The leaves may be falling, but there’s no letdown in activity or high spirits during central Pennsylvania’s autumns.
Although events are spread throughout the region, there’s plenty of fall fun in or near the capital city.
In downtown Harrisburg, for example, the Historical Society of Dauphin County is sponsoring Mansion Ghost Tours at the John Harris Mansion on the actual date of Halloween—Friday, Oct. 31.
“There are two tours, one at 6 and one at 7:30,” said Janet Mulligan Bowen, curator of HSDC. “A guide will share local folklore, with the earlier tour being more family-friendly. The second tour focuses on a girl who went missing, at least according to local folklore.”
The ghost tours are fairly new for the Society and are led by candlelight.
Scary stuff is not the Society’s typical realm, but it recognizes that folklore does have a place in history. Last year, a paranormal group checked out the mansion for a possible supernatural presence. The tours, though, are “fun, not scary—not a screecher experience and not a haunted house or maze experience,” said Mulligan Bowen.
Admission is $15 for nonmembers and $10 for members. For kids 12 and under, it’s only $5. Reservations are necessary through the main HSDC number—233-3462. The address is 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg (www.dauphincountyhistory.org).
Roller Ghosters
Hersheypark is all about rapid transitions. In October, it quickly moves from summer to fall mode with a celebration of Halloween, before transforming itself again into Christmas Candylane.
During autumn, the amusement park offers three weekends—from Oct. 17 to Nov. 2—of Hersheypark in the Dark, with activities for the entire family and holiday-appropriate decorations (as in, lots of pumpkins).
Despite the Halloween connection, “There aren’t a lot of scary parts,” said Kaylee Dugan, communications coordinator at the park.
Fall- and Halloween-related events take place on two levels. Hersheypark in the Dark, for older visitors, features thrilling “roller ghosters,” spooky attractions and holiday-themed live entertainment, according to Dugan.
Teenagers might be particularly thrilled with Dark Ride, in which the lights are turned off on a few roller coasters at 9 p.m., for the last hour of the day.
Kids 12 and younger can experience Hershey’s Trick-or-Treat Adventure, starting at Chocolate World and continuing deep inside Hersheypark into Treatville, “a hometown village of sweets and treats.” The sweets and treats are from The Hershey Co., of course. Young visitors are encouraged to come in costume.
All Hersheypark In The Dark rides and entertainment are included in the one-price admission. More than 50 rides are available, said Dugan.
Hours at Hersheypark in the Dark are Friday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
Simultaneously, Zoo America—to which patrons of the park receive free admission—presents Creatures in the Night. Don’t forget your flashlight for a rare glimpse into the nighttime habits of more than 200 native North American animals. (For those who do forget, flashlights will be available for purchase at the door.) The whole zoo will be decorated in Halloween themes.
For information, including price packages, visit www.hersheypark.com.
Fun in Nature
The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg is event-heavy in the fall, says creative director Alexis Dow Campbell. The main one is the annual Fall Family Day, which takes place this year on Oct. 11 from 12 to 4 p.m.
“The day provides activities for kids of all ages, including pumpkin carving and painting and educational activities about the fall,” said Dow Campbell. “Kids can weigh their pumpkin and see if it sinks or floats, and there are horse-drawn hay rides over trails and a children’s train.”
Another highlight is a live animal presentation by Zoo America, which this year will focus on birds of prey. The presentation will take place at the Ned Smith Center’s new amphitheater stage.
“Fall Family Day is a way to celebrate the seasons changing, connect with family and kids and be outdoors,” Dow Campbell said.
Admission is kept low—$5 a person or $15 for an entire family—and the Center offers coupons for free admission.
Another popular educational annual program, “Halloween Owls,” takes place Nov. 1 at the Center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg (www.nedsmithcenter.org).
All through the fall, Fort Hunter Mansion & Park is gearing up for Christmas. The Mansion is decorated with fresh greens and other holiday touches, and the “Kids Only” Holiday Shop—open on Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 29 to Dec. 14—gives youngsters the opportunity to beat the Christmas rush.
Only they’re not looking for gifts for themselves. The purpose of the shop is for youngsters to find inexpensive gifts for parents, siblings, grandparents and other family members, said Julia Hair, executive director of Fort Hunter.
“We try to have different things, not plastic spiders,” she pointed out. “They’ll find toy trains, for example, or little keepsake boxes, puzzles, wooden cubes or snowflake decorations—which are wrapped in nice packaging before the kids leave the shop. And we try to keep the prices to $10 and under. A few items are only $1.”
Volunteers from Fort Hunter help the children make their selections.
That’s on top of the Festival of Trees, Toy Train Exhibit, Greens Sale and Victorian Tea, among other holiday-related activities.
Fort Hunter is located at 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Park hours are 8 a.m. to dusk every day; the mansion is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday (www.forthunter.org).
More Fall Fun
With its rolling farmland and changing leaves, central Pennsylvania is perfectly suited to enjoy autumn activities. Here’s a brief review of additional things to do around our area this fall.
Wildwood Park is a wonderful place to explore nature, but it also hosts special events. During Wildwood’s Magical Trail, you can meet some of the park’s talking wildlife then spend time round a campfire. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 16 and 17, 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. $8 a person, ages 2 and up. Other programs include an Autumn Bird Walk (Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.) and an “Ode to the Egg” educational and art event (Saturday, Nov. 15, 1-3 p.m.) (www.wildwoodlake.org).
All visitors 12 and under will be eligible to participate in the AACA Museum’s Trunk or Treat program on Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 3 p.m. The program is included in the admission to the museum, which is offering a special $5 price for everyone that day. After decorating their own treat bags, youngsters will participate in a hunt to locate a variety of “trunk or treat” spots within the main and lower levels of the museum. They’ll also be given treats provided by The Hershey Co. 161 Museum Dr., Hershey (www.aacamuseum.org).
Strites’ Orchards Farm Market and Bakery is celebrating its 100th anniversary. You can pick your own berries during selected times and also buy a variety of products, from peaches, plums and nectarines, to milk, eggs and grass-fed beef, and more. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Strites’ is at 1000 Strites Rd., Harrisburg (www.stritesorchard.com).
Paulus Orchards, 522 East Mount Airy Rd. in Dillsburg, features a farm stand; pick-your-own apples and pumpkins; tours, group outings, recipes and more. A main highlight is the Maze/Play Area, open Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 5. Explore a Flashlight Maze on Fridays and Saturdays in October (entrance times 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.). During daytime hours, you can also enjoy pedal carts, a cow train, corn shed, wagon rides, playground, giant checkers, dress the scarecrow and other activities (www.paulusorchards.com).
Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest takes place the weekend before Columbus Day, which this year is Oct. 11 and 12. The two-day event features crafts, food, games, contests and entertainment—such as magic, juggling and dance—and is held in Adams-Ricci Park, 100 E. Penn Dr., Enola. Among the activities are radio-controlled racing, hayrides, inflatable amusements, a sheep club petting zoo and a car show. Added this year are pumpkin whoopee pie eating, pumpkin pie baking and paint a pumpkin (www.pennsboropumpkinfest.com).
Ashcombe Farm & Greenhouses is another nearby orchard. On Fall Festival Days, you can participate in wagon rides, pick-your-own pumpkins, a large children’s play area and delicious harvest foods. Craft classes are also offered in November and December. 906 W. Grantham Rd., Mechanicsburg (www.ashcombe.com).
Pride of the Susquehanna hosts two Hollow Weenie nights in October, as part of its Murder Mystery Dinner Cruises. This year’s edition concerns a Halloween party for a hotdog company that goes awry, along with “the wurst frankfurter puns you could imagine.” At press time, tickets were still available for the Friday, Oct. 24, 7 to 9 p.m., performance. Oct. 31 had been sold out. The Pride’s annual Fall Foliage Dinner Cruises are another popular seasonal event, taking place this year on Oct. 4, 18 and 25. (www.harrisburgriverboat.com).
For those looking for scarier stuff, try Asylum Run, open every Friday and Saturday through Nov. 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. Among the haunted attractions are Dr. Lazarus’s House of Lost Souls, Bubba Jack’s Roadside BBQ Shack and Sector 5 The Outland. 517 N. 36 St., Harrisburg (www.asylumrun.net).
Then there’s Jason’s Woods Entertainment, which has events continuing weekends (including Sundays) through Nov. 8. There are six shows, including Lost in Jason’s Woods, Horrifying Hayride and the new Fields of Fright. 99 Stehman Rd., Lancaster, (www.jasonwoods.com).
Maize Quest Corn Maze and Fun Park offers a corn maze and more than 30 other attractions, including “Flashlights at Night in the Maze,” through Nov. 9. Admission is $10 for ages 2 and over. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 7 p.m. 2885 New Park Rd., New Park (www.mazefunpark.com).
It’s not too soon to be thinking about Christmas trees, and one place to find them is at Harrisburg’s Smith Christmas Tree Farm. But before Yuletide, the farm offers pumpkins, corn stalks, hay bales and gourds. New for this fall is a large hayride wagon. Watch for the date of Octoberfest Weekend. 1001 S. 80th St., Harrisburg, 566-2375.
Lastly, don’t forget about one of the most important of all fall activities. The Halloween Trick or Treat in Harrisburg is slated for Thursday, Oct. 30.
