Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams announced the details of this year’s Kipona Festival on Thursday.
This weekend, food, music and cultural showcases will return to Harrisburg’s riverfront.
The city’s 107th annual Kipona Festival takes place from Sept. 2 to 4, bringing the community together for an end-of-summer celebration.
“This year’s Kipona promises to be one of the biggest and best we’ve ever had,” said Mayor Wanda Williams, at a press conference on Thursday.
To recognize the area’s diversity, the festival will include a Native American pow-wow on City Island with crafts, music, dance and traditional food. New this year, a section of Riverfront Park, between Market and Walnut streets, will host a multicultural celebration with performances, demonstrations and vendor booths from around the world.
Additional entertainment can be found near Market Street at the live music stage, where about 17 local bands and musicians will perform.
Over 50 artisan vendors will set up along the riverfront, selling wares such as jewelry, artwork, apparel, pottery and glassworks.
For kids, there will be an interactive “Bubble Festival” with bubbles as large as 70 feet. The family fun zone will offer activities like face painting, balloon animals, carnival games and a giant fun slide. WITF will bring character, “Cat in the Hat,” to the festival on Saturday and will offer educational activities for kids.
Food trucks will be parked throughout the festival as well, with over 25 vendors offering funnel cakes, burgers, gyros, stuffed waffles and more. Additionally, there will be a beer and wine garden with local selections.
A traditional Kipona showcase, wirewalker Rylee Gallagher will cross a tightwire above the Susquehanna River each day of the weekend. At 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, she will complete an illuminated walk.
A fireworks display will take place on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. with over 1,500 shells firing off from City Island.
Street parking is free on Sunday and Monday. On Saturday, attendees can use the Parkmobile app and the code LUVHBG to receive 4 hours of free street parking in the downtown area. Parking on City Island is $5. The Market Square Garage will offer a discounted rate of $10, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., courtesy of Park Harrisburg.
Additionally, Recycle Bicycle will provide free bike parking along Front Street near Market and Forster streets.
N. Front Street will be closed, from Forster to Walnut streets, from 9 a.m. on Friday until midnight on Monday.
For more information about Harrisburg’s Kipona Festival, visit their website.
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