December Community Corner
Elegant Progressions
Dec. 1-2: Historic Harrisburg Association and Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania will host its 26th annual “Elegant Progressions” black-tie progressive dinner at three country estates in Bowmansdale. Enjoy chauffeured service to the mansions for hors d’oeuvres and aperitifs, a formal dinner and dessert. Visit elegantprogressions.org.
Toys for Tots
Dec. 1-8: National Civil War Museum and the U.S. Marine Corps are collecting toys for Harrisburg’s children in need. Drop off unwrapped toys valued at $12 or more at the museum and receive one free museum admission for the day of donation or two coupons for 50 percent off a future visit. For details, visit nationalcivilwarmuseum.org.
Holiday Concert
Dec. 1-9: Kick off the holiday season with the Harrisburg Singers’ traditional concert of carols. Tickets are $25. Visit musicbytheriver.org for concert and venue information.
Holiday Lights
Dec. 1-Jan. 1: Take a mile-long drive through a Christmas light display, with more than 300,000 lights synchronized with holiday music, at Manheim Township Community Park, 209 Petersburg Rd., Lititz. For all the details, visit ChristmasSpiritLights.com.
Mini HBG Flea
Dec. 2: Explore the HBG Flea Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. Shop for local art, handmade gifts and vintage wares. Visit hbgflea.com for vendor information.
Diversity Luncheon
Dec. 2: Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network hosts “Celebrate the Holidays with Diversity” at the State Museum, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Celebrate with music, singing, dance and food from around the world. Bring a cultural dish to share. Visit pairwn.org.
Yule Ball Extravaganza
Dec. 2: Celebrate Harry Potter’s 20th anniversary with a Yule Ball Celebration at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a feast, Hogwarts classes and dancing. Wear a wizarding robe or your best fancy dress. Admission is $10 per guest, 11 years of age and older. Visit fredrickenlibrary.org.
White Christmas
Dec. 2: Carlisle Theatre, 40 W. High St., will host its annual showing of “White Christmas,” at 7 p.m. with a singalong. The 1945 classic will be shown with lyrics so that audience members can follow along. For details, visit carlisletheatre.org.
Festival of Trees
Dec. 2-17: Christmas trees trimmed by local garden clubs and decorated with handmade ornaments are displayed at the Fort Hunter Tavern House, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, on Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Trees are available for raffle and ornaments will be for sale. Visit forthunter.org.
Train Display
Dec. 2-30: Elizabethtown Public Library and the Train Guys model train club present the 2017 model train display at the library, 10 S. Market St., on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit etownpubliclibrary.org.
Market of Curiosities
Dec. 3: Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb presents the annual Market of Curiosities at Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K St., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This circus of imaginative holiday gifts features independent artists, vintage dealers and DIY creators. Relish the tastes of micro-brews and food and enjoy live music. Visit marketofcuriosities.com.
Local Lunch
Dec. 3: Join Friends of Midtown at its monthly community lunch, which will be held at Note Bistro & Winebar, 1520 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, 12 to 2 p.m. Contact business@friendsofmidtown.org or visit friendsofmidtown.org.
Champagne Brunch
Dec. 3: Civic Club of Harrisburg will host a holiday champagne brunch at its historic headquarters, Overlook, 612 N. Front St., with music, entertainment and catering by Stock’s on 2nd, 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. Details can be found at civicclubofharrisburg.com.
Polish Tradition
Dec. 5: Join Friends of International House, 312 Chestnut St., Harrisburg, for a 12-dish Christmas Eve supper in Polish tradition, beginning at 7 p.m. Enjoy Polish Christmas carols and a display of hand-painted ornaments. Admission is a suggested donation of $50, benefitting Friends of IHouse. Contact agataczopek@harristown.net.
Deck the Halls
Dec. 7: “Deck the Halls,” Historical Society of Dauphin County’s fundraising event, features hors d’oeuvres, craft wines and beers, dessert bar, jazz music, silent auction and a photo booth at Harris-Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg, 6 to 9 p.m. Details are at DauphinCountyHistory.org.
Holiday Gala
Dec. 8: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host its holiday gala, 6 to 9 p.m., at Civil War Museum, 1 Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg. Join HYP in celebrating the end of the year, while exploring the museum and enjoying refreshments. Visit hyp.org.
Dickens Concert
Dec. 8-17: The Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus presents “A Dickens Christmas” concert at the First Reformed United Church of Christ, 40 E. Orange St., Lancaster, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. Visit harrisburggaymenschorus.org.
Holiday Tour
Dec. 8, 22: Brighter Living Adult Day Care, 979 E. Park Dr., Harrisburg, will host a community event at 6 p.m. with tours of its adult day programs and holiday movie screenings. Refreshments provided. Bring clothing and toys to benefit the Harrisburg YWCA. Visit the Facebook page.
Handel’s Messiah
Dec. 9: The Bach Choir of Baltimore visits to perform “Handel’s Messiah,” 2 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, 221 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Tickets are $25. For more information, call 717-236-4059 or visit musicbytheriver.org.
Holiday Soiree
Dec. 9: Art Association of Harrisburg will host “A Dickens Holiday Soiree” at a private New Cumberland home, 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy “A Christmas Carol” decorations, appearances from the four ghosts and a themed menu. Dress in Victorian or holiday attire. Reservations are $50. Visit artassocofhbg.com.
Christmas Celebration
Dec. 9-10: Bethesda Mission will host a Christmas celebration at Italian Lake, Harrisburg. The festival includes a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Santa’s grotto, carriage rides, local choirs, food vendors and a holiday market with local artisans. For all the details, visit christmasitalianlake.com.
Selfies with Santa
Dec. 9-24: Visit Santa at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., and take a photo in front of the beautiful Christmas tree. Santa will be in Center Court on Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24, 2 to 5 p.m. Free admission. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com.
Santa in Midtown
Dec. 10: Meet and get your picture taken with Santa, enjoy a free snack and get a museum tour at the Friends of Midtown event, Santa in Midtown, 1 to 4 p.m., at the PA National Fire Museum, 1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.
Candlelight House Tour
Dec. 10: Historic Harrisburg hosts its 44th annual Candlelight House Tour, 1 to 6 p.m., highlighting homes and businesses in the Capitol neighborhood. Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Visit historicharrisburg.com for more details.
Holiday Market
Dec. 10: Historical Society of Dauphin County presents its annual Holiday Market, 1 to 6 p.m., with heritage, folk and contemporary artists from Central PA at Harris-Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg. Shop for gifts and visit with Santa. Details at DauphinCountyHistory.org.
Teen Gingerbread Houses
Dec. 10: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, invites teens ages 12 to 18 to the annual Gingerbread Extravaganza, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Make a gingerbread house, enjoy holiday movies and sip hot cocoa. Cost is $3. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.
Holiday Carols
Dec. 10: Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg will host the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 4 p.m., featuring the Sanctuary Choir and the Market Square Ringers. Visit marketsquarechurch.org.
Nutcracker Ballet
Dec. 10-11 & Dec. 16-17: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet will present its annual holiday production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg, on Dec. 9 and 10, and Hershey Theatre, 15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey, on Dec. 16 and 17. Visit cpyb.org.
Polar Express Party
Dec. 11: Children of all ages are invited to meet the train engineer from “The Polar Express,” who will lead a special reading of the classic Christmas story at New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, 7 p.m. Children can wear pajamas, enjoy cookies and milk and get their picture taken with the engineer. Visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org.
Sustainability Talk
Dec. 12: Join the U.S. Green Building Council Central PA for a continental breakfast, presentations by local leaders in sustainability and a discussion on community-based carbon offsets, at Widener Law Commonwealth, 3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, 8 to 10 a.m. Visit usgbc.org.
Holly Luncheon
Dec. 12: New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, will host its annual Holly Luncheon and Musical Holiday Musings, 10:30 a.m., in the library’s Foundation Hall. Reservations are $10. Visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org for details.
Locomotive Works
Dec. 12: National Railway Historical Society Harrisburg Chapter hosts “The Baldwin Locomotive Works and its Connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad,” with Albert Giannantonio at Hoss’s Restaurant, 743 Wertzville Rd., Enola. Speaker starts at 7 p.m.; dinner begins as early as 5 p.m. Call 717-439-9744 or email sloan@auchincloss.com.
Photography Contest Display
Dec. 12-Jan. 27: Visit Wildwood Park’s Olewine Nature Center during regular business hours to view photographs entered in the Friends of Wildwood annual photography contest. Visit wildwoodlake.org for details.
Foreign Policy Address
Dec. 13: Lynn Tabernacki of the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp. will speak on “Addressing Foreign Policy Through the Private Sector” at Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, 7:30 p.m. Dinner precedes the talk. Visit fpa-harrisburg.org.
Fair Districts PA
Dec. 14: Progressive Jewish Voice of Central Pennsylvania is sponsoring a program at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Harrisburg, 3301 N. Front St., at 7 p.m. Fair Districts PA will present information on the status of redistricting in Pennsylvania. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments provided. For more, please contact Randall Tenor at 717-763-1804.
3rd in The Burg
Dec. 15: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. Check out all the action at thirdintheburg.org.
Candlelight Concerts
Dec. 15-17: Susquehanna Chorale will hold its Candlelight Christmas concert series, with traditional and contemporary carols and a pre-concert recital by harpist Elizabeth Asmus. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and $5 for students. Visit susquehannachorale.org.
Christmas Ring
Dec. 16: Join The Great Christmas Ring—a ringing event held in venues throughout the world—at Lancaster Marriott, 25 South Queen St., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Experienced hand bell ringers should contact centralpahandbellfestival@gmail.com to participate. Visit thegreatchristmasring.com
Winter Discovery
Dec. 16-31: Visit Olewine Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, where exhibits will highlight animals in winter, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit wildwoodlake.org.
Radio Theater
Dec. 17-18: The Not Ready For Drive Time Players brings its Christmas show to the Center Street Grille, 4 Center St., Enola, 7 p.m. Actors read from scripts like old-fashioned radio theater performers, with an SNL-like spin. Contact 717-732-8167 or randy.gross@yahoo.com.
Noon Year’s Eve
Dec. 29: State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., welcomes the New Year with its annual “Noon Year’s Eve” for young children and families, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This family-friendly event is included with general admission; planetarium fees apply. Visit statemuseumofpa.org.
New Year’s Eve Countdown
Dec. 31: Celebrate the new year throughout the day at the Hershey Story, 63 W. Chocolate Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids can make some noise with Hershey characters and “bubble-wrap stomps” at 11 a.m., 1.p.m. and 3 p.m. Visit hersheystory.org.
Children’s New Year
Dec. 31: Children count down to a noon balloon drop at the Popcorn Hat Players’ 25th annual New Year’s Eve party at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and the event begins at 11 a.m., including a performance of “The Ugly Duckling.” Tickets are $12 per person. Visit gamuttheatre.org.
Harrisburg New Year’s
Dec. 31: Harrisburg will ring in the new year with fireworks and a celebration at the MLK Government Center, 10 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. Watch the strawberry drop at midnight, followed by fireworks. Visit harrisburgpa.gov.
