Tag Archives: harrisburg

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 9, 2026 | by TheBurg Staff

Department of Agriculture secretary Russell Redding with a Benjamin Franklin reenactor at the 2026 PA Farm Show.

From the 2026 PA Farm Show’s launch to a $750,000 grant for the Capital Area Greenbelt to a lawsuit Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams filed against City Council, a lot happened in Harrisburg this week. Check out our coverage of it all below:

Dauphin County commissioners ratified Park Harrisburg’s 2026 budget Wednesday as creditors, our online story reported.

Harrisburg City Council members were sworn in Monday. Council voted for Danielle Hill to serve as council president for another two years and elected Lamont Jones as vice president. Full story here.

Harrisburg police officers were sworn in by Mayor Wanda Williams at a city hall ceremony. Read the story here.

Harrisburg won a $750,000 grant to support the relocation of the Capital Area Greenbelt in south Harrisburg, our online story reported.

Howard University’s gospel choir will perform in downtown Harrisburg next month, our online story reported.

Mayor Wanda Williams was sworn in for a second term on Monday, our online story reported.

Mayor Wanda Williams sued City Council for defunding top city positions on Thursday. Our story has the details.

PA Farm Show’s 2026 butter sculpture features a scene from 1776 Philadelphia. Learn more here.

Our music columnist has suggestions for live performances to catch this month in her January magazine article.

Sara Bozich compiled all the best events happening around town in her Weekend Roundup.

Realtor.com announced that the Harrisburg region ranked second in the country for first-time homebuyers in 2026, our online story reported.

Wildwood Park’s amateur photography competition needs votes from the public to determine its “People’s Choice Award” winners. Learn more in our online story.

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Dauphin County OKs Park Harrisburg’s 2026 budget as creditor, discusses grant money for homelessness

January 7, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

From left: Dauphin County commissioners George Hartwick, Justin Douglas and Mike Pries at Wednesday’s commissioners meeting.

Dauphin County ratified the approval of Park Harrisburg’s 2026 budget at a meeting Wednesday.

Without discussion, the Dauphin County commissioners unanimously voted to ratify Park Harrisburg’s 2026 operating budget alongside 11 other line items at its weekly meeting. The parking vendor has projected $25.6 million in revenue for 2026.

Park Harrisburg’s annual budget requires approval from its creditors, which includes Dauphin County. The county is a signed creditor on series B parking debt as well as a section of its series C parking debt.

The board also approved a month-to-month contract with the new owner of a credit card processing vendor used by the Dauphin County prothonotary’s office.

Commissioner George Hartwick said his top priority for the board this year is the effective management of Dauphin County’s budget.

In December, county commissioners passed, 2-1, a $221.9 million general fund budget, which included a property tax hike for the second year in a row. Commissioner Mike Pries voted “no” due to the 9.75% tax increase, which was below the 15% hike initially included in the county’s proposed budget.

The $221.9 million budget marked a $172,671 decrease from 2025’s budget of $222 million.

Hartwick said Wednesday that the budget would be tightly monitored.

“Every dollar will be justified, every expense will be scrutinized, and every efficiency will be pursued before asking taxpayers for a single additional dollar,” he said.

He added that the goal was to protect Dauphin County residents from a future tax increase.

“Protecting residents from a future tax increase is not optional. It is our responsibility and this budget and its management will reflect that in this upcoming year,” he said.

At the meeting, commissioners also noted that Dauphin County had not received the level of funding expected through an Emergency Solutions Grant for homelessness services. The grant provides federal money to the county for such services through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Commission chairman Justin Douglas called the ESG grant funding “critical to our region.”

“I’m looking forward to continuing to champion the reinstitution of that grant because we certainly need that,” Douglas added.

Hartwick said that state legislators have been responsive to commissioners’ requests to appeal the amount given and gain access to more funds.

Hartwick further clarified that nowhere in the county code does it say the county is responsible for providing homeless services.

“But because the issues exist and because we want to treat everybody in this community in a way that provides dignity and access to a level of service, the county tends to be the place where we are, unfortunately, finding the majority of the solutions,” he said.

Chief Clerk Eric Hagarty indicated that Dauphin County commissioners will attend a retreat Thursday to plan for the year.

“We’ll collectively engage in a SWOT analysis, identify major ongoing or upcoming projects and map out our work for 2026 in an effort to try to become more proactive in our work, instead of being reactive,” he said.

To learn more about the Dauphin County Commissioners visit this website.

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Cast Your Vote: Friends of Wildwood’s amateur photo contest is ready to be viewed, judged

January 6, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

Friends of Wildwood’s annual photo exhibition is on display now.

Only a few weeks remain to walk through this year’s amateur photography exhibition at Wildwood Park—and cast your vote for its “People’s Choice Award” winners.

While a panel of professional photographers awarded first, second and third place winners in December, members of the public get to cast votes on their favorite entries for “People’s Choice.”

The annual public photo contest spotlights shots taken around Dauphin County parks by visitors. The contest seeks submissions of observed flora, fauna and other natural beauty.

Pictured: Photo entries in Friends of Wildwood’s annual photo contest.

Many of this year’s entries feature captured sightings of birds, deer, snakes, frogs and insects. Others capture landscapes.

Rick Price of West Hanover said that he submitted two photos this year, including one of a white ibis he saw in 2025 at Wildwood Park.

The photo was interesting to him because the birds are typically found further south, along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The first time he saw a white ibis, he said, was in the Florida Keys.

“They’ve been coming further north every year,” he explained.

Price comes to Wildwood weekly to shoot birds and to lead bird walks with his wife Peggy. He said that he enjoys seeing what park visitors have photographed around the county in the annual contest.

“It gives you an opportunity to see what other people have done,” he said.

Price entered his photos, the other of a yellow flower called a spatterdock taken on Wildwood’s canal towpath, in the experienced photographer category.

Photo contest entrant Rick Price at Wildwood Park.

Adult submissions are split into beginner and experienced categories. There is also a youth category for those under 16.

Volunteer Rudy Gornika noted that the beginner’s photography, in particular, caught his eye.

“I was really impressed,” he said.

Gornika, who has been volunteering with Wildwood since 1999, appreciated how they captured wildlife subjects, especially one of a heron.

Twenty-year Wildwood volunteer Ann Pacey echoed this.

“I could not pick a favorite photo this year,” Pacey said. “There were too many good ones.”

The public has until Saturday, Jan. 24, to view the exhibit at the Olewine Nature Center and cast votes. Wildwood will announce the “People’s Choice” winners in February.

The photo contest is run by the Friends of Wildwood organization, a nonprofit that supports Wildwood Park. All photographs were taken at Wildwood, Fort Hunter, Detweiler, Wiconisco Creek or Lykens Glen parks.

Pictured: Photo entries in Friends of Wildwood’s annual photo contest. The bottom two are Rick Price’s white ibis and spatterdock entries.

To learn more about the annual Friends of Wildwood photography contest visit this website.

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Prominent Howard University choir to sing in Harrisburg next month

January 5, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

The Howard Gospel Choir

Howard University’s prominent gospel choir will perform next month in downtown Harrisburg, marking the group’s first appearance in the city in a decade.

The Market Square Presbyterian Church will host the Howard Gospel Choir on Sunday, Feb. 15 for a 4 p.m. show. The show is arranged by the church’s Arts on the Square committee, which puts on a series of musical performances each year.

“We are so proud to be bringing this group to Harrisburg audiences, especially during Black History Month,” said Tyler Canonico-Dilley, artistic director for Arts on the Square.

The choir will be accompanied by rhythm musicians, musically directed by Reginald Golden.

The Howard University group, founded in 1968, has been performing gospel music as an ensemble for roughly 50 years.

Tickets are available both in advance and at the door. General seating costs $25. Preferred seating is $30. Tickets for students and children are $15 and $10, respectively.

Free parking is available in the adjacent Market Square Garage.

The Market Square Presbyterian Church is located at 20 S. Second St. in Harrisburg. For more information, visit artsonthesquare.net.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 2, 2026 | by TheBurg Staff

The Al-Huda School purchased 3301 Front St., which used to house the Jewish Community Center.

We’re excited to wish everyone a Happy 2026! As you settle into the New Year, be sure to catch up on our latest coverage of Harrisburg.

Last year wrapped up with disagreement between city officials over Harrisburg’s 2026 general fund budget, the million-dollar sale of the old Jewish Community Center on the Susquehanna River and updates on the Broad Street Market’s brick building rebuild. Kicking off this year, our editor has made a few city-themed resolutions. Find it all below:

Bella Sicilia Bakery & Deli in Camp Hill offers authentic Italian pastries, gelato and deli favorites. Read more in our December magazine story.

Broad Street Market’s wall that collapsed during construction on its fire-damaged brick building in mid-December will be rebuilt, according to Harrisburg’s spokesperson, our online story reported.

Community events happening this month include a Birds & Coffee meetup at Wildwood and an LGBTQ+ Book Club by the Dauphin County Library System. Find the full list in our January issue.

Harrisburg hosted its annual New Year’s Eve party, complete with the strawberry drop and fireworks, our online story reported.

Harrisburg-area happenings—like swing dance classes at the Abbey Bar and Baby Rhyme Time at the Fredricksen Library—are consolidated here, as seen in our January issue.

Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg sold its old community center to an Islamic school for $1.1 million, our online story reported.

Mayor Wanda Williams vetoed portions of Harrisburg’s general fund budget in an effort to block City Council from zeroing out or significantly reducing salaries for several top city officials. After City Council overrode her vetoes in a special legislative session, Williams said she will explore a lawsuit to reinstate the salaries. Our online coverage details it all.

Our editor made some New Year’s resolutions, with his city in mind, in this blog post.

TheBurg’s top 10 stories of 2025 were ranked by our editor for our January issue. Can you guess what made the list?

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From Business to Books: Local children’s author enters 2026 on a publishing tear

December 30, 2025 | by Colin McGuire

Jessica Yoon. Photo courtesy of Kate McCord Photography.

For someone who has a background in numbers and percentages, Jessica Yoon sure knows a lot about words and pictures.

And to think: That knowledge would never have been accrued without a global pandemic.

As the COVID-19 outbreak effectively shut the world down, Yoon, who lives in Mechanicsburg, found herself juggling remotely working a finance job while raising her first child. After her second child, a daughter, was born, she concluded with her husband that it might be time to retire from corporate life and settle into being a stay-at-home mother.

The transition was taxing, Yoon said, but it turned out to lead her down an unexpected path.

“I was losing my sense of self,” she said. “I was looking for something that was just for me, and writing ended up becoming my creative outlet.”

Yoon watched as a surge in anti-Asian sentiment spread, and it influenced the topics about which she wrote. It wasn’t long before she also realized, as she was reading her son’s children’s books, that there weren’t any characters that looked like him—or her.

As a result, the author decided to start writing down the stories she would make up for her children during story time. By the end of 2021, she began her pursuit of publication.

“As someone with zero background in writing, I was filled with a healthy dose of illusion and audacity,” Yoon quipped. “I just really wanted my kids to see themselves in media.”

While her desire to write was born out of practicality, she had no idea it also would lead to a long-held dream coming true. After landing and parting with an agent, she came across her current agent, who asked her what she wanted to do most.

Yoon’s answer was simple: a “Little Golden Book.” She grew up reading the fabled series of children’s books, so seeing her name on one would be magical. Through a shot of serendipity, her agent reached out to the series’ editor and found that they had a book featuring the K-Pop sensation Blackpink on their calendar—without an author attached to it.

The editor asked her agent if Yoon was a K-Pop fan, and the rest was history.

“I’m actually an OG fan of K-Pop,” Yoon said with a laugh. “In the ’90s, there was a boy band called H.O.T., and I had their posters all over my childhood bedroom. So, I’ve been a fan of this from the start.”

The result is “Blackpink: A Little Golden Book Biography,” which hit bookstores in December, a year earlier than planned. The Penguin Random House publication, illustrated by Honee Jang, chronicles the members of the girl group from their childhoods, through their training to become worldwide pop stars and into the modern day as they tour the world.

That’s not all. Beyond the Blackpink book, Yoon will release “Jeong Is Joeng,” a book about a little girl who embarks on a journey of discovery, kindness and understanding, illustrated by Michelle Lee, in February. Then, in May, “The Legend of Ban-Dal” will hit bookshelves via Simon & Schuster’s “Little Bee Books.”

Yoon’s meteoric rise within the kids lit world is as shocking to the author herself as it is to anyone else. She currently has nine books contracted and is quick to point out that she has wider aspirations for her writing career somewhere down the line.

“I definitely want to publish an adult novel someday,” she said. “I have tons of ideas, and I’m just trying to pace myself at this point because I want to have a long, sustainable career as an author. It’s a matter of, ‘When can an idea fully crystallize and when can I sit down and write it?’”

For now, Yoon is thrilled to be on what she called a “crazy ride” in the children’s literary world. As for her old job, she has zero plans of rekindling her passion for those numbers and percentages.

“I never want to go back to business,” she said. “This is all the result of a lot of different events in my life happening at the same time.

“Sometimes, I have to pinch myself,” the author added before wondering aloud, “Is this real?” she asked. “What is happening?”

For more information on Jessica Yoon and her books, visit www.jessicayoon.com.

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Winter Wonderland: Park officials and outfitters stress importance of bundling up and getting outdoors with your kids this winter

December 30, 2025 | by Susan Ryder

Illustration by Aron Rook.

Shorter and colder days bring on a kind of hibernation for people as well as animals, but getting outdoors is important for families’ winter wellbeing.

Local parks and playgrounds provide one tool to combat the challenge of cold weather malaise.

“The seasonal changes are felt when you don’t have as much daylight,” said Savanna Berry, environmental educator at Wildwood Park in Harrisburg. “So, getting out when you have time in the daylight is just so necessary for your mental health and getting your body moving.”

Located behind HACC’s campus, Wildwood Park is part wetland, with hiking trails and an education center. There’s plenty to see in the less-green winter landscape; in fact, fewer leaves mean better animal sighting opportunities.

“It’s actually a great time to view the water and especially waterfowl, even from the building, with the leaves off the trees,” Berry said.

With less foliage, visitors can also catch a glimpse of muskrat lodges, small mounds of plant material on the lake. You may even get lucky and see one of these small, beaver-like creatures with a long slim tail, since they are active in the winter.

Should it snow, things get even more interesting.

“There’s always something changing, so you’ll find the [animal] tracks in the snow, you’ll see holes in the snow,” Berry said. “You can even find feather marks on the ground where a bird had flapped. You could be the only person who got to see that track before it melted away.”

Another antidote to the cold is going into Wildwood’s Olewine Nature Center after some time outside. Families can watch the birds at the many feeders at the indoor viewing area, and participate in a community science project, “where we record what birds come to our feeders,” Berry said.

Families can also participate in other winter programming like “Discover Rocks and Minerals” and “Discover Groundhogs,” grouping some time outside with some indoor fun.

Year-Round Fun

Getting that close to nature might not be what all parents are looking for, but they can still get their kiddos moving and outside.

“All of our parks and all of our playgrounds are open all winter long,” said Doug Knauss, Susquehanna Township’s parks and recreation director.

At parks like Crown Point Park, parents can walk the loop surrounding the playground and still keep an eye on the kids. Veterans Park also has an internal walking loop of crushed stone.

“So, you can go out for a nice short walk…get out, gets you moving a bit and gets you outside,” Knauss said.

Lower Paxton Township has 16 parks, with large community parks and smaller neighborhood “pocket parks,” which are open to the public.

Renovated in November, Meadow Brook Park might be a nice visit. Older kids, looking for something other than a walk or equipment, can enjoy geocaching in Lower Paxton Township parks.

“It’s free to do as long as you go on geocaching.com and make your account,” said Michelle Thompson, the township’s community engagement and media manager. “You can hunt and find the 12 caches.”

Both Knauss and Thompson said that folks continue to enjoy the parks in the colder months.

“People love the playground year-round,” Thompson said. “They just wear their hats and mittens.”

Move Your Body

Kids still like to swing on swings, slide down slides, climb the equipment and ride bikes even in the winter. Parents might be a little reluctant—it’s cold.

There’s a solution for that.

“The best way to enjoy the cold is by staying warm,” said Jessica Miller, owner of Earth Artisan & Outfitter in Carlisle. “Get dressed, stay active, move your body.”

The key to keeping warm, according to Miller, is to dress in layers, including a soft moisture-wicking base and a waterproof outer layer.

“I cannot stress enough—dress in layers,” Miller said. “You can always take something off if it’s not needed.”

Don’t forget hats, mittens and a scarf or balaclava (not baklava the dessert, but a tube-shaped piece of fabric that you pull over your head to cover your neck, and face, if needed). Socks and footwear are important to staying warm too. Wear appropriate socks and insulated shoes or boots, even if you’re just headed to the playground.

Miller says that parents lead through example, and if they spend time outside, their kids will too.

“Everyone can benefit from a brain break, put down the phones and devices. Unplug and tune into life around you. This also builds relationships, interactions and communication,” Miller said.

There are a few things to consider when heading outdoors this winter.

Many parks do not have open bathroom facilities during the winter months. Olewine Nature Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday and does have facilities. Also, clearing roads takes precedence over clearing parking lots, so some may not be plowed soon after a winter storm.

Whether it’s hiking on a nature trail or heading down to the local park, time spent outside benefits everyone.

“Connecting to nature even when it’s cold helps build relationships, with the land, with life, the planet we all call home and with each other,” Miller said.

To learn more about Wildwood Park and Olewine Nature Center, visit www.explorewildwoodpark.org.

For more information about Susquehanna Township Parks, visit www.susquehannatwp.com/parks-recreation/pages/come-see-our-parks.

Find out more about Lower Paxton Township Parks at www.lowerpaxton-pa.gov/165/ParksFacilities.

For more information about Earth Artisan and Outfitter, visit www.earthartout.com.

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Take a Number: Our editor counts down his top 10 Harrisburg news stories of 2025.

December 30, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda

The sycamore trees are barren, the Farm Show is upon us, and the Harrisburg beaver has bedded down for the winter. That can only mean one thing. It’s time for my annual review of Harrisburg news stories, a tradition eagerly anticipated each year by at least two of my friends (or so they tell me).

10. Housing Headway
For my annual top 10 list, I have a custom: start with something positive before lowering the boom. In my view, progress made on one of the city’s most intractable challenges—homelessness—is noteworthy. In August, “A Miracle Community” opened in south Harrisburg, offering displaced occupants of “tent city” a more organized, less chaotic place to stay. Moreover, three nearby housing projects hopefully will offer additional, more substantive housing. Despite the progress, this issue isn’t going away anytime soon. Some former “tent city” occupants didn’t move to the new location but onto city streets, creating issues there, especially downtown. Also, there’s simply not enough transitional or permanent housing being built to end the crisis anytime soon.

9. Money Matters
In TheBurg, we write many stories about local budgets: city, county, schools. However, federal and state fiscal policy are typically outside our coverage zone. Not in 2025. Tariff hikes, federal program cuts and budget impasses all offered fodder for a yearlong stream of stories of how national and state policy affected people here in central Pa. Along the way, we interviewed coffee sellers, shop owners, food providers, small businesses, school officials and others directly impacted by the uncertainty, delay and policy shifts. They reported a grab bag of bad outcomes, including price hikes, increased costs, layoffs, hunger and turning away those in need, almost as if, said one person, our own elected officials are conspiring against us.

8. Receiving End
Some things, they say, end not with a bang but a whimper. Such was the case with the Harrisburg School District receivership, which came to a quiet close. Back in 2019, the dysfunctional district was placed under state control, with two receivers running the system for the next six years. The receivership didn’t prove to be a panacea, but the district seemed to run more smoothly than before (granted, a low bar). Then, in June, the receivership expired, with power returning to the elected school board. All in, I’d give the receivership a grade of “B.” Finances and operations stabilized, but student performance continued to lag. Also, both receivers punted on the fate of the old William Penn High School, kicking that can further down the road.

7. Highway to Heck
Back in November 2018, our astute city reporter broke some important news—PennDOT had sketched out a plan to double the width of I-83 running through Harrisburg. Outraged, city officials pushed back, not able to kill the project, but getting it scaled back somewhat. Condemnations and clearings followed before construction finally began about two years ago. But it wasn’t until 2025 that the dust and debris really hit the fan, the year marked by constant demos, detours, closures and gridlock. The city’s largest homeless encampment even became collateral damage, as PennDOT took the land for its project. Indeed, every week seemed to have some I-83-related news, which I expect will continue until the expansion is completed sometime in the 25th century.

6. Fretful Fests
In recent years, Harrisburg’s annual waterfront festivals haven’t been the carefree events they should be, with several serious incidents involving fights and reports (and rumors) of gunfire. For a while, it appeared that we’d make it through 2025 with no major problems, but, unfortunately, that suddenly changed. In the last few minutes of the summer’s last festival, Kipona, a woman in a minivan swerved around a barrier blocking traffic and drove through the heart of closed-off Front Street, seriously injuring several people. A York Haven woman, Elizabeth Ann Bohrer, was arrested at the scene and charged with numerous offenses, including aggravated assault. And, once again, a dark shadow was cast upon what should have been a joyful celebration.

5. More Affordable
A new market-rate apartment building hasn’t been built in Harrisburg in, I don’t know, decades? Fortunately, that doesn’t apply to affordable housing projects, which have popped up all over the city in recent years. In fact, 2025 was a busy year for both groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings for such projects as Bethel Village, Woodward Lofts and the Savoy, together adding hundreds of affordable units. Some projects even received a share of $8 million in federal grants doled out by the city in October, in addition to other subsidies and assistance. There was even good news for arguably the most troubled affordable development in the city—Governor’s Square—which went into receivership and took the first steps toward rehabilitation.

4. Mayoral Minded
What happens if they hold an election and no one comes? That was my question following Harrisburg’s mayoral primary, which drew only about 5,000 voters. On the Democratic side, the incumbent, Wanda Williams, edged to renomination by just 80 votes over her closest rival, city Treasurer Dan Miller. Miller, though, got enough write-in votes for the Republican nod, marking the fourth straight Harrisburg mayoral election in which a candidate lost in the primary but ran in the general election anyway. In that race, Miller turned up the heat, running a more focused, energetic campaign. Residents responded, and Miller received far greater voter support. However, so did Williams, who proved that it’s tough to beat an incumbent, a Democrat, and, frankly, Wanda Williams, in a citywide campaign.

3. State Security
I’ve long thought that one of the (many) quirks of life here is how estranged the state of Pennsylvania is from its own seat of government—the city of Harrisburg. Having said that, every so often the two converge in a profound way. April 13 was a startling example, as a man scaled the fence to the Governor’s Residence and firebombed part of the building, putting Harrisburg in the national spotlight for several days. A deeply troubled Penbrook resident, Cody Balmer, soon turned himself in, pleaded guilty and, later, was sentenced to decades in prison. The tragedy also cast an eye on the rather lax security at the residence, which, as of this writing, remained in a prolonged, ugly state of safety-focused construction.

2. Market Rate
For the past two years, the Broad Street Market fire, and its aftermath, has been my No. 1 news story in Harrisburg. This year, I’ve moved it down a notch, as the dire state of the downtown eclipsed the dire state of the market. There was even some good news. After more than two years post-fire, work finally began to restore and rebuild the brick market building. On the downside, the price kept escalating. In late September, City Council reallocated $14.4 million for the project, with the cost now estimated at about $23 million—and that was before the mid-December collapse of a large part of an exterior wall. In addition, the city still wasn’t certain how much it’ll eventually recover in an insurance payout, leaving the total financial impact unknown.

1. Downtown Doldrums
I’ll put this as bluntly as I can: downtown Harrisburg is in crisis. Remote work, especially among state workers, has emptied office buildings, deserted streets and slammed small businesses. The governor seems reluctant to order workers back to the office, and the city has shown scant leadership addressing the disaster. Despite this, there were some green shoots of hope, as Harristown continued its decade-long series of office-to-residential conversions, and nightlife impresario Justin Browning debuted a major music venue. Meanwhile, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC, the city and state legislators are teaming on a downtown redevelopment plan, which, I hope, will be major, positive news in 2026.

In the end, I’d call 2025 a mixed bag. For every snippet of good news (affordable housing), there was some bad (another empty storefront). My hope is that, a year from now, I can report a nearly completed market building, more affordable and market-rate housing and solid progress for the downtown. Harrisburg, can you turn my frown upside down?

Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.

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Happenings: Our January Calendar of Events

December 30, 2025 | by Missy Smith

Museums & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Mustang Then and Now,” through April 18

“Old School Rods and Customs, through April 19

SAAB Showroom, through April 19

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“All Access Harrisburg,” highlighting Pennsylvania’s capital city through the lenses of photographers William Hicks, Dr. Eliseo Rosario, Ron Steficek and Michael Yatsko, through Jan. 8

“Women of the Permanent Collection,” featuring a variety of female artists from the 20th century with their own distinctive style and unique perspective, through March 27

Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“Contain—CALC’s 2026 Juried Show,” an exploration of vessels, depictions of vessels and vessels as a metaphor, Jan.9-31

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

January artist of the month

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

Art & Craft Featuring Millersburg, Jan. 1-31

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

HAAA Member Artwork at Hershey Public Library, hallway gallery, through Feb. 14

HAAA Member Artwork at Hershey Public Library, community room, through May 30

Historical Society of Dauphin County
John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion
219 S. Front St., Harrisburg
717- 233-3462; dauphincountyhistory.org

Mansion Tours, Tuesdays-Friday, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Senior Art Educator Exhibition—B.S. Art Education Program, Jan. 17-Feb. 1; reception: Jan .17, 4:30 p.m.

Works by Ali Wunder and Emily Fussner, Jan. 23-March 3; artist’s talk and reception: Jan. 23, 4:30 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Holiday gift shopping, a collection of work by Millworks in-house artists, ready to take off the wall and wrap up, through Jan. 11

New works by Jemar Sweets, Kate Gambini, Rea Ann Ross, Richard Souders, Marsha Souders, Spencer Jackson and Steve Barber, Jan. 12-Feb. 15

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Mixed media work by Kristen Wierman, Jan. 16-April 4; reception: Jan. 16, 5-8 p.m.

“Ned Smith Unseen,” Jan. 3-March 21

“Cryptids of Pennsylvania and the Appalachian Trail,” through Jan. 10

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Art in the Stacks—Rebekah Richmond, Jan. 1-31

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

Perry County Council of the Arts
PCCA Gallery, 1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“My Pleasant Splendid,” pressed flower pictures by Judy Bouder, through Jan. 3

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“Game Changers—Pennsylvania Women Who Made History,” celebrating women from across PA in diverse fields, detailing their contributions and challenges they faced in their lifetimes

“Bannered Heroes—Celebrating Pennsylvania’s African American Veterans,” presented by Beta Pi Boulé, the Harrisburg chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (the Boulé)

“Horse2Auto—A Transportation Revolution”

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; susquehannaartmuseum.org

“Mixed Mythology,” works by Mary Curran that draw on a deep reverence for the natural world and explores how humans make sense of their surroundings, through Jan. 4

Dōshi Gallery Juried Exhibition—“Nightfall,” exploring the concept of oncoming night, whether metaphorically or through medium and technique, Jan. 9-April 5

“SAM Celebrates 10 Years—An Anniversary Exhibition,” through Feb. 15

“If Herr Street Could Talk,” the homecoming exhibition of award-winning abstract artist and Harrisburg native, Alteronce Gumby, through Feb. 22

The Trout Gallery
Dickinson College
240 W. High St., Carlisle
717-254-8159; troutgallery.org

“A Measure of Value,” works by Faith Ringgold, Sue Coe, Andy Warhol, the Guerilla Girls and others that consider how art and artifacts intersect with economic principles of markets, Jan. 16-April 4

“Her Dreams Are True,” a new perspective on the role of archives, museum collections and the personal memory in Apsáalooke (Crow) artist Wendy Red Star’s prints and photos, through Feb. 7

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

“Gather and Release,” paper quilts by Elaine Elledge, through Jan. 30

Wheel of Light Studio
3738 Peters Mountain Rd., Halifax
wheeloflightstudio.com

“Cabin Fever—What Saves an Artist from Insanity and Boredom,” an eclectic show in a variety of mediums to brighten up the dreary days of winter, Jan. 7-Feb. 21

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; explorewildwoodpark.org

2025 Photo Contest Display, showcasing Dauphin County parks photographs, through Jan. 24
Read, Make, Learn

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Swing dance classes, 6:30-9 p.m.

The Art Center School & Galleries
18 Artcraft Dr., Mechanicsburg
717-697-2072; theartcenterschoolandgalleries.com

Jan. 20, 27: Abstract Painting (ages 9-14), 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20-Feb. 24: Functional Pottery (ages 12+ with parent or guardian), Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m.
Jan. 21-Feb. 25: The Ceramic Studio (adults), Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.
Jan. 22-Feb. 12: Acrylic Painting (adults), Thursdays, 1:30-3 p.m.
Jan. 22-Feb. 12: Intermediate/Advanced Pastel Painting (adults), Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 22-Feb. 12: Pottery Wheel Throwing, all levels (adults), Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 22-Feb. 26: Pottery for All (ages 15+), Thursdays, 6-9 p.m.

Capital Blue Cross Connect
4500 Marketplace Way, Enola
capitalbluecrossconnect.com

Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Strong + Fit, in person and virtual, 10 a.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Gentle Yoga, 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Fitness Flow, 4:15 p.m.
Jan. 5, 19: Virtual Pilates, 5 p.m.
Jan. 6: Exploring the Dimensions of Wellness, 11 a.m.
Jan. 6: Chair Yoga at York Connect Store, 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Menopause Workshop, 12 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual INSPIRE, 9 a.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual Pilates, 12 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Kickboxing + Strength, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Ready, Steady, Action! at Enola Store and Virtual, 4:15 p.m.
Jan. 14, 28: Virtual Cooking Demo, 12 p.m.
Jan. 21: Connect—Health & Wellness and Beyond Webinar, 10 a.m.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

Jan. 10: Indigo Dyeing (ages 15-adult), 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 12-Feb. 16: Wheel 101 (ages 16-adult), Mondays, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 13: Storybook Studio (ages 2-5), 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Jan. 14-Feb. 18: Wednesday Wheel 102, Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 17: Making Collage Pagers, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Jan. 17, 24: Morphology (ages 9-14), 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Jan. 19: Level Up! (ages 5-12), 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Jan. 20: Suicide Loss Survivors (ages 13-adult), 5:30-7 p.m.
Jan. 23: Craft Beer & Clay, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 24: Put Your Color Pedal to the Metal (ages 13-adult), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 24: Collage as a Fine Art (adult), 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Jan. 31: Beaded Besties (ages 5-12), 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 31: Abstract Painting, 12-3 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

Jan. 3: Once Upon a Rainbow at LGBT Center of Central PA, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 13: Books on Tap at Rubber Soul Brewery, Hummelstown, 6-7 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

Jan. 3 Figment Forge, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Crafting with the Classics—Frankenstein, 5:30-7 p.m.
Jan. 14: Secure Your Future—Retirement Income Planning, 1-2 p.m.
Jan. 15: Sip and Speak, 3-4:30 p.m.
Jan. 17: Minds Matter Harrisburg, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Jan. 18: East Shore Cinema, 2-5 p.m.
Jan. 20: Around the Word in 12 Fairytales, 5-5:45 p.m.
Jan. 21: Investing with Confidence, 1-2 p.m.
Jan. 26: The Stitch Sitch, 2-3:30 p.m.
Jan. 28: Life Insurance Essentials—Planning for Every Stage, 1-2 p.m.

Elizabethtown Public Library
10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown
717-367-7467; etownpubliclibrary.org

Jan. 3: Knitter’s Group, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Card Making Group, 5-7 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Fiber Artists, 3-6 p.m.
Jan. 10: Fiber Artists, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Food and Farm Discovery Zone (ages 3-5), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Baby Rhyme Time, 9:15 a.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Active Toddler Time, 10-10:30 a.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11 a.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Preschool Storytime, 11-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Meditation to Calm the Mind. 12-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Elementary STEAM Drop in, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Teens Teaching Tech, 4-5 p.m.
Jan. 17: CPR Heart Saver, 1-4:30 p.m.
Jan. 22: Disney Storytime, 9:30-10 a.m.
Jan 24: Book Dragon Club— Craftivism, 6-8:30 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

Jan. 10: Winter Wreath Workshop, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 25: Winter Glass Painting, 2-4 p.m.

George & Hettie Love Memorial Library
530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

Jan. 3: Otherworldly Book Club, 12-1 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Exploring Egypt, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Jan. 8: Love Friends Book Bingo, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Jan. 10: Knit One, Crochet Too!, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 17: Silent Book Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 29: TBD (To-Be-Read list) Jars, 4-5:30 p.m.
Jan. 31: Write On!, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgimprov.com

Jan. 13-March 3: Level 2—Game of the Scene, Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Jan. 22-March 12: Level 1—Intro to Improv, Thursdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Jan. 6-Feb. 17: Oil and Acrylics, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 15-Feb. 19: Water Media, Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 14-28: Portrait Painting, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Hershey Gardens
170 Hotel Rd., Hershey
717-534-3492; hersheygardens.org

Jan. 11, 18, 25: Winter Walk, 2-3 p.m.
Jan. 14, 21, 28: Winter Wednesdays Family Series—Winter Animal Adaptations, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 17: Winter Bird Watch, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 23: Eco-Fiction Book Group, 12-12:30 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Drop Off Your Extra Craft Supplies, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jan. 6: Hershey Area Pokémon Club, 5:30-7 p.m.
Jan. 6: Mysteries, She Wrote Mystery Book Club, 6:30-8 p.m.
Jan. 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29: Penn State Hershey Mothers & Babies, 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 7: LEGO Club, 1-2 p.m.
Jan. 7: Spontaneous Sparks Improv Class with Gamut Theatre, 2-3:30 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Community Crochet Night, 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Teen Time, 2:30-4:15 p.m.
Jan. 12: Hershey Area Neighbors and Newcomers, 10:15 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 12: Read to a Hockey Player, 4-4:45 p.m.
Jan. 15, 29: Hershey Quilters, 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 16: Play Day for Families, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 17: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 20: Splash of Serenity—Watercolors for Relaxation, 2-3:30 p.m.
Jan. 20, 27: Silent Book Group, 10-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 26: Books and Babies, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Jan. 26: Storytime for Everyone, 11-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 27: 1, 2, Whee!, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Jan. 29: Storytime for Everyone, 10:15-10:45 a.m.

Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education
4945 Horn Road, York
717-757-6441; hornfarmcenter.org

Jan. 10, 24, Feb. 7: Ecological Restoration Certificate, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Jan. 21-Oct. 10 (meeting monthly): Beekeeper Training Program, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 25: Walk the Seasons—Winter, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Jan. 27: Dude, Grass is so 1753, 6-7:30 p.m.

Johnson Memorial Library
799 East Center St., Millersburg
717-692-2658; dcls.org

Jan. 21: Weekday Getaway, 4-5:30 p.m.
Jan. 26: Winter PJ Party—Stuffy Drop Off, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Jan. 27: Winter PJ Party—Stuffy Drop Off, 6-7 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
717-409-5781; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Passageways, 2 p.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Young Adult Group, 4 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Common Roads (ages 12-17), 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 10: QTPOC Advisory Group, 6-8 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

Jan. 27: Coloring for Adults!, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

Jan. 20: Snapology, 5-6:30 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St., Middletown
717-944-6412; middletownpubliclib.org

Jan. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: LEGO Club, 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 3: Open Studio, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: STEAM Club, 6 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Tiny Tots Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Wee Readers Storytime, 1-2 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Teen Time, 4-5 p.m.
Jan. 10: Community Table Top Game Time, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 20: Sensory Storytime, 6-7 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

Jan. 18: An Afternoon with Alice Feeney, 4-5 p.m.
Jan. 21: An Evening with Chuck Klosterman and Spike Eskin, 7-8 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Jan. 3: Abstract Mixed Media Acrylics—Working Large, 9-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 13: Crafty Stitches, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 17: Clay Critters, 1-4 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Jan. 7: Pre-K Storytime, 10:30 a.m.
Jan. 10: Winter Hike, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Jan. 1-5: Snow Globe LEGO Contest (ages 5 and older)
Jan. 1-31: Crystal & Gem Scavenger Hunt (ages 0-12)
Jan. 1-31: Read With Benny Winter Reading Challenge (ages 0-18)
Jan. 2: Cozy Winter Cookie Decorating (ages 5 and older), 2-3 p.m.
Jan. 3, 10, 17: Take and Makes (ages 0-12)
Jan. 3, 17: Book Sales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Jan. 5, 19: Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 5-Feb. 23: Winter Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5), 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Jan. 6: Brush Hour Art Club (ages 12 and older), 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Jan. 6-Feb. 10: Winter Book Babies (ages 0-2), Tuesdays, 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 7: Piece Seekers, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: iPhone Class, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 8: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 8: Musical Mornings (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
Jan. 9: Tumble Tots (ages 0-3), 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 10: Teen Craft Kits (ages 13-17)
Jan. 13: Shelf Love, 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 13: Tales for Tails (ages 6-12), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15: Toddler Time (ages 2-3), 10:30-11 a.m.
Jan. 15: Winter Library Olympics (ages 5 and older), 5-6 p.m.
Jan. 16, 30: Block Party (ages 0-3), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 22: Movers and Groovers (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
Jan. 22: Murder at the Planetarium (ages 12 and older), 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27: Junior Scientists (ages 5 and older), 5-6 p.m.

Palmyra Public Library
50 Landings Dr., Annville
717-838-1347; palmyra.lclibs.org

Jan. 5: Genealogy Group, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Strength & Stretching 50+, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Smart Start Storytime, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Jan. 12: Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 15: Debut Author Book Club @ Book Bar, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 26: BYO Craft Nights Adults 18+, 4:30-6:45 p.m.

Panacea Healing Arts
701 N. Mountain Rd., Harrisburg
484-373-9109; panaceahealingarts.com

Jan. 5: Crystal Bowl Sound Immersion, 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 12: Gentle Yoga & Sound Immersion Savasana, 6:30-8 p.m.
Jan. 19: Monthly Community Central Pennsylvania Psychedelic Society Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

Jan. 5-Feb. 16: Pre-K Class Series—Creativity and the Elements of Art, Mondays, 10-11 a.m.
Jan.14-28: Introduction to Pottery—6-Week Beginners Class, Wednesdays, 6 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

Jan. 2-4: Faster Light
Jan. 2-4: Passport to the Universe
Jan. 9: Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 9: Curiosity Kids—Crayons, 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 16: Tin Shop, 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 17: Storytime, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 17: Franklin Inventions, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Jan. 21: Let It Snow!, 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 23: Curiosity Kids—Magnets & Magnetism, 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 23: Virtual Program—Revolutionary Things, 12:15 p.m.
Jan. 30: GG1 Locomotive, 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 31: Buttons, Badges and Pins!, 10 a.m.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; susquehannaartmuseum.org

Jan. 8: Homeschool Happenings, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Wheel of Light Studio
3738 Peters Mountain Rd., Halifax
wheeloflightstudio.com

Jan. 2: Dumpling Snow Folk Workshop, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 6: White Evergreen or Snowflake Mosaic, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 9: Acrylic Snowy Tree Painting Class, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 10: Hand Built Clay Tree Luminary, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 16: Hand Built Mug Workshop, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24: Clay Smoker Faerie House Workshop, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; explorewildwoodpark.org

Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Wednesday Wellness Walks, 1-2:30 p.m.
Jan. 10: Birds & Coffee with Appalachian Audubon Society, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 24: Kids Discover—Rocks and Minerals (ages 5-10), 1:30-3 p.m.
Jan. 27: Winter Lecture Series Intro to Homesteading—Start Where You Are, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 28: Preschool Storytime—Winter at Wildwood, 10-10:45 a.m.
Jan. 31: Pressed Flower Valentines, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org

Jan. 3: Crafternoon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 5: Bored Builders Needed! 5-6 p.m.
Jan. 9: Blood Drive, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Jan. 24: Build Your Own Terrarium, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Live Music

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Jan. 22: Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band—A Springsteen Celebration
Jan. 23: Bill Engvall
Jan. 24: Elvis Birthday Bash with Mike Albert & Scot Bruce
Jan. 25: Mike Albert’s Elvis Gospel Show with The Stamps Quartet
Jan. 31: The Sixties Show

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

Jan. 8, 15, 22 Open Mic Night
Jan. 17: RIFT Phish Tribute w/ Sons of Pitches
Jan. 23: Cris Jacobs w/ The Adventures of Matte Black
Jan 29: DJ Brownie of The Disco Biscuits w/ Funkbot
Jan. 31: The Grateful Allman Band Experience

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Jan. 2: Jazz in the City
Jan. 17: York Symphony
Jan. 23: The Bacon Brothers
Jan. 24: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Jan. 30: Gabe Dixon, Cumberland Honey

Capital City Music Hall
234 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
capcitymusichall.com

Jan. 17: Tantric
Jan. 20: Atmosphere, Sage Francis, R.A. The Rugged Man, Kool Keith, Mr. Dibbs
Jan. 23: Lez Zeppelin

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

Jan. 2, 14: Anthony Haubert
Jan. 7, 14: Dr. Nyce
Jan. 10, 24: Chris Emkey
Jan. 22, 28: Andrea Britton

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Jan. 24: Eaglemania—Eagles Tribute Band
Jan. 30: Hollywood Nights—The Bob Seger Experience

Englewood Hershey
1219 West End Ave., Hummelstown
717-256-9480; englewoodhershey.com

Jan. 24: U2topia

H*MAC
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Jan. 31: Jack Daniels

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

Jan. 10-11: Beethoven and Barber
Jan. 31-Feb. 1: “Bravo Broadway!”

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

Jan. 10: Popcorn Hat Players presents “Little Red Riding Hood, 11-11:45 a.m.

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

Jan. 2: The Uptown Band
Jan. 3: Blue Morning
Jan. 9: Amish Outlaws
Jan. 10: Funktion
Jan. 16: Emily’s Toybox
Jan. 17: The Audio Files
Jan. 23: Turning the Tide

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

Jan. 7: Kerson Leong

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Jan. 18: Peter Sirotin and Friends

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; metropoliscollective.com

Jan. 9: Mark Steiner & His Problems
Jan. 16: Downstrokes, Mighty Joe Castro and The Gravamen

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-238-9304; pinestreet.org

Jan. 11: Talon Smith

Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

Jan. 11: January Jam & Song Swap
Jan. 17: Damn Tall Buildings
Jan. 31: Crys Matthews

West Shore Theatre
317 Bridge St, New Cumberland
717-759-5464; westshoretheatre.org

Jan. 23: Forrest Brown
Jan. 30: Colebrook Road
Jan. 31: Captain Mike & The Shipwrecked (Jimmy Buffet tribute)

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Jan. 16: Best of The Eagles

XL Live
801 S. 10th St., Harrisburg
717-409-8975; xlhbg.com

Jan. 16: DEFIANT
Jan. 17: Appetite For Destruction
Jan. 23: Reilly and the Pick ‘Em Ups, Seneca & Slick Willie
Jan. 29: Tom Hamilton
Jan. 30: Badfish, Beach Fly

The Stage Door

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Jan. 8: The Outlet—Music & Poetry Open Mic
Jan. 17, 18, 25: “King Lear” presented by OrangeMite Shakespeare Company
Jan. 31: Doktor Kaboom—Under Pressure!

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Jan. 2-3: “An Inspector Calls”

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Jan. 9-Feb. 7: “Clue the Musical”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

Jan. 14-31: Popcorn Hat Players present “The Snow Queen”
Jan. 16-18: “Edward III”
Jan. 23-25: “Hamlet”
Jan. 30: TMI Improv

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center (HCPAC)
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd, Middletown
717-939-9333; thehcpac.org

Jan. 23-25: “Finding Nemo Jr.”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

Jan. 2, 3: Kevin Lee
Jan. 9, 10: Jay Nog and Mike Keegan
Jan. 16, 17: Mark Gregory and Granville Bazemore
Jan. 23, 24: Josh Phillips

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgimprov.com

Jan. 9, 11: Level 1—Intro to Improv Class Graduation Show

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

Jan. 15-Feb. 1: “Death of a Salesman”

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

Jan. 16: “Dancing with the Local Stars”

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Jan. 8-11: “Beetlejuice Jr.”
Jan. 16: EFF Live!
Jan. 25: Court Street Cabaret

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

Jan. 9-26: Agatha Christie’s Rule of Thumb

West Shore Theatre
317 Bridge St., New Cumberland
717-759-5464; westshoretheatre.org

Jan. 25: The Magic of John Westford

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SusqueCycle ridership up this year, 41% of rides from City Island

December 19, 2025 | by Alexandra Jones

SusqueCycle bikes sit in a rack.

SusqueCycle saw a significant increase in ridership this year.

At the Harrisburg Area Transportation Study’s last meeting of the year Friday, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission provided an update on the Harrisburg-based bike share program, which boasted more than 3,321 rides this year.

This is up from 2,993 rides in 2024.

“We basically have no funding for advertising, so this is being done by word-of-mouth and by people just getting to know the bikes around the region,” said Transportation & Community Planner Karen Dixon at the meeting. “Without having any advertising, and with still showing growth, that shows we actually have a need for this kind of transportation in our area.”

Of SusqueCycle’s 2025 rides, 41% were from the City Island station.

Behind this, the stations with the most rides were State Street (16%), Market Square (11%), and the Broad Street Market (10%).

Together, the remaining stations accounted for the other 22% of rides.

According to Dixon, half of the SusqueCycle fleet went into hibernation on Dec. 1 and the other half were put at the top seven performing sites.

“Due to reduced usage in the winter,” she explained.

According to Dixon, PennDOT has approved three new rack locations that will go in around March. They will go along Italian Lake at the Jewish Community Center, at Fort Hunter, and along the Greenbelt near Paxton Parkway.

SusqueCycle, which is operated by Tandem Mobility and administered by Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, is in its third season. It has 10 stations in Harrisburg and one in Hummelstown.

For more information about SusqueCycle’s numbers, view today’s HATS meeting information packet.

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