Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

Community Corner: Notable January Events

January Community Corner

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 humanesocietyhbg.org.

HBG Flea
Jan. 7: Find something cool to browse and buy at the HBG Flea, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. Shop for local art, handmade gifts and vintage wares. Visit hbgflea.com.

2017 Farm Show
Jan. 7-14: Attend the annual 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.

Mindfulness Hike
Jan. 8: Go for a guided 3.1-mile walk with yoga instructor Traci Wolfe around Wildwood Park, 10 to 11:30 a.m. The pace will be brisk enough to keep the body warm, with some stops to observe nature and a silent walking session to wrap up. Dress in layers and assume the walk is cancelled if it is raining. For more details, visit wildwoodlake.org.

Photo Contest Awards
Jan. 8: Join Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, for Friends of Wildwood’s Annual Photography Contest awards ceremony at 1 p.m. The contest exhibition will be on display through Jan. 15. For more information, visit wildwoodlake.org or call 717-221-0292.

Crazy for Coloring
Jan. 9-25: Dauphin County Library System will host “Crazy for Coloring,” two-hour sessions of social, adult coloring at Northern Dauphin Library, Jan. 9, 6 to 8 p.m.; East Shore Area Library on Jan. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m.; and William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library on Jan. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. The library will provide coloring sheets and colored pencils, but feel free to bring your own coloring tools with you. For more details, visit dcls.org.

Carlisle Passenger Stations
Jan. 10: National Railway Historical Society Harrisburg Chapter will host “Civil War Railroading,” an illustrated talk with Col. Thomas Sweeney 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. Call 717-439-9744 or email sloan@auchincloss.com.

Farm Show Week Walks
Jan. 10-13: Wildwood Park, Dauphin County Parks and Recreation and Penn State’s Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center are partnering to provide daily, naturalist-led walks at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, during the week of the Farm Show, 2 to 3 p.m. For more details, visit wildwoodlake.org.

Speakeasy Soiree
Jan. 13: Indulge your inner flapper at the Spirits 161 Speakeasy Soiree, a 1920s-themed night at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, 6 p.m., 161 Museum Dr., Hershey. Themed dress is encouraged as the evening features food, drinks, music and, of course, cars from the Roaring ‘20s. Must be over 21 to attend. For more information, visit aacamuseum.org.

Community Weekend
Jan. 14-16: The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, opens its doors to its neighbors for its annual Community Weekend, with general admission of just $7. Guests also can participate in a museum-wide scavenger hunt and other fun activities. Visit aacamuseum.org.

Get Active
Jan. 15: Join Fredricksen Library to be inspired by people who have incorporated athletic activities into their working environment and home lives. From 2 to 3 p.m., hear some success stories and be inspired to change your daily routine. For more details, visit fredricksenlibrary.org. 

MLK Commemoration
Jan. 15: The 28th Annual Carlisle Commemoration of the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and ceremonial march will begin at 3 p.m. The march will start at First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, 2 N. Hanover St., and participants are asked to assemble at the church at 2:45 p.m. For more information, contact Linda Manning at 717-243-4380.

MLK Day of Service
Jan. 16: Join the Central Pennsylvania Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service to tackle local problems and advance 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 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet at the Neighborhood Center, 1801 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

CapCOG Annual Dinner
Jan. 16: Join the Capital Region Council of Governments at the Sheraton Hershey Harrisburg, 4650 Lindle Rd., Harrisburg, 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. For details, visit capitalregioncog.org.

Winter Story Times
Jan. 16-Jan. 31: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, in the Pollock Children’s Library for young children’s holiday programs that promote literacy and provide a fun library experience, for four age groups: Just Baby & Me, Twos, Threes and Picture Book Time. For a schedule of story times, visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Learn at Lunchtime
Jan. 20: Join Robert Hill, curator of military and industrial history, to explore “Pennsylvania at War: The Saga of the USS Pennsylvania,” for a lunchtime lecture at the State Museum of PA, N. 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg. The event runs 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and is included with general admission. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

3rd in The Burg
Jan. 20: 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.

Cabin Fever Walk
Jan. 21: Bundle up and head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for a 3-mile walk on Wildwood Way and the Towpath Trail to defeat winter cabin fever, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Along the way, learn how to prepare for a day on the trail. Visit wildwoodlake.org for details.

Sound and Movement
Jan. 22: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) and Market Square Concerts will host an interactive educational program “Sound and Movement: Human Expression Through Dance and Music” for children ages 8 to 12, in two showings at 12:30 and 3 p.m. at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit CPYB.org.

Animal Tracking
Jan. 22: Kids from ages 5 to 10 can learn the art of tracking with a naturalist at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Kids will learn track identification and walking patterns and will explore park trails in search of a variety of animal tracks. Fee is $5 per child, parents are free; pre-registration is required. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Networking Mixer
Jan. 24: Join the West Shore Chamber of Commerce and other local business professionals at the January Networking Mixer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Healthy You Café, 4500 Marketplace Way, Enola. The event is free and open to chamber members. Visit wschamber.org.

Legislator Forum
Jan. 25: Join the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and the West Shore Chamber of Commerce for the 2017 Legislators’ Forum, featuring area members of the state House of Representatives, at the Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. 2nd St., 8 to 10 a.m. Cost is $65 or $40 for members. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org for more details.

Point/Counterpoint
Jan. 26: U.S. Army War College professors Christopher Bolan and Larry P. Goodson will provide an update on the Arab-Israeli conflict in a point-counterpoint discussion at 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill. There will be a reception and dinner prior to the talk. For details, visit fpa-harrisburg.org.

2017 Auto Show
Jan. 26-29: 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 PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, N. Cameron and Maclay streets, Harrisburg. Visit autoshowharrisburg.com for more information.

Indie Film Friday
Jan. 27: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for “Middle of Nowhere,” a 2012 Sundance Film Festival winning film that follows Ruby, a bright medical student who sets aside her dreams and career when her husband is incarcerated. Two showings are scheduled for 2 and 7 p.m. Rated R. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Local Lunch
Jan. 28: Join Friends of Midtown at their monthly community lunch, which will be held at Zeroday Brewing Co., 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, 12 to 2 p.m. Contact business@friendsofmidtown.org or visit friendsofmidtown.org.

ChoreoPlan
Jan. 28: Four emergent choreographers will take part in ChoreoPlan, a program that encourages the creative development of choreographers and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) students at CPYB studios, 5 N. Orange St., Carlisle, culminating in two public, in-studio performances at 3 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person. Visit CPYB.org/ChoreoPlan for more details.

Meet the Artists
Jan. 29: Meet central PA’s renowned 7 Lively Artists, a plein air painting group celebrating its 60th anniversary. The 2 p.m. event coincides with the current exhibit showcasing their work at the State Museum of PA, N. 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg. For more information, visit statemuseumpa.org.

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