Tag Archives: Sara Bozich

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

February 27, 2026 | by TheBurg Staff

Damien Randell of Damien’s Fried Chicken

It’s starting to look a little like spring, isn’t it? The sunshine is melting away the last of our snow here and (today at least!) you could probably even get away with going outside without a jacket.

Speaking of jackets, you’ll see the new cover of our March issue around town this week. The issue focuses largely on local nonprofits that are making a difference in our region.

On the daily news front, we’ve been covering stories around Harrisburg all week online, too. See below for the latest headlines, which include updates on what will happen to William Penn, City Council’s latest ICE-related legislation and the story of the Broad Street Market’s new fried chicken vendor.

Our weekly coverage is compiled for you here:

Black authors in the Harrisburg area are bringing their perspectives to fiction and nonfiction alike. Read more in our February magazine story.

Bob’s Art Blog highlighted creative leaders of color across Harrisburg this past month. Read more in our February magazine story.

City Council passed legislation to limit the Harrisburg police’s ability to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday, our online story reported.

Damien’s Fried Chicken, a new Broad Street Market stand, is now open for business. Find out more in our online story.

Harrisburg officials, from the school district and Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, discussed the unique challenges facing Harrisburg’s city and schools Wednesday, our online story reported.

Harrisburg police said homicides were down in 2025 in their annual report, which was released this week. See more trends in our online story.

Harrisburg school board voted Tuesday night to demolish William Penn, a century-old school building that has sat vacant for 15 years. Read more here.

Our Adventure Together columnist explores fungi with her kiddo. For more, see our February magazine story.

Our publisher Lawrance Binda wonders in his latest column: now that Gov. Josh Shapiro has signed on to help revitalize Harrisburg’s struggling downtown, can we look forward to change? Read his March magazine column.

Sara Bozich has compiled the best events of the weekend in her Weekend Roundup, including 2026 Capital Area Polar Plunge at Gifford Pinchot State Park. Check out the full list.

Whitaker Center has opened a new live-animal exhibit, featuring sloths and more. “Survival of the Slowest” explores the world’s slowest-moving species, our online story reports.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

February 26, 2026 | by Sara Bozich

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA!

What you’ll find below:

For something new: Survival of the Slowest opens Friday at Whitaker Center

Worth noting: Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Capital Blue Cross POPS 4: Golden Age of the Silver Screen this weekend; Maple Sugar Festival is Sunday at Fort Hunter Park

Things on my agenda this weekend: professional dev, yoga, youth baseball, dog-sitting, ??

Thursday

Thirsty Thursday, Matt Jameson at Sturges Speakeasy | Free | Harrisburg
2026 Pennsylvania RV Super Show at PA Farm Show Complex | $ | Harrisburg
WXPN WELCOMES An Intimate Evening with JJ GREY & MOFRO at The Appell Center | $ | York
Open Mic & Jam | Thursdays | The Abbey Bar | Free | Harrisburg
SKILLET with special guest The Protest at American Music Theatre | $ | Lancaster

Friday

February Bottles and Book Club at Gruver Farms | Free | New Cumberland
Boys at the Barre Class- H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
Survival of the Slowest opens at Whitaker Center | $ | Harrisburg
TGIF: Cycle Express Theme Ride- Unlikely Pairs Hip-Hop in Country at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
2026 Pennsylvania RV Super Show at PA Farm Show Complex | $ | Harrisburg
open mic at Consciousness Coffee | Free | Lemoyne
The 2080 Band at Mad Moose Tavern | Free | Harrisburg
An Evening of Original Music from Shea Quinn with Special Guests at the West Shore Theatre | $ | New Cumberland
Verminoth at Capital City Music Hall | $ | Harrisburg
Down in Front! presents HOBGOBLINS! at Midtown Cinema | $ | Harrisburg
Funktion at XL Live | Free | Harrisburg
Adrenalize: The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience at Mickey’s Black Box | $ | Lititz
Greg Henderson and Dougie Almeida at Harrisburg Comedy Zone | $ | New Cumberland
Stoney Brook – An Unauthorized Comedy Parody at Open Stage | $ | Harrisburg
TMI Improv Comedy Show – Love is a Joke! at Gamut Theatre | $ | Harrisburg
Murder at Mount Hope Mansion | $ | Manheim
Latin Fuzion Fridayz at Level 2 | Harrisburg

Saturday

Saturday Morning Yoga at Boneshire Brew Works | $ | Harrisburg
2026 Capital Area Polar Plunge at Gifford Pinchot State Park | $ | Wellsville
Saturday Schedule: H2L Studio – Be a Weekend Workout Warrior | $ | Mechanicsburg
Yoga with H2L at Gruver Farms- Workout & Wine Tasting | $ | New Cumberland
Build Your Own Charcuterie Board Weekend at Gruver Farms | Free | New Cumberland
2026 Pennsylvania RV Super Show at PA Farm Show Complex | $ | Harrisburg
Bethesda Mission’s Coldest Night of the Year 5K at City Island | $ | Harrisburg
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Capital Blue Cross POPS 4: Golden Age of the Silver Screen at The Forum | $ | Harrisburg
Van Wirsing @ West Shore Theatre | $ | New Cumberland
The Early November & Hellogoodbye at Capital City Music Hall | $ | Harrisburg
JAKE OWEN – Dreams To Dream Tour, with special guest KENDELL MARVEL at The Appell Center | $ | York
Beyond the Footlights: Hershey Theatre Backstage Pass | $ | Hershey
Journey at GIANT Center | $ | Hershey
Jagged Little Thrill & Nimrod at Mickey’s Black Box | $ | Lititz
Caligula Blushed (Smiths/Morrisey Tribute) at XL Live | $ | Harrisburg
Comedy Show at The Winery at Hunters Valley | $ | Liverpool
Greg Henderson and Dougie Almeida at Harrisburg Comedy Zone | $ | New Cumberland
Stoney Brook – An Unauthorized Comedy Parody at Open Stage | $ | Harrisburg
Gregorian: Pure Chants World Tour at American Music Theatre | $ | Lancaster
Murder at Mount Hope Mansion | $ | Manheim
Ciroc Saturdays at Level 2 | Harrisburg
Brewery Tours: York City Walking Tour | $ | York
Brewery Tours: Cruise York County | $ | York
Brewery Tours: Lancaster City Walking Tour | $ | Lancaster
Brewery Tours: Lancaster City Walk-a-Bout! | $ | Lancaster

Sunday

Sunday Tea at the Willows at Ashcombe Mansion | $ | Mechanicsburg
Sundays at Stumpy’s! | $ | Hershey
Sunday Night Trivia at McGrath’s Pub | Free | Harrisburg
Build Your Own Charcuterie Board Weekend at Gruver Farms | $ | New Cumberland
2026 Pennsylvania RV Super Show at PA Farm Show Complex | $ | Harrisburg
Maple Sugar Festival at Fort Hunter Park | Free | Harrisburg
York County SPCA Dogs’ Day Out | Free | York
Free: Insomnia Help Info Session at H2L Studio | Free | Mechanicsburg
80’s Movie Soundtrack 60-Min Cycle at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
Sound Healing Meditation at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Capital Blue Cross POPS 4: Golden Age of the Silver Screen at The Forum | $ | Harrisburg
West Shore Symphony Presents: “Franck & Forthright” at Trinity Lutheran Church | $ | Camp Hill
National Theatre Live at Midtown Cinema: Hamlet | $ | Harrisburg
THE DIONYSIUM | at Midtown Cinema | $ | Harrisburg
Winter Open Mic with Susquehanna Folk at West Shore Theatre | $ | New Cumberland
The Funniest: The Competition Champions Tour at Harrisburg Comedy Zone | $ | New Cumberland
CAPFILM: OSCAR SHORTS 2026: ANIMATION at The Appell Center | $ | York
Three Days Grace at GIANT Center | $ | Hershey
Enough Is Enough: A Rally for the Rest of US at Capital City Music Hall | $ | Harrisburg
Stoney Brook – An Unauthorized Comedy Parody at Open Stage | $ | Harrisburg

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

February 20, 2026 | by TheBurg Staff

HMAC announced its closure in a Facebook post Tuesday.

From local entertainment venue HMAC’s abrupt closure to Harrisburg Young Professionals’ appointment of a new executive director to the grand opening of a new Midtown warming shelter for local homeless youth, a lot happened in Harrisburg this week. Our weekly coverage is compiled for you below:

Craig Family Cemetery lies in a wooded area so remote that legal access is possible only through guided tours provided by the Country Club of Harrisburg. Freed slave Andrew Craig and his family are buried on the lot. For more, see our February magazine story.

Curryzone, a Nepalese, Indian and Indo-Chinese fusion restaurant, is now open in Camp Hill. Brothers Suman Shrestha and Prakash Kandel run the restaurant. Read more in our February magazine story.

“Ephraim Slaughter: Freedom’s Witness,” a poignant one-act play put on by Sankofa African American Theatre Company and Gamut Theatre, will be onstage at Gamut Theatre until Feb. 22. “The play’s dialogue is pure poetry,” our reviewer raves. Take a look at our February issue story for a behind-the-scenes look at how the show came together.

HACC student Stephanie Wallendjack began exploring art through the community college’s 65+ program and went on to win first place in “Ceramic Art” at one of the world’s most prestigious art exhibitions. Read more in our magazine story.

Harrisburg and CREDC asked residents, workers, business owners, and visitors of the city to take an online survey and share their perception of the downtown. Read more in our online story.

Harrisburg Young Professionals named its former communications coordinator Cody Goss as its new executive director on Wednesday, our online story reported.

HMAC announced its closure on Tuesday, stating it couldn’t procure essential operating licenses from the city after failing to pay its entertainment taxes, our online story reported. The venue’s employees and patrons pleaded with City Council members that night to help keep its doors open.

Hopkins House Museum is set to become Gettysburg’s first museum devoted entirely to Black history. Once home to Jack and Julia Hopkins, the 1840s log cabin is the town’s last surviving Civil War-era house that was owned by Black residents. Read more in our February magazine story.

Plants + Pints, a Strawberry Square-based event that combines plant-based food and craft beer, will return to downtown Harrisburg on Sunday, April 12, our online story reported.

Sara Bozich has compiled the best events of the weekend in her Weekend Roundup, including 3rd in the Burg and Sunday Night Trivia at McGrath’s Pub. Check out the full list.

Thrive Housing Services opened a warming shelter in Midtown for children, teens and young adults experiencing homelessness on Monday. Read more here.

SoMa Block Party series is coming back to downtown Harrisburg this spring and will kick off in May, our online story reported.

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SoMa Block parties to return to downtown Harrisburg this May

February 19, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

A past SoMa Block Party. Photo by Michael Yatsko Photography.

Downtown Harrisburg’s free and family-friendly SoMa Block party series will return this May, tacking on two special ‘bonus’ parties for the season.

Hosted by Sara Bozich and Harristown Enterprises, the series closes the block of S. 3rd Street between Market and Chestnut streets to vehicle traffic and brings in food trucks, drink vendors and live bands.

Local businesses Boneshire Taproom, Agape Elixir Bar, SCC Tattoo Studio, El Sol Mexican Restaurant, Subway and JoJo’s Barbershop will stay open late for the events.

This year’s SoMa Block parties are from 6 to 10 p.m. on the following dates:

Thursday, May 28 (Little Brother Band)
Thursday, June 25 (Vivid Vinyl)
Thursday, July 30 (Cass & The Bailout Crew)
Thursday, Aug. 20 (Smokehouse 4)
Thursday, Sept. 24 (Honey Pie)

In addition to the monthly lineup, two bonus SoMa Block parties will take place in June and September this year:

The Juneteenth SoMa Block Party on Friday, June 19 from 3 to 9 p.m.
The .5K with The River 97.3 on Sunday, Sept. 27 at noon

The Juneteenth event will be hosted with Young Professionals of Color and Harrisburg Young Professionals.

The .5K event will benefit Harrisburg River Rescue & Emergency Services.

Parking is free on weeknights for most of downtown after 5 p.m. and free on Sundays.

Craft beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks will be available.

For more information, visit Sara Bozich’s website.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!