Outdoor dining in downtown Harrisburg during the summer of 2020
The need for social distancing may be behind us, but the appeal of al fresco dining has remained and is back again for the summer in Harrisburg.
The city announced on Wednesday that it would bring back outdoor dining downtown on N. 2nd Street for three nights this summer, in partnership with the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (DID).
“We’ve heard a lot from people that they really enjoyed when the city closed down 2nd Street on the weekends for dinner during the pandemic,” said Mayor Wanda Williams. “Our businesses up and down 2nd [Street] have been tremendous, and we want to thank them for participating because we think this will give them a little boost in business for a few extra Saturdays this summer.”
Harrisburg first started weekly street dining in 2020, in response to the pandemic-mandated shutdown of indoor dining. The city re-launched the initiative for the summer of 2021, again offering al fresco dining every Saturday during the season.
After a year off, this summer’s “Second Saturdays in the City” will allow people to dine at several downtown restaurants in the street from 6 to 10 p.m. on July 8, Aug. 12 and Sept. 9.
Restaurants participating in the July event will include Arooga’s, Bacco Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Brick Haus, Café Fresco, Carley’s Ristorante & Piano Bar, Federal Taphouse, JB Lovedraft’s, McGrath’s Irish Pub, Palumbo’s and Stock’s On 2nd.
N. 2nd Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Market to Pine streets, as well as Locust and Walnut streets up to N. 3rd Street from 5 to 11 p.m.
“There has been a demand to bring [street dining] back,” said Todd Vander Woude, executive director of the DID. “This is an opportunity for the restaurants to embrace their creativity and explore different dining options, while also allowing the community to enjoy great food in a unique setting.”
In the case of inclement weather, Second Saturdays will not be rescheduled.
For more information, visit Harrisburg’s website.
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