February Community Corner
Ice Festival
Feb. 1-3: Marvel at more than 80 large ice sculptures and watch live carvings of sculptures at the 17th Annual Chambersburg IceFest. There will be a variety of activities for all to enjoy. www.icefestpa.com
Orchid Show
Feb. 1-3: Visit Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey, for the Susquehanna Orchid Society’s 35th Annual Orchid Show and Sale in the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory. More than 1,000 orchids will be on display, including rare species and unique hybrids. Included in admission, free for members. www.HersheyGardens.org
Winter Story Times
Feb. 1-22: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for a young children’s program that promotes literacy and provides a fun library experience. A variety of days, times and age sessions are available. www.fredricksenlibrary.org
Family Fun
Feb. 2: Head to Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the 16th annual Family Fun Fair with free family-friendly activities in the center court, first floor. www.shopharrisburgmall.com
Story Times
Feb. 3-8: Dauphin County commissioners and Dauphin County Library System celebrate “Me and My Home!” week with preschool story times. Children will learn how to appreciate their home through books, songs, crafts and more. www.dcls.org
Blood Pressure Screenings
Feb. 4: Stop by the food court pavilion at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., for free blood pressure screenings offered by UPMC Pinnacle. www.shopharrisburgmall.com
Decisions 2019
Feb. 4, 19: The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg hosts “Great Decisions,” a program on world affairs organized by the Foreign Policy Association. Sessions are held every other Monday at 1 p.m. at the Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, through May 13. Cost is $10 per session, $50 for all eight. www.fredricksenlibrary.org
Farm Finances
Feb. 4-March 4: Learn how to assemble and understand key farm business financial statements in Penn State Extension’s FarmSense financial management course, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All agricultural businesses are welcome. Registration fee is $350, $35 for each additional guest of the same farm. www.extension.psu.edu
Strength Training
Feb. 4-April 10: Penn State Extension offers StrongWomen strength training classes for middle-aged women, men and seniors at First United Methodist Church, Mechanicsburg, in 10-week sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. www.extension.psu.edu
Documentary Talk
Feb. 5: Tracy Heather Strain, director of the “Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart” documentary, will discuss the life of the late Lorraine Hansberry, playwright, journalist, activist and author of “A Raisin in the Sun” at East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, 6 pm. www.dcls.org
Cardiologist Cooking
Feb. 6: Join UMPC PinnacleHealth interventional cardiologist Michael Bosak in the kitchen at Giant Food Store, 3301 Trindle Rd., Camp Hill, 6 p.m., for UPMC Health’s “Cooking with a Cardiologist,” a fun, interactive event featuring heart-healthy dishes. Cost is $10 per person. www.pinnaclehealth.org
Mid-Day Getaway
Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27: Unwind over lunch at McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg. Bring your lunch to the library, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., for coloring, card games, board games and low-stress activities. www.dcls.org
KIDZ Wednesday
Feb. 6, 20: Toddlers and young children who are not in school and their families are invited to fun learning with educational hands-on activities at free KIDZ Wednesdays, Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg. www.shopharrisburgmall.com
Foreign Film Friday
Feb. 8: Join Fredricksen Library, 100. N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for “The Wedding Plan,” a film from Israel, in two showings, 2 and 7 p.m. When her fiancé abruptly calls off their wedding, 32-year-old Michal puts her trust in fate and continues with her wedding plans, believing Mr. Right will appear. www.fredricksenlibrary.org
Book Sale
Feb. 8-10: Friends of Simpson Public Library, 16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg, will host a book sale to benefit the library, beginning with a friends-only preview sale on Feb. 8. The sale is open to everyone on Feb. 9, and the “bag sale” will be on Feb. 10. Book sale includes books, DVDs, CDs, puzzles and games. www.simpsonlibrary.org
Ice Art Fest
Feb. 8-10: Spend a weekend amid snowflake lights and ice sculptures at Downtown Carlisle Association’s Ice Art Fest, with a variety of events and activities including cook-offs and free movies. The event also features food vendors and extended merchant hours. www.lovecarlisle.com
Truffles for Couples
Feb. 8-16: Take your valentine to the Hershey Story’s Chocolate Lab, 63 W. Chocolate Ave., for an evening of truffle making for Valentine’s Day, 6 to 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy drinking chocolates from around the world and making hand-rolled and decorated dark chocolate ganache. Tickets are $20 per person. www.hersheystory.org
Trivia After Hours
Feb. 9: Join Fredricksen Library, 100. N. 19th St., Camp Hill, at trivia night—“Spirits and Libations”—7 to 9 p.m. Popcorn, corkscrews, bottle openers and prizes are provided. Ages 21 & up, BYOB. www.fredricksenlibrary.org
Cabaret Fundraiser
Feb 10: Join the Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus at their annual Valentine’s Day fundraising event to enjoy a fun cabaret performance at Lounge704, 704 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 4 to 7 p.m. Admission is $10 per person. www.harrisburggaymenschorus.org
Soup & a Bowl
Feb. 11: The 26th annual Soup & a Bowl fundraiser will be held at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, with seatings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Enjoy soup, bread, dessert, live music, pottery throwing and a raffle. Locally crafted commemorative Central PA Food Bank bowls can be ordered in advance. Tickets are $30. www.centralpafoodbank.org
Tracking Animals
Feb. 12: Kids ages 5 to 10 and their families are invited to “Kids Discover—Animals and Their Tracks” at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Learn the art of tracking, track identification and walking patterns and explore park trails in search of tracks. Dress for the weather. Fee is $5 per person. www.wildwoodlake.org
Art Crawl
Feb. 13: Grab some friends or a partner and head to The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, for a creative evening out, 6 to 8 p.m. Sample Millworks beers, create art with artists in their studios and enjoy food while wandering around the art studios. Admission is $40 per person. www.millworksharrisburg.com
Nature Lab
Feb. 14: Join museum educators in the nature lab at 11:30 a.m. at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., to learn about ducks. This presentation is designed for general audiences, ages 7 and up, and is included with general admission to the museum. www.statemuseumpa.org
Dressed for Service
Feb. 15: Join history curator Katie McGowan for “Dressed for Service: The American Red Cross Knits for Uncle Sam” at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 12:15 p.m. She will discuss how the American Red Cross led efforts to provide knitted goods to soldiers during World War I. www.statemuseumpa.org
3rd in The Burg
Feb. 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, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org
Family Fun
Feb. 15-17: Hundreds of sports cards and collectibles will be available for purchase throughout the lower level of Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg. The Harrisburg Mall Sports Card Show will be held during mall hours: Feb. 15-16, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Feb. 17, 12 to 6 p.m. www.shopharrisburgmall.com
Community Free Day
Feb. 16: Join the National Civil War Museum, 1 Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park, for its free admission day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in honor of Black History Month. www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org
Education Mixer
Feb. 20: Socialize with local business professionals at the Central Penn College/Education Foundation Mixer, 5 to 7 p.m., at the Conference Center at Central Penn College, 600 Valley St., Summerdale. The event is free and open to chamber members. www.wschamber.org
Legislators’ Forum
Feb. 21: Join the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and the West Shore Chamber of Commerce for the 2019 Legislators’ Forum II, with area members of the PA Senate—serving Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties—at the Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. 2nd St., 8 to 10 a.m. Cost is $70 or $45 for members. www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org
Curiosity Kids
Feb. 21: Kids ages 3 to 6 and their families can have fun with magnets at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m., during its monthly “Curiosity Kids” program. Experiment with various types of magnets and explore how they work. www.statemuseumpa.org
Music Conference
Feb. 21-23: The Millennium Music Conference returns to the Park Inn by Radisson Harrisburg West, 5401 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, for music business keynotes, seminars, panels and workshops and day stage performances, one-on-one mentoring, demo listening sessions and trade show networking, with concerts at local venues. www.MusicConference.net
Oscar Nominated Shorts
Feb. 22-23: Head to Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, to view this year’s Oscar-nominated short films before the awards are given. Nominees will be shown in documentary short film, live action short film and animated short film categories. Not suggested for children under 17 without parental permission. www.fredricksenlibrary.org
Sports Fundraiser
Feb. 23: The 7th Annual Carlisle Cork & Brew will be held at the Carlisle Expo Center, 7 to 10 p.m. The beer and wine tasting event will benefit youth lacrosse teams. Local beer and wine vendors will provide samples, and a silent auction of sports items will be held. Tickets are $35. www.claxyouth.com
Tasting Event
Feb. 23: Get cozy at Appalachian Brewing Co., 50 N. Cameron Street, Harrisburg, at Winter Warmer Fest, 2 to 5 p.m. This tasting event will feature more than 30 local brewers, appetizers, prizes and more. Admission is $30 in advance and $35 at the door. VIP and designated driver admission rates available. www.abcbrew.com
Russia vs. the West
Feb 27: Muhlenberg College Professor S. Mohsin Hashim presents “Russia’s War on Western Democracies” at the Foreign Policy Association’s monthly meeting, West Shore Country Club, Camp Hill, 7:30 p.m. The talk is free and open to the public. A dinner precedes the presentation. www.fpa-harrisburg.org
