Maple Sugar Festival
March 1: The outdoor season at Fort Hunter kicks off with the annual Maple Sugar Festival. Try tapping a tree, taste real maple syrup and see syrup- and candy-making. The event runs noon to 4 p.m. at the Centennial Barn. More information is at forthunter.org.
500 Men Reading
March 2-7: Men will fan out to Harrisburg-area schools to share a love of reading with elementary school students. In addition to reading stories, the men typically speak about their lives and careers and encourage positive character development in the children. Visit superreader.org/500-men-reading.
Nature Lecture
March 3: Writer Tom Benjey presents “The Craighead Naturalists,” a lecture on a family of siblings who became well-known nature writers and photographers. The program starts at 7 p.m. at the Nature Center at Wildwood Park in Harrisburg. For more, visit wildwoodlake.org.
Alzheimer’s Fundraiser
March 4: Help support those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia at a fundraiser sponsored by All Hands Home Care. Attendees are encouraged to donate iTunes or gently used iPods. The “Power of Music” event takes place between 4 and 9 p.m. at Zorba’s Taverna & Pizzeria, 3715 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. Visit allhandshomecare.com.
Art Lab
March 5: Local artists in all media can participate in a cooperative studio environment to experiment with new media and techniques. The event takes place at the Susquehanna Art Museum, 1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. $5 registration fee. SAM will provide basic materials and a guest artist to share ideas. Information is at sqart.org.
Pet Expo
March 6-8: It’s time for animal-lovers to flock to the annual Pet Expo, featuring pet-related vendors, products and services, as well as numerous exhibits, talks and celebrity appearances. The three-day event takes place at the state Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Additional information is at nationalpetexpo.com.
Charter Day
March 8: The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission will mark the 16th annual Charter Day at the PA State Museum in Harrisburg. Among the free events: presentations, a dance ensemble, special exhibits and historical interpretations. The original 1681 land grant charter will be on display from March 8 to 16. Visit statemuseumpa.org.
Local History Lecture
March 8: Jim Taljan will present a history of the Fackler Funeral Home, which dates to 1865. A $5 donation is requested for the 2:30 p.m. lecture at the Historical Society of Dauphin County (Harris-Cameron Mansion), 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg. A tour of the mansion will be offered at 1 p.m. Visit dauphincountyhistory.org.
Railroad Photography
March 10: A showcase of artistic photography, “Railroad in Historical Landscapes,” will be shown at the monthly public meeting of the Harrisburg Chapter, National Railway Society. The business meeting and speaker begin at 7 p.m. with a meal available as early as 5 p.m. at Hoss’s Restaurant, 743 Wertzville Rd., Enola. For more details, contact sloan@auchincloss.com or visit harristower.org.
Community Forum
March 12: Do you have ideas, complaints, compliments? Friends of Midtown will host a community forum to help spark communication among neighbors. The event takes place 6 to 8 p.m. at the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, 1824 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. Information is at friendsofmidtown.org.
Education Presentation
March 12: The Circle School of Harrisburg will present “Education Untied,” a free multimedia program on the school’s approach to learning. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at the school, 210 Oakleigh Ave., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-564-6700 or visit circleschool.org.
Women Artists
March 12: Join artist/educator Selby M. Doughty for an anecdotal lecture about women artists from Pennsylvania—their work, those who influenced them and their influences on future artists. Social time begins at 6:30 p.m. with the discussion at 7 p.m. at Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill. Details are at fredricksenlibrary.org.
Volunteer Work Day
March 14: Help prepare Wildwood Park for the spring by volunteering a few hours of your weekend. The three-hour event begins at 10 a.m. at the Nature Center. More details are at wildwoodlake.org.
Railroad Show
March 14: Check out everything train-related at the annual Railroad Show & Collectors Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the I.W. Abel Union Hall, 200 Gibson St., Steelton. Sponsored by the Harrisburg Chapter, National Railway Society, the show features model railroads, movies, train layouts, railroadiana and a digital program on the Enola train yards. Proceeds benefit the chapter’s preservation projects. For more information, email sloan@auchincloss.com or visit harristower.org.
Celtic Concert
March 16: Welcome St. Patrick’s Day with the musical group, Seasons. Free refreshments will be offered at the 7 p.m. Celtic-themed concert at Fredricksen Library, Camp Hill. Information is at fredricksenlibrary.org.
Poetry Reading
March 18: Join Harrisburg resident Marian Dornell as she reads selections from her newly published collection of poems, “Unicorn in Captivity,” which tells the story of slavery and discrimination. The free event runs 7 to 8 p.m. at the Centennial Barn at Fort Hunter. Additional information is at forthunter.org.
Chamber Mixer
March 18: Join the Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for its monthly business networking mixer at Doubletree Resort by Hilton, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, 6 to 8 p.m. More information is at cpglcc.org.
Home Builders Show
March 19-22: Attend seminars, visit booths and see the latest in everything for your home at the 41st annual Pennsylvania Home Show, sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg. The four-day event takes place at the state Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. For more information, visit pahomeshow.com.
3rd in The Burg
March 20: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in The Burg, the monthly arts event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. For more information, visit thirdintheburg.org.
St. Pat’s Day Parade
March 21: Grab your green sweater and join the throngs downtown for the annual Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day parade. The parade steps off at 2 p.m. at Walnut and Commonwealth streets before proceeding down N. 2nd Street and up North Street. For complete information, visit craicpa.org.
Genealogy Workshop
March 21: Kathy Hale, librarian with the State Library, will lead a workshop for beginning genealogists, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Historical Society of Dauphin County (Harris-Cameron Mansion), 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg. The fee is $15 per person or $10 for society members. For more information, visit dauphincountyhistory.org.
City Beautiful Lecture
March 23: Join historian Louis Morgan as he presents “A Woman of Vision: Mira Lloyd Dock and the City Beautiful,” a program on the renowned environmentalist and activist. The free lecture takes place at 6 p.m. at Historic Harrisburg Association, 1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit historicharrisburg.com.
Civil War Program
March 24: The Cumberland County Historical Society will reconstruct civilian life in the Cumberland Valley during the Civil War based upon diaries and letters between James and Annie Colwell. The 7 p.m. event takes place at the Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill. Details are at fredricksenlibrary.org.
Taste of the Chamber
March 25: The region’s culinary offerings will be showcased during the fourth annual Taste of the Chamber sponsored by the West Shore Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $25 each for the 4 to 7 p.m. event at Appalachian Harley-Davidson, 6695 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg. To purchase tickets, visit wschamber.org or call 717-761-0702.
AACA Egg Hunt
March 28: The Easter bunny and the annual egg hunt will roll into the AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Children up to 10 years old are invited to participate. The day also will feature hot dogs, popcorn and a reduced $7 admission. Details are at aacamuseum.org.
County Egg Hunt
March 29: Pack up the kids and head to the annual Dauphin County Egg Hunt at Fort Hunter Park. The event, for ages 2 to 9, takes place 2 to 5 p.m., with hunts staggered according to age. Details are at forthunter.org.
Flower Walk
March 29: Take in early spring at Wildwood Park with a free nature walk. Along the way, you’ll see cold-tolerant plants and some early bloomers. Meet at the Nature Center at 1:30 p.m. For more, visit wildwoodlake.org.
