
10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown
717-367-7467; etownpubliclibrary.org

Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Baby Time, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Feb. 3: STEM Explorers, 5-6 p.m.
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: Card Making Group, 5-7 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Toddler Time, 10:30-11 a.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Homeschool Happening, 2-4 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Family Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Fiber Artists, 3-6 p.m.
Feb. 6: Taste of Western Lancaster County!, 4:30-9 p.m.
Feb. 7: Knitter’s Group, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 10: Tween Book Club, 3:15-4 p.m.
Feb. 10: Evening Storytime, 5-6 p.m.
Feb. 14: Fiber Artists, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 14: LEGO Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 17: Baby Musik Time, 10-10:25 a.m.
Feb. 17: Toddler Musik Time, 10:30-11 a.m.
Feb. 21: Book Discussion Group, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 28: D&D Group, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 28: Board Game Meetup, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 28: LEGO Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

Feb. 6: Victorian Valentines, 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 22: Maple Tree Tapping Historic Harvesting Methods, 2-3 p.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

Feb. 1: Pokémon Club for Tweens and Teens, 3-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25: Preschool Story Time (ages 3-5), 11-11:30 a.m. and 6-6:30 p.m.
Feb. 2, 9, 23: Book Explorers (ages 3-6), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Feb. 2, 16, 23: Super Sleuths, 4-5 p.m.
Feb. 4, 18: Zen Meditation, 2-3 p.m.
Feb. 5: Special Themed Storytime (ages 3-5), 10-10:30 a.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Teen Teaching Tech, Thursdays, 4-5 p.m.
Feb. 6: Chess Club, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 6, 20: Device Advice, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 10, 24: Read to Dogs, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12, 26: Device Advice, 5-6:30 p.m.
Feb. 13: Indie & Foreign Film Friday, 2-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: Sweetheart Trivia, 1-5 p.m.
Feb. 14, 28: Read & Relax Quiet Hour, 2-3 p.m.
Feb. 21: Neurodivergent Adult Support Group, 3-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 22: Family With Us, 1-3 p.m.
Feb. 23: World Explorers, 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 24: Tween LEGO Club, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 25: Solo Travel, 2-5 p.m.
Feb. 27: Book Dragons Club—Book Keepers, 6-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 27: Peaceful Poses Yoga Storytime for Preschoolers, 10-10:45 a.m.
Feb. 27: Peaceful Poses Yoga for Adults, 10:45-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 27: Solopreneur Roundtable—Open Discussion, 12-2 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

Feb. 21: Winter Glass Painting, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

George & Hettie Love Memorial Library
530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

Feb. 4: Zines for Teens, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 7: Otherworldly Book Club, 12-1 p.m.
Feb. 14: Knit One, Crochet Too!, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 17: Snapology at The Library, 5-6:30 p.m.
Feb. 21: Silent Book Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 26: Junk Journaling, 5:30-7 p.m.
Feb. 28: Write On!, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Feb. 4-25: Introduction to Gouache, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Hershey Gardens
170 Hotel Rd., Hershey
717-534-3492; hersheygardens.org

Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Winter Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27: Live Feedings at the Zoology Zone Interactive Cart, 12 to 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 7: Dried Floral Arrangement Class, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28: Guided Garden Walk, 10-11 a.m.
Feb. 14: Winter Bird Watch, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Books and Babies, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Storytime for Everyone, 11-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 3: Hershey Area Pokémon Club, 5:30-7 p.m.
Feb. 3: “Mysteries, She Wrote” Mystery Book Group,1 6:30-8 p.m.
Feb. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26: Penn State Hershey Mothers & Babies, 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: 1, 2, Whee!, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Feb. 4: LEGO Club, 1-2 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Community Crochet Night, 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Storytime for Everyone, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Teen Time, 2:30-4:15 p.m.
Feb. 5, 19: Hershey Quilters, 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28: Chess Club, 1-3 p.m.
Feb. 9: Hershey Area Neighbors and Newcomers, 10:15 a.m.-1 p.m.
Feb. 10: Philosopher’s Round Table Discussion Group, 2-3:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: All Craft Exchange!, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 16: Read to a Hockey Player, 4-4:45 p.m.
Feb. 17: Splash of Serenity—Watercolors for Relaxation, 2-3:30 p.m.
Feb. 17: Tween Tuesday, 4-5 p.m.
Feb. 17, 24: Silent Book Group, 10-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 21: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Historical Society of Dauphin County
John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion
219 S. Front St., Harrisburg
717- 233-3462; dauphincountyhistory.org

Feb. 22: Forgotten Patriot—The Story of Ned Hector, Black Revolutionary War Hero as told by Noah Lewis, 2-3:30 p.m.

Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education
4945 Horn Road, York
717-757-6441; hornfarmcenter.org

Feb. 10: A Forest from Scratch?—Growing the Miyawaki Method, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: Gardening Like the Forest—Home-scale Ecological Food Protection, 6-7:30 pm.

Johnson Memorial Library
799 East Center St., Millersburg
717-692-2658; dcls.org

Feb. 10: Snapology at The Library, 5-6:30 p.m.
Feb. 18: Weekday Getaway, 4-5:30 p.m.
Feb. 25: Upcycled Crafting, 6-7:30 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Story Time, 10:15-11 a.m.
Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Toddler Time, 11:15-11:35 a.m.
Feb. 3, 10: Storybook STEAM, 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: Tea and Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Story Time, 1:30-2:15 p.m.
Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27: LEGO Time, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Feb. 10: Valentine’s Day Story Time, 10:15-11 a.m.
Feb. 14, 28: Block Party, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 14, 28: Puzzle Party, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 17: Creative Movement Story Time, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Feb. 19, 26: Play Scrabble!, 1:15-3:15 p.m.
Feb. 21: Craft-A-Palooza, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: Tea & Stitches Extended Edition, 12-2 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
717-409-5781; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22: Young Adult Group, 4 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Common Roads (ages 12-17), 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28: Passageways, 2 p.m.
Feb. 14: QTPOC Advisory Group, 6-8 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

Feb. 4: Coloring for Teens, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 10: Internet Basics, 3-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 17: The Skin We Live In, 5-6 p.m.
Feb. 18, 25: Zine for Teens, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: Coloring for Adults, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

Feb. 9: Ace That Job App, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St., Middletown
717-944-6412; middletownpubliclib.org

Feb. 2, 9 16, 23: STEAM Club, 6 p.m.
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: Tiny Tots Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: Wee Readers Storytime, 1-2 p.m.
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Teen Time, 4-5 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: LEGO Club, 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 7: Open Studio, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 14: Community Table Top Game Time, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Feb. 8: Magnet Fun, 1-2:30 p.m.
Feb. 11: Art & Beer Crawl, 6-9 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Feb. 4: Pre-K Story Time, 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 14: Winter Hike, 10 a.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Feb. 1-5: Chinese New Year LEGO Contest (ages 5 and older)
Feb. 1-28: Black History Scavenger Hunt (ages 0-12)
Feb. 1-28: Winter Olympics Reading Challenge (ages 0-18)
Feb. 2: Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23: Winter Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5), 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Feb. 3, 10: Winter Book Babies (ages 0-2), 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 4: Piece Seekers, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 5: Musical Mornings (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
Feb. 6: Tumble Tots (ages 0-3), 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 7, 14, 21: Take and Makes (ages 0-12)
Feb. 7, 21: Book Sales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Feb. 9: STEAM Scene (ages 6-12), 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Feb. 10: Shelf Love, 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 10: Tales for Tails (ages 6-12), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: Toddler Time (ages 2-3), 10:30-11 a.m.
Feb. 12: Make Your Own Valentines Workshop (ages 3 and older), 4:30-6 p.m.
Feb. 13, 27: Block Party (ages 0-3), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 14: Teen Craft Kits (ages 13-17)
Feb. 17: Brush Hour Art Club (ages 12 and older), 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Feb. 18-March 25: iPhone Class, Wednesdays, 2-3:30 p.m.
Feb. 19: Movers and Groovers (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
Feb. 19: Out of This World Space Celebration (ages 3 and older), 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Feb. 20: Playdoh Palooza (ages 2-5), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 22: A Mifflin Farm—A Place of Courage, Conflict and Conscience, 3-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: Junior Scientists (ages 5 and older), 5-6 p.m.
Feb. 26: STEM Sort & Match with Fall Sensory Bins (ages 2-5), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 28: Crafty Crafters, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Feb. 28: Build the Future of the Library (ages 6-12), 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Palmyra Public Library
50 Landings Dr., Annville
717-838-1347; palmyra.lclibs.org

Feb. 2: Genealogy Group, 10-11 a.m.
Feb. 2, 5, 9, 12, 19, 23, 26: Little Explorers, 10:30-11 a.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Strength & Stretching 50+, 10-11 a.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Little Explorers Downtown, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25: Smart Start Storytime, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Little Explorers, 1:30-2 p.m.
Feb. 9: Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 23: BYO Craft Nights Adults 18+, 4:30-6:45 p.m.

Panacea Healing Arts
701 N. Mountain Rd., Harrisburg
484-373-9109; panaceahealingarts.com

Feb. 2: Crystal Bowl Sound Immersion, 6-7 p.m.
Feb. 3: Intro to Breathwork, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5: Sonic Neural Experience (advanced breathwork), 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 6, 20: Hero’s Journey (Role Playing Game-Based Personal Growth for Teens/Young Adult), 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 10: Intro to Breathwork, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 16: Central Pennsylvania Psychedelic Society meeting, 6:30-8 p.m.
Feb. 17: Intro to Breathwork, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19: Sonic Neural Experience (advanced breathwork), 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 20: Guided Role-Playing & Self-Exploration Group (teens/young adult), 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 24: Intro to Breathwork 6-7:30 p.m.

Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning
100 Mt. Allen Dr., Mechanicsburg
717-591-7213; thepathwaysinstitute.org

Feb. 3: Open House for people aged 55, 1-2:30 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

Feb. 18: Hearts, Moons & Stars Mosaic Workshop, 6-8 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

Feb. 4, 14: Olympics, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Feb. 6, 21: Storytime—Henri’s Scissors, 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 7, 22: Light!, 1-3 p.m.
Feb. 20: Virtual Program—Revolutionary Things, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Feb. 27: Curiosity Kids—Size and Scale of the Solar System, 11:30 a.m.
Feb. 28: Remembrances—Coins, Plates and Pins, 10 a.m-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; susquehannaartmuseum.org

Feb. 7: Nightfall-inspired Mixed Media Art, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Wheel of Light Studio
3738 Peters Mountain Rd., Halifax
wheeloflightstudio.com

Feb. 4: Blue Moon or Star Mosaics, 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 14: Sweet Heart Mugs, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Feb. 27: Dirty Date Night Gnomes, 7-9 p.m.
Feb. 28: Hand Built Luminary, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; explorewildwoodpark.org

Feb. 1: Kids Discover—Groundhogs (ages 5-10), 1-3 p.m.
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: Weekly Wellness Walks, 1-2:30 p.m.
Feb. 7: Cadette Girl Scouts—Night Owl, 4-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 10: Winter Lecture Series Homesteading—Intro to Beekeeping, 7-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: Birds & Coffee with Appalachian Audubon Society, 10-11 a.m.
Feb. 14: Light and Airy Bouquets, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 21: Penn State Extension Master Gardener Spring Symposium (3 sessions in 1)—Practical Pathways to Healthy Landscapes, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 21: Introduction to Plarn, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 24: Winter Lecture Series Homesteading—Food Preservation, 7-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 28: Winter Candle Making Class, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org

Feb. 7: Crafternoon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Feb. 25: Beneficiary Essentials—Your Rights, Responsibilities and How to Claim What’s Yours, 1- 2p.m.

Live Music

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Feb. 5: Brett Young, with Jenna Davis
Feb. 6: TUSK—The Classic Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
Feb. 7: Little River Band with Seals & Crofts 2
Feb. 13: Josh Turner
Feb. 15: John Mueller’s 50s Dance Party
Feb. 26: Skillet, with The Protest
Feb. 28: Gregorian—Pure Chants World Tour

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

Feb 1: Gather The Guitars Fundraiser Concert
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 29: Open Mic
Feb 6: Joey Harkum with Fubar
Feb 7: Ferd with Pappy from Cabinet
Feb 13: Ariel Elias Stand Up Comedy
Feb 14: Minka presents The Valentines Day Lover’s Ball with Minka, Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band
Feb 17: Mdou Moctar Solo
Feb 20: Random Rab
Feb 21: Old and in the Way Tribute

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Feb. 6: Jazz in the City
Feb. 7: York Symphony’s “Carmen Meets Beethoven”
Feb. 12: Margo Price
Feb. 14: York County Student Music Festival 2026
Feb. 14: Marty Stuart & Molly Tuttle
Feb. 26: JJ Grey & Mofro
Feb. 28: Jake Owen

Arts on the Square
20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-257-1270; marketsquarechurch.org

Feb. 15: Howard University Gospel Choir

Capital City Music Hall
234 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
capcitymusichall.com

Feb. 5: Off With Their Heads
Feb. 6: Horror Scene, Carbonstone, and After The Fallen
Feb. 7: Wither Away
Feb. 7: Brad Kohnlein Tribute Show
Feb. 14: Lovers & Loners Valentine’s Bash—Harmony Holler, Jess Zimmerman Band, Wyatt Becker Band
Feb. 20: Ocean of Illusions
Feb. 21: Sensamotion
Feb. 22: Dinosaur Pile-Up
Feb. 28: The Early November & Hellogoodbye

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

Feb. 4, 25: Tristin Lynee
Feb. 5, 27: Dr. Nyce
Feb. 6, 20: Ted Ansel
Feb. 7, 14, 28: Chris Emkey
Feb. 11: Christine Purcell
Feb. 12, 19, 26: Andrea Britton
Feb. 13, 21: Roy Lefever

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Feb. 6: Crazy Train—America’s Ozzy Tribute

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Feb. 23-24: ABBAFAB

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

Feb. 1: “Bravo Broadway!”
Feb. 9: HSYO/HYSO/ESO Winter Concert
Feb. 14-15: Masterworks—Mozart and More
Feb. 28-March 1: “The Golden Age of the Silver Screen”

Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com

Feb. 2: Bernadette Bratina

H*MAC
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Feb. 7: G. Herbo
Feb. 14: Lovers & Friends

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

Feb. 6: Fever Pitch
Feb. 7: Tribute
Feb. 13: Jess Zimmerman Band
Feb. 14: Motown with a Twist with Shea Quinn
Feb. 20: Los Monstros
Feb. 21: Smooth Like Clyde
Feb. 27: Sought Out City
Feb. 28: Fast Times at Shermer

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

Feb. 5: John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

Feb. 6: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Marc-André Hamelin
Feb. 15: Wind Symphony Annual Family Pops Concert
Feb. 21: Jazz Ensemble Concert
Feb. 27: Symphony Orchestra Concert

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

Feb. 18: Stuart Malina & Friends

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Feb. 13: Messiah University Symphony Orchestra Concert
Feb. 14: Messiah University Chamber Singers
Feb. 20: Messiah University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; metropoliscollective.com

Feb. 7: Soul Cellar and Lucid Ruby

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Feb. 17: Stuart & Friends

Stock’s on 2nd
211 N. 2nd Street, Harrisburg
717-233-6699; stocksonsecond.com

Feb. 6: Jon and David Robinson

Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

Feb. 8: February Jam & Song Swap
Feb. 15: Brad Kolodner & Alex Lacquement
Feb. 21: Winter Coffee House

West Shore Theatre
317 Bridge St, New Cumberland
717-759-5464; westshoretheatre.org

Feb. 1: Wheels On Fire—A Musical Tribute to The Band
Feb. 6: BOSTYX—The Ultimate Boston Styx Tribute
Feb. 7: The Super 70s Rock Show featuring Super Trans AM
Feb. 13: Ben Mauger’s Mardi Gras Band
Feb. 15: MixTape Unplugged
Feb. 21: The Maxwell Project—The Music of Earth, Wind and Fire and other R&B Legends
Feb. 22: The Fourth Planet
Feb. 27: Shea Quinn and Special Guests

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Feb. 13: The Breakers

XL Live
801 S. 10th St., Harrisburg
717-409-8975; xlhbg.com

Feb. 7: Tell Me Lies—Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
Feb. 12: Shane Smith and The Saints
Feb. 13: The Dirty Sweet
Feb. 18: Yonder Mountain String Band
Feb. 21: Skeleton Crewe
Feb. 27: Funktion
Feb. 28: Caligula Blushed, PretendHz

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Feb. 13: “The Jane Austen Playlist—Love and Music of Regency England”
Feb. 14: Showtunes with Reji Woods

The Stage Door

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Feb. 19: Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!
Feb. 21: Popovich Comedy Pet Theater

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Feb. 12: The Outlet—Music & Poetry Open Mic
Feb. 15: Justin Willman

Carlisle Theatre
44 W. High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Feb. 20: “Couples Therapy”

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Feb. 1-7: “Clue the Musical”
Feb. 13-March 21: “Little of Shop Horrors”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

Feb. 14-22: “Ephraim Slaughter: Freedom’s Witness” with Sankofa African American Theatre Company and Gamut Theatre Group
Feb. 27: TMI Improv

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd, Middletown
717-939-9333; thehcpac.org

Feb. 6-8: “The Little Mermaid”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

Feb. 6, 7: Pat House
Feb. 13, 14: Galyn Nash and Rachel Fogletto
Feb. 15: Craig Conant
Feb. 27, 28: Greg Henderson and Doug Almeida
H*MAC
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Open Mic Poetry Night
Feb. 8: Queens Who Brunch

Keystone Theatrics
The Playhouse at Allenberry
1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs
717-258-3211; keystonetheatrics.com

Feb. 13-March 1: “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

Feb. 1: “Death of a Salesman”
Feb. 26-March 15: [A To Be Announced Later] Work of William Shakespeare

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

Feb. 7: Puppy Pals LIVE!
Feb. 22: “Always Patsy Cline”
Feb. 26: “Wizard of Oz On Ice”

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

Feb. 3: Martha Graham Dance Company—“A Dual Centennial Event”

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Feb. 20, 21: Humanities Symposium Dance Concert
Feb. 27, 28: Spring Senior Series

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Feb. 6: Black Newsbeat—Rhythm, Rest & Regulators
Feb. 7-March 7: “Stoney Brook”

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

Feb. 6-15: “The Last Five Years”

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Feb. 28: Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater—“Nuttin’ but a Word”

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Community Corner: Notable February Events

January 29, 2026 | by Missy Smith

Kids Discover
Feb. 1: Kids ages 5 to 10 are invited to learn about groundhogs and how they spend the winter at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will meet a live groundhog and go for a short walk to look for signs of a den. explorewildwoodpark.org

Scavenger Hunt
Feb. 1-28: Kids ages 0-12 are invited to celebrate Black History Month at New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, for a month-long scavenger hunt to locate important Black figures in history. Find all the scavenger hunt items around the children’s room and win a prize. cumberlandcountylibraries.org

Open House
Feb. 3: Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning hosts an open house for adults aged 55 and older, 1 to 2:30 p.m., at 100 Mt. Allen Dr., Mechanicsburg. Attendees can meet instructors and preview spring courses. Registration begins the following day. thepathwaysinstitute.org

Wild Recipes
Feb. 3: Learn to create shagbark hickory syrup and winter teas from your backyard at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Samples will be available. Workshop cost is $10 and space is limited. explorewildwoodpark.org

Glass Valentines
Feb. 3: Create a glass Valentine keepsake tile for a suncatcher or coaster at Carlisle Arts Learning Center, 38 W. Pomfret St., 6 to 8 p.m. The session is for participants ages 12 and older. Workshop costs $45 for members or $60 for non-members, plus $25 material fee. carlislearts.org

Galentine’s Night
Feb. 4: Meeka Fine Jewelry, 2135 Market St., Camp Hill, hosts an evening for jewelry enthusiasts and gemstone lovers, 4 to 7 p.m. Event features wine, treats and artisan creations, providing guests the opportunity to browse collections and create gift wish lists. Friends are encouraged to attend together for this night out. www.meekajewelry.com

Teens Tech
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, hosts Teens Teaching Tech, a pilot program that connects local students with adult patrons who seek support using technology. Students provide friendly, one-on-one assistance with digital devices in an open-house format, 4 to 5 p.m. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

HBG Flea
Feb. 7: Explore the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures, curated curios and unique gifts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. The mission of the HBG Flea is to create a platform for community growth by bringing artists, small businesses and patrons together. hbgflea.com

Book Sales
Feb. 7, 21: Friends of New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, hosts pre-owned book sales on the first and third Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Foundation House. Find books, vintage items, jewelry, music, puzzles, kids’ books, records and more. cumberlandcountylibraries.org

Tech Support
Feb. 7, 21: Penn State Harrisburg students and computer science majors will set up an IT help desk at Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Ave., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They will help troubleshoot issues with cell phones, laptops or other mobile devices. hersheylibrary.org

Lecture Series
Feb. 10, 24: Join Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for its “Winter Lecture Series,” 7 to 8:30 p.m. Get an introduction to beekeeping on Feb. 10 and learn about food preservation on Feb. 24. explorewildwoodpark.org

Legislators’ Forum I
Feb. 11: Join Harrisburg Regional Chamber and West Shore Chamber for the 2026 Legislators’ Forum II—House of Representatives, a breakfast where chamber and CREDC members hear from local elected officials. Event is held at the Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. 2nd St., 8 to 10 a.m. Register online. harrisburgregionalchamber.org

Health Seminar
Feb. 11: Join Dr. Ray Armat for a free seminar on balancing food, metabolism and health at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 2 to 4 p.m. Session explores how hormones affect physical and mental health based on the doctor’s research. fredricksenlibrary.org

Art & Beer
Feb. 11: Enjoy a creative evening out at Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, at the “Art and Beer Crawl,” 6 to 9 p.m. Sample beer, make art to take home and enjoy a tasting from Millworks chefs in spaces throughout the building. millworksharrisburg

Contra Dance
Feb. 13: Harrisburg Area Contra Dance Association hosts a 2nd Friday Contra Dance with live music, 8 to 10:30 p.m., at Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, 444 Silver Spring Rd., Mechanicsburg. There will be a free beginner lesson at 7:30 p.m. No partner is needed. www.harrisburgcontra.org

Truffles for Couples
Feb. 13, 14: Enjoy a sweet date at Hershey Story’s Chocolate Lab, 63 W. Chocolate Ave., with an evening of truffle-making for Valentine’s Day, 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Guests can enjoy drinking chocolates from around the world and making hand-rolled ganache to create truffles. Tickets are $65 per couple. hersheystory.org

Love of Art
Feb. 13-15: Hershey Art Association presents its “For the Love of Art” exhibit of paintings in various mediums, photography, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and more in the conservatory at Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd. Show included with admission and free for members. hersheyareaartassociation.com

Birds & Coffee
Feb. 14: Enjoy a cozy winter morning in the Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to enjoy birdwatching with a cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa, 10 to 11 a.m. Join a naturalist and Appalachian Audubon to observe and count common feeder birds as part of Project FeederWatch. explorewildwoodpark.org

Cupid 5K
Feb. 14: Join the Cupid’s Chase 5K on City Island, 25 Station Rd., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., in support of Community Options, serving individuals with disabilities. Participants will receive a T-shirt, medal, drawstring bag and keepsake. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harrisburg/CupidsChase5kHarrisburg

Free Day
Feb. 14: National Civil War Museum, 1 Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a free community day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hear living history interpretations, curator artifact talks and presentations by Rachel Williams and James Hayney as Abraham Lincoln, and explore galleries and exhibits. www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

Freedom’s Witness
Feb. 14-22: Watch the production of “Freedom’s Witness” at Gamut Theatre Group, 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. This play explores history and civil rights, telling the story of Ephraim Slaughter, a Union Army veteran born into slavery. Performances are held daily at various times. Show recommended for ages 12 and older. gamuttheatre.org

Dance Night
Feb. 15: Dance enthusiasts are invited to join Harrisburg USA Dance Chapter #3009 for a foxtrot lesson at 2 p.m., followed by three hours of social dancing at PA DanceSport, 585 E. Main St., Hummelstown. All levels welcome. Admission is $15, $10 for members and $5 for students. Facebook: USA Dance Chapter #3009 – Harrisburg Area PA

Free Concert
Feb. 15: Trindle Spring Lutheran Church, 14 State Rd., Mechanicsburg, hosts vocalist Jeff Coon for a free public performance highlighting the Great American Songbook, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy standards originally written for Broadway and Hollywood. trindlespringlutheran.org

Soulful Sounds
Feb. 15: Experience an evening of R&B music and comedy with Acute Inflections at the Carlisle Masonic Center, 1236 Holly Pike, 6 to 8 p.m. The New York-based duo performs a mix of soul and modern styles with storytelling and freestyles. Admission is $35 and supports youth music education through the Renaissance Youth Center. acuteinflections.com

Networking Mixer
Feb. 18: Socialize with local business professionals at an afternoon mixer at West Shore Christian Academy High School, 5091 Louise Dr., Mechanicsburg, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Event is free and open to West Shore Chamber members. wschamber.org

3rd in The Burg
Feb. 20: Explore the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event, where you can visit and enjoy galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. thirdintheburg.org

Spring Symposium
Feb. 21: Penn State Master Gardeners hosts the 2026 Spring Symposium at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a blend of science-based ecological horticulture and practical strategies for creating vibrant outdoor spaces. Admission is $20 per person. explorewildwoodpark.org

Find Your Fit
Feb. 21: Families can explore local K-12 education options at the Find Your Fit school fair, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. Event features public, private and charter schools that will be available to help parents choose a learning environment. logoshbg.org

Black Makers
Feb. 21: Celebrate Black culture and innovation at the 3rd Annual Black Makers Fair at East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event features a variety of makers, artists and vendors. Learn about Black history and culture, support Black-owned businesses and connect with creators. dcls.org

Neurodiverse Group
Feb. 21: The Neurodiverse Network hosts a Neurodivergent Adult Support Group (autism, ADHD, ADD), 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, to give neurodiverse people opportunities to discuss relevant topics, share resources and support each other. fredricksenlibrary.org

Game Day
Feb. 22: Frederickson Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, invites the community to a board game day for people of all ages and levels, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Library will have games to play, but feel free to bring your own. All ages welcome; 12 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. fredricksenlibrary.org

Black History
Feb. 23: Local Black history experts will present a program celebrating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month at Historic Harrisburg Association, 1230 N. 3rd St., 6 p.m. Attendees will hear about the city’s 1926 Negro History Week events and the celebration’s evolution and pay tribute to the late Lenwood Sloan. historicharrisburg.org

Country Music
Feb. 24: Singer, songwriter and Perry County poet laureate Zachariah King performs and discusses the heritage of Perry County country music, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill. Program explores local lore and music preservation through original work and traditional songs. fredricksenlibrary.org

Library Cinema
Feb. 25: Find adventure on the big screen at East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy popcorn, snacks and a free showing of the film, “Young Frankenstein.” Register on the library’s website. dcls.org

Peaceful Poses
Feb. 27: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, hosts two Peaceful Poses yoga sessions—a yoga story time for kids ages 2 to 5, 10 to 10:15 a.m., and a yoga session
for adults, 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. fredricksenlibrary.org

Solopreneur Group
Feb. 27: Small business owners with fewer than five employees are invited to a monthly roundtable discussion, 12 to 2 p.m., at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill. Session provides a platform for local solopreneurs to share support and insights about the challenges of running a small operation. fredricksenlibrary.org

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Musical Notes: Heartstrings

January 29, 2026 | by Skye Cadzow

Music lovers, rejoice! There are a lot of great acts hitting stages in the region this month, here to satisfy your every need for funk, grooving or vibing out, so grab a friend and warm up on the dance floor. If you’ve been hunkering down this winter and watching movies more often than attending concerts, I’d love to hear if there were scores and soundtracks that made you tick, or if you immediately pulled out your phone to Shazam a song. Two movies I recently watched, “The Ugly Stepsister” and “Marty Supreme,” featured soundtracks that had me vibrating with excitement.

WORTH THE DRIVE

2/12, WXPN Welcomes Margo Price, Appell Center for the Performing Arts

Margo Price is an incredibly underrated musician, and I’m thrilled the singer-songwriter is coming back to the region in February. The folk/country sensation first wowed me about a decade ago with one of her breakout songs, “Hands of Time,” which is just gorgeous. Her 2025 album, “Hardheaded Woman,” is a collection of powerful songs and mantras built for strange times with an urgent and down-to-earth approachability (I especially love “Too Stoned To Cry,” which also features Billy Strings). I know it’s a bit of a hike to York, but it’s damn sure worth it to see and hear Price in action.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

2/14, Lovers & Loners Valentine Bash, Capital City Music Hall; Minka Presents The Lover’s Ball, The Abbey Bar

Need a place to cut a rug with your main squeeze on Valentine’s Day? You’ve got options! There are not one but two dance parties in Harrisburg that night. The Lovers & Loners Valentine Bash at Capital City Music Hall promises love songs, breakup anthems and more with live performances from the Wyatt Becker Band, the Jess Zimmerman Band and Harmony Holler. Just a hop, skip and a jump away, Philly synth outfit Minka is bringing their sensual, experimental funk to the stage at The Abbey Bar for what they’re calling a “Lover’s Ball” to dance with your lover, or “possibly your future lover,” according to the event description.

TWISTING THINGS UP

2/17, Mdou Moctar solo show, The Abbey Bar

In June 2024, Nigerian rock quartet Mdou Moctar brought its “Funeral for Justice” tour to Harrisburg and delivered the kind of show that just challenges your perception of what musical genres are, and what they can transform into with the touch of a creative powerhouse. This time, frontperson Moctar returns to The Abbey Bar with his solo show, which will hopefully feature his signature psychedelic rock influences on Tuareg style guitar performances.

If you’re a musician and/or promoter, or a fan of a local artist, and you’d like to share some upcoming shows with TheBurg, drop me a line at [email protected].

HONORABLE MENTIONS

2/6, Joey Harkum, The Abbey Bar

2/7, Tell Me Lies: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, XL Live

2/12, Local News Legend Album Release Show, Phantom Power

2/13, The Dirty Sweet, XL Live

2/13, Ben Mauger’s Mardi Gras Band, West Shore Theatre

2/18, Yonder Mountain String Band, XL Live

2/21, The Maxwell Project: The Music of Earth, Wind and Fire and other R&B Legends, West Shore Theatre

2/28, The Early November & Hello Goodbye, Capital City Music Hall

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Passion & Punctuation: Unravel the mystery of the quotation marks with the newest adaptation of the classic, “Wuthering Heights”

January 29, 2026 | by Gabriel Brown

Image by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Much has been made (in my circles, at least) about the stylized quotation marks in the title of Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights.” Does the punctuation belie a plot twist along the lines of Don’t Worry Darling, where a projected storybook fantasy belies the sordid basement of reality?

It seemed likely, knowing Fennell’s history of using a “sexually violent turn” as a third-act narrative device in both of her previous films, Saltburn and Promising Young Woman. If not, what do the quotation marks mean? I won’t spoil the third act of the film for you (come see it!) but walking away from this film, I think the quotation marks make a lot of sense.

“Wuthering Heights” breaks the mold of Fennell’s previous films as an adaptation instead of an original story, but that doesn’t mean her voice as a filmmaker takes a backseat at any point. Fennell is on record as having cast Jacob Elordi because he looked like Heathcliff on the cover of the copy of Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights” she read as a teenager. This is clearly a formative text to Fennell, and just as personal to her (if not more) than her original scripts.

Don’t expect a faithful tribute to the sprawling, detailed family trees and generational themes of Brontë’s novel, but Fennell’s film distills the core characters and their transgressive interpersonal dynamics into an abridged case study of fierce desire for someone you can’t be with. What results is a very subjective take on a culturally ubiquitous text—a messier, hornier and sweatier version anchored around Elordi’s phenomenal turn as Heathcliff, the love (and lust) interest of Margot Robbie’s less-realized Catherine Earnshaw.

Sumptuous photography by Linus Sandgren, dramatic lighting by David Sinfield and immaculate costuming by Jacqueline Durran anchor the film in sensual tones and colorful textures. Charli xcx’s contributions to the soundtrack from her new tie-in album, also called “Wuthering Heights,” are dazzling and gorgeously produced, complementing the film perfectly, like a 2020s counterpart to Sofia Coppola’s post-punk soundtrack to Marie Antoinette.

Leaving the theater with final thoughts, “Wuthering Heights” brought to mind most immediately another recent big-screen literary adaptation: Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. The weakest part of each film is probably its script, but I very much enjoyed the mood, the technique at hand, the sets and costumes, and the performances on display. (That being said, I don’t envy any scene partner of Elordi’s, since, by my measure, his work blew Oscar Isaac’s out of the water in that film and Margot Robbie’s in this one.)

I wouldn’t quite say it earns a spot as a definitive visual take on a classic novel, but “Wuthering Heights” on the big screen is still a real good time at the movies, and chock-full of Fennell’s trademark sensuous and bodily direction. This Jacob Elordi kid is going places.

“Wuthering Heights” opens at Midtown Cinema on Feb. 13.

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com. Gabriel Brown serves as assistant manager at Midtown Cinema.

February Events
at Midtown Cinema

National Theatre Live
“The Fifth Step”
Sunday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m.

“The Importance of Being Earnest”

Sunday, Feb. 15, 5 p.m.

Late Night Frights Series

“House” (1977)

Friday, Feb. 13, 9:30 p.m.

“Roman Holiday” (1953)

Saturday, Feb. 14, noon

Sunday, Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg Movie Night

“Across the Universe” (2007)

Friday, Feb. 20, 9:30 p.m.

Down in Front! Comedy Riffing

“Hobgoblins” (1988)

Friday, Feb. 27, 9:30 p.m.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

All Grown Up: So, what happens when “The Baby-Sitters Club” reaches middle age?

January 29, 2026 | by McCaffrey Martone

The cast of “Stoney Brook.” Image courtesy of Open Stage.

Childhood friendships are rekindled and redefined in “Stoney Brook,” an all-new, original parody play lovingly sending up “The Baby-Sitters Club,” opening this month at Open Stage.

At the intersection of nostalgia and adulthood, this production brings together six women, who were all friends in their youth, for one riotous, hilarious and emotional evening. This play will have you both laughing and crying (maybe at the same time) and serves as the perfect excuse for a girl’s night out.

Written by Rachel Landon, “Stoney Brook” tells the story of a group of friends who are no longer preteens taking part in their shared babysitting business but adult women in their forties who have since grown apart and experienced all of life’s ups and downs. When a tragic death brings them back together in their hometown of Stoney Brook, the women reconnect, reminisce, joke, weep and maybe drop a few “f-bombs.”

“In this play, there are a lot of women speaking frankly,” said Karen Ruch, its director. “Menopause, periods, sex—when women are alone, they speak very differently about those things. There’s a level of safety and comfort and some shared experience.”

The new play explores themes of friendship, grief, privilege, motherhood, identity and all the complexities of being a woman.

The new comedic play is a parody of “The Baby-Sitters Club,” the famous book series by Ann M. Martin, published by Scholastic from 1986 to 2000. The story of these girls became a source of inspiration for several spin-offs and adaptations, including a 1990 TV series, a 1995 film, a 2020 TV series and an ongoing graphic novel series since 2006.

“This was a series that was very close to me, and to get to think about these women as adults fascinated me,” Landon said. “This is pure parody, but it’s written with a lot of love.”

Those who have read the books may catch some Easter eggs, but if you haven’t, no problem. You will get to know these women very quickly, and everyone will find someone on stage they relate to.

“Stoney Brook” proudly features an all-female cast and creative team, including Alexis Campbell as Mary, Stacy Erdman as Stace, Tara Herweg as Kris, Kelsey Markey as Shae, Danielle Woods as Jess, J’aime Elizabeth as Mall and Nikki Heckermann as Freya. Jasmine Graham, Rachel Landon and Adrienne Thoman serve as swing understudies. The play is stage-managed by Brianna Dow, who also serves as sound designer. Lighting design is by Karen Gasser, set design by technical director Kalina Barrett, and costume design by Carol Manzer.

“Stoney Brook” will leave you remembering the times in your life when you danced around your room pretending your hairbrush was a microphone, and if you’ve been thinking of an old friend or two, it may just urge you to finally make the call.

“Stoney Brook” runs Feb. 7 to March 7 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For tickets and more information, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

At Open Stage
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

“Stoney Brook”

The babysitters are back—and chaotic
Feb. 7 to March 7

Black NewsBeat
“Rhythm, Rest & Regulators”

An evening of resistance and radical joy
Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

EFF Live!

Outrageous, raunchy, and hilarious
Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

BaRPG

Live-action RPG meets comedy
Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Court Street Cabaret

Broadway favorites, shared live
Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Fired Up: In retirement, Stephanie Wallendjack unleashed an artistic talent

January 29, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

Stephanie Wallendjack holds her first-place award in “Ceramic Art” from the 2025 Florence Biennale in Italy.

Stephanie Wallendjack’s ceramic art is not meant to be perfect.

It is not what she’s going for.

“I kind of like the failures—I embrace them,” the 75-year-old said from a clay-stained table in Room 126A at HACC’s Rose Lehrman Arts Center.

In 2017, the South Hanover Township resident found herself at a ceramics class at HACC post-retirement. After a lifetime working in science, she began exploring art through the community college’s 65+ program, which allows seniors to take most credit courses for free.

She took art history, metalsmithing, glassblowing—but with pottery, she found herself hooked. She is now one of 12 participants in a workforce development program that allows seniors to use studio space at the college.

“I found a really good incubator for this creative voice I didn’t know I had,” she said.

Eight years later, she was in Italy winning first place in “Ceramic Art” at one of the world’s most prestigious art exhibitions, the 2025 Florence Biennale in Italy.

“Totally unexpected, but also very validating,” Wallendjack said of the experience. “It’s amazing that you can still open new doors and have new discoveries at any stage in your life.”

The discoveries are what she enjoys about pottery.

Once a nurse in a cardiology unit and later a researcher who reviewed clinical drug trials, Wallendjack is a self-professed “science geek,” who loves intellectual puzzles and details.

She seems more interested in the process of creation than her works’ ultimate forms.

If her pottery sculptures crack or flake, it does not rattle her. She thinks of it all as part of the journey.

“Like this piece,” she said, gesturing to one of her works. “You can tell this collapsed, but I love that.”

She then pointed to a big plaster mold on her desk, where one of her newest clay creations laid drying. Her medium of choice, a mix of paper clay and porcelain, draped over a large balloon that she poked a hole in and drained slowly of air.

“When I started playing with clay, I promised myself to not construct anything functional,” she said.

She pulled the balloon away, leaving a shell-shaped fixture behind. Scaly, small pieces of layered clay that, when dry, would allow varying levels of light to pass through.

Wallendjack takes inspiration from repetitive, chaotic patterns found in nature. An entomology lover, she pointed out its resemblance to a mud wasp nest—although, she said, it isn’t meant to look like anything.

“I just want to do a dance with the clay,” Wallendjack said.

She determined it wasn’t dry enough to remove from its mold.

“The clay is pretty wet,” she said, looking a few tables over to studio neighbor and fellow pottery artist John Guarnera for advice. Guarnera has been working with ceramics since he was in high school.

Together, they stuffed crumbled newspaper into the vessel and moved it to a high shelf where it could continue drying. Guarnera added a “Do Not Touch” sign to be safe.

He spoke highly of Wallendjack’s work, impressed by her new accolade.

“Here’s someone who has come in with no clay experience, who goes down a rabbit hole with fiber clay, a unique area in which some others dabble, but she is fully invested in,” Guarnera said.

Assistant professor of art Kourtney Stone, who teaches ceramics, explained what makes the material special: it is porcelain clay mixed with paper fibers.

“The paper fibers help make the porcelain behave in very specific ways,” Stone said.

Among these—it can be rolled out thinly, which fits with Wallendjack’s artistic style, and it can be reattached easily, using a little water, if a piece breaks off. The clay also lends itself to fast work, as it dries quickly and resists cracking.

“It meshes with the way her brain works,” Stone said.

The former scientist in Wallendjack can be seen in her approach to art—especially since the process is not always smooth sailing.

“I approach things and they go awry because I didn’t know the rules and I learn from that,” she explained.

She told of one failed experiment: a ball made of “very delicate ribbons of orange, brown and yellow.”

“The whole thing collapsed in on itself,” Wallendjack said.

But she liked the way the mess looked.

“We fired it. It’s one of my favorite forms,” she mused. “I’ve been trying to create ‘controlled collapse’ based on that failure.”

She said that she also learned through trial and error that she hated working with color. The artist now works exclusively in black and white, with an occasional splash of cobalt.

Following her blue ribbon in Italy, she said she is looking for galleries to display her work and wants to start working on an even larger scale.

“It was very humbling being around so many people, most of whom have spent their lives perfecting their craft and finding their voice,” she said. “It gave me confidence to continue to explore these forms and push them even further.”

For more information on Stephanie Wallendjack, visit www.stephaniewallendjack.com.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Adventure Together: Fungi are all the rage with our writer and her family this February

January 29, 2026 | by Natalie diSanto

We don’t often think of mushrooms as a symbol of winter, but I recently learned that fungi have a strong underground system that produces its own antifreeze to keep the organism alive in the cold.

In other words, even though the fruiting bodies, or what we tend to think of as mushrooms, die off, the fungi are still alive and flourishing underground. To honor their resilience and let the mushrooms know that we haven’t forgotten about them, even while they’re hiding, we decided to celebrate “Fungi February.”

Funky Fun

To start, my kiddo and I made an upcycled mushroom garland. To make the mushrooms, get a cardboard egg carton then cut out the individual egg holders along with the taller, triangle-shaped dividers. Trim the edges to make everything look a bit more cohesive in shape. There will be some funkiness and inconsistencies, but character is one of the glories of upcycling.

Next step: paint your mushrooms! I went for a classic toadstool vibe, and my kiddo chose the themes of rainbow, rasta and chaos. While your mushrooms dry, head outside to find some sticks to use as the stipes or stems. Break the sticks into 3-to-4-inch sections and hot glue them into the cup of your mushroom. Finally, poke holes in either side of your mushrooms, run a string through, and, viola, your beautiful hanging art piece is ready for display. We put ours in the window as a signal to the mushrooms that we’re thinking of them. Pro tip: These garlands look magical intertwined with faerie lights, twinkling in the nighttime.

Fit & Fire

On a not-so-cloudy nor cold day, we visited Riverfront Park, starting at the intersection of Maclay Street then heading north. This section of trail hosts both the Peace Garden, a series of outdoor art installations, and the BlueZone Fit Circuit, a series of public exercise equipment. Never once have we used the fitness equipment properly, but we make up our own games. Sticking with our “February Fungi” theme, we started with the “Log Hop” and pretended the logs were Super Mario mushrooms and that we were Mario and Luigi jumping to earn points. The pull-up station is fun because parents can get a workout by lifting their kids up over the bar 1,000 times. The body curl station can be used as a dramatic backdrop for a child pretending to fall into hot lava, off a cliff, into the ocean, anywhere that poses imminent doom. Parents, work it out again by pulling your kids up and playing the hero over and over again.

On the topic of drama, the highlight of a central Pa. winter, Harrisburg’s Ice & Fire Festival, is hosting real live fire dancers on March 7. Bringing the heat on a usually frigid night, the fire dancers captivate audiences with their blazing props. For those who’d rather embrace the natural February temperature, the ice sculptures are cool and there’s usually an ice throne to chill in. There’s a scavenger hunt for all ages—be sure to check out TheBurg’s sculpture in front of our office. Local vendors sell their wares, with Deep Creek Glassworx being a favorite, selling many trinkets, including tiny glass mushrooms.

Stage Center

If you’re still craving more performance in your life, check out “The Little Mermaid” at Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center in Middletown. Performances are happening Feb. 6 to 8. We saw “The Lion King Jr.” performed at HCPAC recently, and it was incredible. Just like on Broadway, the young actors brought their story into the audience, dancing and singing in the aisles. Their costumes were epic, and they boldly belted out the beloved songs from the show. Tickets are fairly affordable, so a show at HCPAC can be an accessible introduction to live theatre for a family.

You can help make these musical productions possible by volunteering with HCPAC. Volunteer opportunities include positions as directors, producers, musical directors, choreographers and stage managers. Anyone who has an interest and skills in theatre or production is encouraged to get involved. The performances these kids put on are impressive, and it would be a wholesome and impactful experience to join the team that helps make these shows happen. Spread the word, see a show, invite your family, and make a cozy winter night of it.

During “Fungi February,” we explore our many similarities to mushrooms. When it’s too chilly to be outside, we nourish ourselves in other ways, digging deep and forming new pathways. Now is when we notice the parts of ourselves and our communities that may have taken root between the cracks, overlooked. Though the parks and riverfronts may seem empty, there’s culture, events and creativity teeming beneath the surface.

To learn more about the Ice & Fire Festival, visit www.harrisburgpa.gov/events/ice_and_fire_festival.php.

To learn more about HCPAC, visit www.thehcpac.org.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Chatty Crafty: DIY a Valentine’s conversation starter keychain to get the ball rolling for quiet kids

January 29, 2026 | by Gina Napoli

Illustration by Aron Rook

Back in 1980-something, during my elementary school years, most teachers devoted a few art classes to creating Valentine’s Day cards and other crafts every February. Then when the day finally arrived, we slotted heart-shaped candies and trinkets fastened to pink and red cards full of puns and wordplay into construction paper-covered shoeboxes.

Then there was the anticipation of opening cards from friends, and maybe even your crush. Social awkwardness oozed everywhere like chocolate melted to a candy wrapper.

In my shoebox, I remember noticing which items were “keepers.” Bonus points went to the moms who DIYed their kids’ valentines, making more of an effort than my own stay-at-home mom who went to K-Mart the night before to purchase the last plastic packet of Super Friends valentines with Batman quipping things like, “You drive me batty” and Aquaman feeling bubbly.

When I asked my daughter about her favorite valentines, I showed her the conversation starter keychain I kept from her childhood. “I was looking for that,” she said, grabbing it from my gripped fist. She now keeps it at her college dorm, spawning late-night chats well into the wee hours. That makes this craft a keeper AND a grabber.

Even back before kids’ faces were glued to iThis and iThat, talking to peers wasn’t natural for some of us. It can be hard to start a conversation. Even when you navigate through your icebreaker topic, keeping a conversation going is a learned skill. This handy prop will encourage your kids to be interpersonally interactive.

Everything you need to DIY your own conversation starter keychain is at the craft store or from online retailers:

2-inch heart-shaped paper punch
Pinking shears
Grommet eyelet pliers kit, with metal hole reinforcements
Laminator
Card stock, 2-4 mm, white and colored
Fine marker
Keychain rings

Directions:

Punch two hearts out of the colored cardstock using the heart-shaped paper punch. This will be the bread for your keychain sandwich.
Write something clever on the front and back, like, “Let’s Chat” or “Sweet Talk” or “Happy Valentine’s Day from [Your Child].”
Laminate each heart.
Cut a border using pinking shears.
Use grommet eyelet pliers to punch one small hole in the top left side of each heart in the same spot, simultaneously punching a metal reinforcement into place.
Punch lots of hearts from the white card stock.
Punch metal reinforcements in the same spot of each white heart.
Write a question or conversation topic onto each white heart. (See below for sample conversation starters.) Including a second question on the back is optional. So is laminating the middles of the keychain sandwich.
Stack the hearts into your desired order.
String all the hearts onto a keychain ring.

The fun part about DIY valentines is that you can personalize the conversation prompts with inside jokes from your class, references to specific teachers, or even send a message to a crush. You can make them silly, serious or anywhere in between.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

What is your favorite…? (song, holiday memory, school lunch, game, hobby, etc.)
What is the nicest compliment you ever received?
If you could give your parent/teacher/sibling one piece of advice, what would it be?
What was a recent act of kindness you noticed?
In writing your life story, what would the title be?
How would you make the world a better place?
Tell me about something that made you laugh so hard that your face hurt.
What’s the most courageous thing you ever did?
It’s Freaky Friday. Who are you trading places with?
Talk about your special talent.
You’re in a time machine. What year are you traveling to?
We’re going on a picnic. What’s in the basket?
What makes you a good friend?
What’s your favorite teacher’s favorite saying?

Happy Valentine’s Day, dear readers. If I were to send a valentine to you, it would read: “You’re the heartbeat of TheBurg!”

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Love Birds: Cornish game hens might be right for Valentine’s Day

January 29, 2026 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

In 1974 (certainly aging myself here), my husband and parents took a weekend trip to Williamsburg, Va. The weather was glorious: blue skies and warm November sun.

Being a bit farther south from Harrisburg, the butter-yellow Norway maple leaves were still blazing. My father, a painter and photographer, came home from that trip with countless ideas for sketches and paintings. His beautiful Williamsburg watercolors still hang in my home today and warm my heart with happy memories.

But the food inspired us too. We ate in all the historic taverns, including the first night when the Raleigh Tavern served us peanut soup and rock Cornish game hens—a dinner I have always remembered. I was enchanted.

I bought “The Williamsburg Cookbook,” which I still read and use today. Food “fixings” splatter almost every page. I haven’t cooked every recipe but have come pretty close: oyster stew, butter-laden pound cake and eggnog that has to be eaten with a spoon.

I decided to share a recipe, based on that first delightful Williamsburg meal, in my column this month: Cornish hens with fruit stuffing.

Cornish hens, so named because the breed originated in Cornwall, England, are immature chickens that weigh about 1½ to 2 pounds. I found them at the West Shore Farmers Market, but you can find them at places like Costco and Wegmans as well. They are very easy to cook and provide both white and dark meat just like a larger chicken. They make for a beautiful presentation on a platter garnished with small fruits and leaves. Maybe a thought for Valentine’s Day?

Cornish Hens with Fruit Stuffing

Ingredients for Fruit Stuffing

¼ cup butter
1 cup water
1 package (8 ounces) herb-seasoned stuffing/dressing (like Pepperidge Farm or Arnold)
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
¼ cup seedless raisins or currants
1 large apple, grated with skin on

Ingredients for Hens

4 Cornish game hens (about 1½ to 2 pounds)
About ½ cup butter for basting, melted
Salt and pepper to taste
Fruit such as Mandarin oranges and green and red grapes (optional for garnish)

Directions

The Stuffing

Heat the butter and a cup of water in a skillet.
Stir in the stuffing ingredients, toss lightly and remove from heat.

Preparing the Hens

Remove the hens from their protective coverings and pat dry (inside and out) with paper towels.
Place hens on a rack in a heavy roasting pan large enough to hold them fairly close together. You can tie the little legs together with kitchen twine if you wish.
Place enough of the fruit stuffing into each breast cavity. Do not over-stuff. If any stuffing remains, place it in a separate baking dish and bake alongside the hens.
Brush the melted butter over the hens and place them into a pre-heated 350-degree oven.
Roast for about 1 hour to 1½ hours or until a meat thermometer reaches 165 degrees. The hens should be golden brown.

Arrange the hens on an oval platter and garnish as you wish. If the hens are small, a whole one can be a serving. Or you can halve each one with kitchen shears cutting down the backbone. Cranberry sauce and wild rice are wonderful partners to this dish.

I will always remember that sun splashed weekend in Williamsburg and still treasure the recipes I brought home. My husband is fond of saying, “You can’t re-capture rapture.” But, with food and cooking, there are times you really can.

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