Penguin Plunge
Jan. 1: Welcome the New Year by getting your feet wet in the Susquehanna River with hundreds of other supporters of the Humane Society of Harrisburg. The event begins at 10 a.m. on City Island Beach in Harrisburg with the actual plunge at noon. For more information, visit www.humanesocietyhbg.org.
Scavenger Hunt
Jan. 1: Head to the Hershey Story, 63 West Chocolate Ave., for a New Year’s Scavenger Hunt from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Search through the museum for signs of the New Year and end your hunt with a sweet reward. Visit hersheystory.org or call 717-534-8939 for more details.
Cabin Fever Walk
Jan. 2: Work off some of that holiday cheer on a 3-mile walk on the East Shore Trail and Tall Timbers Trail at Wildwood Lake, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Along the way, learn about the principles of “Leave No Trace.” Information is at wildwoodlake.org.
Winter Reading Club
Jan. 2-March 31: Dauphin County Library System invites users to participate in the 2016 Winter Reading Club, “Everything Old is New Again.” Read, listen to or view eight items to earn a bestselling paperback book and a chance to win a Kindle Fire at each DCLS library. Register online or at your local library beginning Jan. 2. Visit dcls.org or call Holly Etzweiler at 717-232-7286.
Eat Smart, Play Smart
Jan. 7-Feb. 25: PinnacleHealth hosts “Eat Smart, Play Smart” classes on Thursday evenings, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center, 3301 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Health professionals will teach children and teens, ages 6 to 14, how to choose healthy meals and snacks, enjoy an active lifestyle and feel good about themselves. Cost is $25, refundable upon graduation. Classes require parental or guardian presence. Call 717-231-8900 or visit pinnaclehealth.org.
Kids Building Workshop
Jan. 9: Join GO STEAM! of Elizabethtown at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, for a morning of engineering with JUMBO bricks, beginning at 11 a.m. Build a boat, a bridge, a dinosaur and more while sharing some favorite engineering books. GO STEAM! provides STEAM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) classes to children ages 3 to 12. For more, visit gosteamkids.com or midtownscholar.com.
2016 Farm Show
Jan. 9-16: Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the PA Farm Show, the largest indoor agriculture show in the nation, at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, N. Cameron and Maclay streets, Harrisburg. Milk a cow, enjoy a famous Farm Show milkshake or learn first-hand the science and skills used in agriculture. Visit farmshow.state.pa.us for more information.
Photo Contest Awards
Jan. 10: Join Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, for Friends of Wildwood’s Annual Photography Contest awards ceremony from 1 to 3 p.m. The contest exhibition will be on display through Jan. 17. For more information, visit wildwoodlake.org or call 717-221-0292.
Stewartstown Railroad
Jan. 12: Harrisburg Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will host John W. van Briesen, railroad vice president, for a presentation on “Stewartstown Railroad: Restoration and Preservation,” 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.
Chamber Mixer
Jan. 14: Socialize with local business professionals at the West Shore Chamber of Commerce’s monthly mixer, 5 to 7 p.m., at Gift & Associates CPAs, 1205 Manor Dr., Suite 200, Mechanicsburg. More information is at wschamber.org.
3rd in The Burg
Jan. 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.
Museum Presentation
Jan. 15: The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) will host a free presentation and tour during 3rd in the Burg at The State Museum, 300 North St., Harrisburg, focusing on the architecture of The State Museum and Archives Complex as captured by photographers in the current “PA Modern: A Photography Exhibit of Midcentury Architecture.” The evening will feature PHMC Preservation Architect Andrea Lowery, exhibit curator Amy Hammond and exhibit photographers. Visit statemuseum.org.
Dine and Donate
Jan. 16: Join Grain + Verse Bottlehouse, 148 Sheraton Drive, New Cumberland, for a fundraiser to benefit the Sperenza Animal Rescue, 6 p.m. Sperenza Animal Hospital will be in attendance to provide awareness and education about animal rescue, and Grain + Verse will donate a portion of dinner proceeds to the rescue. For more information, visit grainandverse.com.
MLK Day of Service
Jan. 18: Hundreds of central Pennsylvania residents will participate in the Central Pennsylvania Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, tackling local problems and advancing King’s dream of opportunity for all. Learn how to get involved at centralpamlkday.org. In addition, Friends of Midtown will gather to perform community service projects. If you would like to participate, meet at the Neighborhood Center, 1801 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg at 11:30 a.m. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.
CapCOG Annual Dinner
Jan. 18: Join the Capital Region Council of Governments at the West Shore Country Club, 100 Brentwater Rd., Camp Hill, for its annual dinner, reorganization meeting and presentation of the Perry Albert Award. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Capt. Rudy Geisler, commander of Naval Support Activity, Mechanicsburg/Philadelphia. For details, visit capitalregioncog.org.
New Member Social
Jan. 19: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its New Member Social at 6 p.m. at Café 1500 in Harrisburg. The New Member Social is an event solely for new members who would like to learn more about how to become involved and make the most of a membership with HYP. More information is at hyp.org.
Tracking Program
Jan. 23: Join a naturalist to learn the art of tracking. The program begins in the classroom before heading out to Wildwood Park’s trails. Meet in the Nature Center at 10 a.m.; $5 fee per person. More information is at wildwoodlake.org.
Beer Dinner
Jan. 23: Head to Garlic Poet Restaurant & Bar, 148 Sheraton Dr., New Cumberland, for a Chef’s Table Beer Dinner, featuring Liquid Hero Brewery of York, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Executive Chef Kurt Wewer will partner Liquid Hero brews with a special four-course meal. Tickets are $55. For more information, visit garlicpoet.com.
Winter Soiree
Jan. 23: Central Penn College, 600 Valley Rd., Summerdale, will host a Winter Soiree to benefit education and exhibition programs by the Art Association of Harrisburg, 5 to 8 p.m. Live music by Jonathan Frazier. Enjoy refreshments and theater surprises throughout the evening. Reservations are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Visit artassocofhbg.com or call 717-236-1432 to make reservations.
Local Lunch
Jan. 23: Join Friends of Midtown at their monthly community lunch, which will be held at Yellow Bird Café, 1320 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 12 to 2 p.m. Contact business@friendsofmidtown.org or visit friendsofmidtown.org.
Enso String Quartet
Jan. 23: GRAMMY-nominated Enso String Quartet presents a centennial anniversary concert of two 20th century composers, Alberto Ginastera and Henry Dutilleux, at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg, at 8 p.m. There will be a pre-concert presentation with Dr. Richard Strawser at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $35, $30 for seniors, $5 for college students and free for school-age students with a $10 ticket for one accompanying adult. For tickets, visit marketsquareconcerts.org, or call 717-214-ARTS or 717-221-9599. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.
Legislator Forum
Jan. 26: Join the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, in cooperation with the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, for the 2016 Legislators’ Forum, featuring area members of the state House of Representatives. The event takes place at the Harrisburg Hilton, 8 to 10 a.m. Cost is $40 for members and $65 for non-members. For more information, visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.
Middle East Talk
Jan. 28: Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg will host Juliette Tolay, assistant professor of political science/public policy at Penn State Harrisburg, in a free talk on “Europe’s Perception of U.S. Foreign Policy” at 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill. Reception is at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $27 or $24 for FPA members. For more information, visit fpa-harrisburg.org.
2016 Auto Show
Jan. 28-31: Roll into the annual PA Auto Show, an event that features what’s new and exciting in the world of automobiles. The four-day show takes place at the state Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. More information is at motortrendautoshows.com.
