December Community Corner
Eaken Trio Concert
Dec. 1: Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area is hosting the 26th annual “Eaken Trio Home for the Holidays,” with a performance by Taylor Perry, at Pollock Performing Arts Center, 340 N. 21st St., Camp Hill, 7 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit harrisburghabitat.org.
55+ Face2Face
Dec. 1 & 15: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, meet at Appalachian Brewing Company, 3721 Market St., Camp Hill, to meet new people and make new friends, 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, call 717-920-2739.
Paint Night
Dec. 2: YWCA Carlisle hosts a painting night, with wine and hors d’oeuvres, starting at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $50 per person, with art supplies and a souvenir painting apron included. All ages are welcome; must be 21 and older to drink wine. Make reservations by visiting ywcacarlisle.org or calling 717-243-3818.
Purse Auction
Dec. 3: Join the YWCA Greater Harrisburg, 1101 Market St., for an evening of music, wine, food and fashion, during “The Pursuit of Justice Purse Auction,” 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event includes a live and silent auction of handbags and accessories and a drawing for a premier accessory item. All proceeds go to the YWCA Greater Harrisburg Domestic Violence Legal Center. For information, visit ywcahbg.org.
Elegant Progressions
Dec. 3 to 4: Historic Harrisburg Association and Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania will host its 24th annual “Elegant Progressions” black-tie progressive dinner at four historic mansions along Front Street. Guests can enjoy chauffeured service to the mansions for hors d’oeuvres and aperitifs, a formal dinner and a dessert buffet. Call 717-233-4646 or visit elegantprogressions.org.
An ‘80s Christmas
Dec. 4 to 13: The Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus presents “Just Say Yes to An ‘80s Christmas!” the first and second Fridays and Saturdays in December at four different locations in central Pennsylvania. Bring your big hair, shoulder pads and best bright red dress. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door and online. Visit harrisburggaymenschorus.org for concert times and locations.
Sugar Plum 5K
Dec. 5: Wear your holiday-themed costume for the 2nd Annual Sugar Plum Run 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. The race starts at 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the Coffee Beanery, 1215 Research Blvd., Hummelstown. Proceeds go to the Children’s Miracle Network to benefit the Penn State Hershey Medical Center Children’s Hospital. For more, visit www.sugarplumrun.com.
Christmas Hour Tour
Dec. 5: The Newport Revitalization and Preservation Society will host its annual Newport Christmas Hour Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., highlighting five private homes and four landmarks in Newport. Tickets are $15 and are available in advance at various Newport locations and on the day of the tour at the Newport Senior Center, 2 N. 2nd St. For more information, visit nrps.pa.net.
Holiday Music
Dec. 5: Enjoy sounds of the holiday season by Ray Holland on the mountain dulcimer at East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., at 2 p.m. Learn the origins of the song, sing along with Holland and request some of your holiday favorites. For more information, visit dcls.org or call 717-652-9380.
Natural Ornaments
Dec. 6 & 20: Wildwood Park invites children and their parents to craft holiday ornaments using natural materials, 1 to 3 p.m. All materials will be supplied. Cost is $5 per participant; pre-registration is not required. For more details, visit wildwoodlake.org.
Enola Train Yards
Dec. 8: Harrisburg Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will host Jim Leonard, a director of the East Pennsboro Historical Society, for a presentation on “Enola Train Yards in the 20th Century,” at Hoss’s Restaurant, 743 Wertzville Rd., Enola. Business meeting and speaker begin at 7 p.m., with a meal available as early as 5 p.m. For more information, contact Sloan Auchincloss at 717-238-2131.
Alice in Wonderland
Dec. 8: Fredricksen Library will host a 150th anniversary celebration for Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” at 7 p.m., with Alisa Dupuy (personified as Alice) sharing the facts and the myths of Lewis Carroll’s life. For more information, visit fredricksenlibrary.org.
Owls Presentation
Dec. 9: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Millersburg, will host “Owls: Soul of the Night,” a presentation led by Scott Weidensaul, author of the “Peterson Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean,” starting at 7 p.m. Pre-registration is suggested. For more details, visit nedsmithcenter.org.
Middle East Talk
Dec. 10: Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg will host Larry P. Goodson, professor of Middle East studies, at the U.S. Army War College, in a free talk on “Middle East History and Solutions” at 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill. Reception is at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $27 or $24 for FPA members; reservation deadline is Dec. 7. For more, visit fpa-harrisburg.org.
Canadian Brass Concert
Dec. 10: Music at Gretna presents “Christmas with Canadian Brass” at Leffler Chapel & Performance Center, 1 Alpha Dr., Elizabethtown, 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit gretnamusic.org.
Foreign Film Friday
Dec. 11: Join Fredricksen Library for “8 Women,” a French dark comedy set at a family holiday gathering in an isolated mansion. When the patriarch is murdered, the eight women in attendance are all suspects. Two showings are at 2 and 7 p.m. Rated R. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org for more details.
Shopping Night Out
Dec. 11: Finish your holiday shopping during Second on 2nd at PCCA Gallery, One S. 2nd St., Newport, where you can have local artwork and handcrafted gifts wrapped while enjoying refreshments, a beer tasting and live music, 5 to 8 p.m.Donations are appreciated for gift wrapping. Visit perrycountyarts.org.
Free Holiday Concert
Dec. 11 to 13: The Cumberland Singers presents “Merry Little Christmas” concert, featuring a mix of sacred and secular holiday music, including Biebl’s “Ave Maria,” “Jazzy Jingle Bells” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” For concert times and locations, visit cumberlandsingers.org.
Local Lunch
Dec. 12: Join Friends of Midtown at their monthly community lunch, which will be held at the Broad Street Market, N. 3rd and Verbeke streets, Harrisburg, 12 to 2 p.m. Contact business@friendsofmidtown.org or visit friendsofmidtown.org.
Holiday Dance Show
Dec. 12: Studio ’91 Dance Studio presents “Twas the Night Before Christmas” at Cumberland Valley High School Performing Arts Center, 6746 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, with performances at 1 and 6 p.m. For more, visit studio91.com or call 717-691-5567.
Concert and Christmas Tea
Dec. 12: The St. Stephen’s Cathedral Choir and Pine Street Presbyterian Church Choir will perform seasonal music spanning three centuries, accompanied by organ and brass. The free multimedia concert will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, 221 N. Front St., Harrisburg at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a Christmas tea. For more, call 717-236-4059 or email alexis@ststep.org.
Santa in Midtown
Dec. 13: Take pictures with Santa, enjoy free cookies and hot cocoa then take the family on a tour of the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, 1840 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. The 1 to 4 p.m. event at the museum is presented by Friends of Midtown. For more information, visit friendsofmidtown.org or the Santa in Midtown Facebook page.
Candlelight Hour Tour
Dec. 13: Historic Harrisburg will host its 42nd annual Candlelight House Tour, “Grand Impressions: A Tour of Front Street,” 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the tour. For more information, visit historicharrisburg.com and see the story in TheBurg.
Christmas at the Mansion
Dec. 13: Join The Historical Society of Dauphin County for “Christmas at the Mansion and Holiday Market” at Harris-Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St., 1 to 6 p.m. Tour the decorated mansion, view an exhibit of antique toys, visit with Santa, and shop a holiday market, featuring local artists. Admission is a $5 suggested donation; admission is free for children, Society members and Candlelight House Tour ticketholders. More details are at dauphincountyhistory.org.
Ribbon-Cutting
Dec. 15: Brightwood Career Institute in Harrisburg, formerly known as Kaplan Career Institute, will host an open house for members of the business community at its campus located at 5650 Derry St. Guests can meet faculty and staff and enjoy tours of the campus, hors d’oeuvres and libations, while enjoying a ribbon cutting ceremony led by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). RSVP by emailing harrisburg.rsvp@brightwood.edu or calling 717.564.4112.
Deck the Halls
Dec. 15: The Historical Society of Dauphin County will host its 21st annual “Deck the Halls” fundraiser at Harris-Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St., 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $90, $125 and $250 and include wine and beer from the Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey, heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Contact 717-233-3462 or office@dauphincountyhistory.org to RSVP.
Business After Hours
Dec. 17: Mingle with business professionals at this free networking event sponsored by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. This month, the event takes place at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 5 to 7 p.m. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.
3rd in The Burg
Dec. 18: 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 Concert
Dec. 18 to 20: Susquehanna Chorale Presents “A Candlelight Christmas” in three evening concerts, featuring traditional and contemporary arrangements and carols, as well as classic holiday favorites. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door; students are $5. For a schedule of performances and locations, visit susquehannachorale.org.
Children’s New Year
Dec. 31: Bring the kids and countdown to noon at the Popcorn Hat Players’ New Year’s Eve party for children. The annual event begins at 10 a.m. at Whitaker Center and includes a performance of “The Princess and the Pea.” Additional details are at www.gamuttheatre.org.
Rock Around the Clock
Dec. 31: The Hershey Story invites kids to its New Year’s celebration “Rock Around the Clock” in the museum’s Grand Lobby and patio (weather permitting), 1 to 3 p.m. Kids can groove to five decades of party music and enjoy bubble-wrap stomps. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit HersheyStory.org or call 717-534-8939.
Hershey New Years
Dec. 31: Fun, food, entertainment and the countdown to midnight highlight the annual New Years celebration in Hershey. The party starts at 9 p.m. at the public square at Chocolate Avenue and Park Boulevard and continues until the Hershey’s Kiss drops at midnight. For all the details, visit hersheynewyears.org.
Harrisburg New Years
Dec. 31: Enjoy activities in and around City Hall in downtown Harrisburg and watch the strawberry drop at midnight from the Hilton Harrisburg. Check out all the details at the city’s website, harrisburgpa.gov.
