Tag Archives: Whitaker Center

For the Love of Libraries: This month, author Susan Orlean ventures to Harrisburg

April 30, 2021 | by Harvey Freedenberg

She’s written a book about Florida orchid thieves that was transformed into a popular film starring Meryl Streep as her character and traveled the world from Hungary to Bhutan for the New Yorker for nearly three decades.

For someone with Susan Orlean’s eclectic resume, the subject of libraries might seem an unusually sedate one. But in her capable hands, the story she tells in her 2018 book, “The Library Book,” is no less captivating than any of her more exotic tales.

And, this month, she makes her way to Harrisburg to benefit the library here.

Intricate Machine

Interviewed recently by phone from her home in Los Angeles, Orlean was an enthusiastic conversationalist. The ostensible subject of her book is the catastrophic fire that occurred at the Los Angeles Central Library on April 29, 1986, a conflagration that destroyed some 400,000 books and damaged 700,000 more, along with innumerable other irreplaceable items in the library’s extensive collection.

The blaze was so devastating that the building remained closed for seven years, surviving a proposed demolition before it was renovated and expanded. Harry Peak, a “storyteller, a yarn-spinner, and an agile liar,” with vague aspirations of an acting career, was charged with the arson. Orlean narrates the story of the investigation that led to his arrest with the attention to detail of a skilled mystery writer.

But the fire itself and its aftermath only serve as an intriguing point of departure. “The Library Book” quickly blossoms outward from this curious true crime story into a history of the Los Angeles Public Library, a skillful guided tour behind the scenes of the “intricate machine, a contraption of whirring gears” that is a modern urban library system, and a reflection on the myriad functions libraries serve in American society.

Orlean admitted she “loves writing about history, particularly these little-known pockets of history that ended up being meaningful, but don’t fall into the category of mainstream history.” In this case, that includes subjects like the critical role that female leaders played in the early days of the Los Angeles library, at a time when many libraries denied access to their gender, along with concise biographies of some of the colorful figures in the library’s history of nearly 150 years.

“The Library Book” overflows with fascinating facts, among them a description of stoichiometric condition, a rare situation that results in total, perfect combustion, as seen in the Los Angeles fire, or the number of books destroyed in Europe in World War II. The one that remains most securely lodged in Orlean’s memory is that there are more libraries in the United States than McDonald’s restaurants, a fact she said she found “particularly delicious.”

In order to get a sense of how the library’s books were quickly consumed by fire, she even burned (with trepidation and much regret) a copy of Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” in her backyard. As for Harry Peak’s guilt or innocence, even after her thorough investigation, she remains “of two minds” on that subject.

Lot of Emotion

At the time Orlean wrote the book, her mother was in the early stages of dementia, and the project also helped her preserve memories of their frequent visits to her childhood library in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Orlean vividly recalled those experiences as she began to make trips to the library with her own son. This sense of continuity, she said, reminded her “how connected we are to these places, that they’re more than just repositories of books, they become very personal for almost everybody who visits a library.”

Orlean also believes strongly that libraries have a critical role to play in strengthening democratic values. “A foundational notion of a democratic society is equal access to information and knowledge,” she said.

“Libraries are the ideal embodiment of that,” she added. “In order to consider a society fair and democratic, everybody should have access to the same information, whether it’s something that they own and view at home or whether it’s made available to them through a public space. That’s really served so thoroughly by libraries.”

In this way, Orlean noted, libraries “do what they claim to do.”

On May 8, Orlean will visit Harrisburg for an invitation-only live event at Whitaker Center in connection with the launch of a capital campaign by the Dauphin County Library System to renovate the Haldeman-Haly House and the adjacent McCormick Riverfront Library. She’ll be interviewed by NPR White House correspondent and former WITF reporter Scott Detrow, and their conversation also will be live-streamed to the public via the campaign’s website.

Dauphin County Library System Executive Director Karen Cullings pointed out that the renovation project presents “a unique opportunity to recover public library space for service to children and expanded community partnerships and to participate in the continuing revitalization of downtown Harrisburg.”

Orlean’s “The Library Book” will resonate with anyone who feels they’ve come home when they step inside a library. Perhaps that explains her quick answer when asked to name the most gratifying aspect of the public response to her book.

“One of the things that was thrilling was just realizing that I had tapped into this almost inexhaustible amount of affection for libraries,” she said. “There is just a lot of emotion connected to them, and that really made me happy.”

For more information, visit www.dcls.org.

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Happenings: Our April Calendar of Events

March 31, 2021 | by Missy Smith

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Look . . . They Gave Me a Map,” an exhibit examining the enduring appeal of free road maps, through April 23

“Minibike Mania,” a display of more than two dozen miniature motorbikes, through April 23

“Yeah, It’s Got a Hemi!” an exhibit focused on Hemi engines, through April 23

“Yes, We Drive These Cars!” is an exhibit of The Horseless Carriage Club of America, with three display cars, early signage and artifacts, and video of the cards on tour, through April 23

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

“Figuratively Speaking,” annual juried membership show celebrating the human form, with an added theme of coronavirus lock-down/quarantine experience, through May 13

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

“Annual Student Show: Honoring Seniors 2021,” through April 10

“Local Light,” paintings and drawings by David Reinbold and Mary Ann Lard This series of paintings and drawings that focus on the beauty of light and shadow in defining forms in landscape and still life, April 16-May 29

“I’m Fine,” a community-engaged exhibit of masks and stories dedicated to sculpting mental health awareness and support, April 16-May 29

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

Artist of the Month

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

“Imagining the Divine—Religious Mythology and Art,” featuring works from the museum’s permanent collection that considers how artists manifest notions of spirituality in the visual arts, through April 17

“Studio Majors Thesis Exhibition,” featuring projects by senior studio art majors under the direction of Rachel Eng with Todd Arsenault, Anthony Cervino, and Andy Bale, April 30-Sept. 11

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Backstage at the Allen Theater Café, April 1-May 31

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

Works by Amie Bantz, Tina Berrier, Pamela Black, Tristan Bond and Tara Chickey, through April 11

New works by Tami Bitner, Kelly Curran, Julie Iaria, and Reina Wooden, April 14-May 16

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

“On and Off the Grid,” abstract paintings in grid style by Thom Kulp, inspired by the work of Agnes Martin and serving as metaphors for restrictions people have faced during the covid-19 pandemic, through April 10

“Home Goods Show” of locally made artwork and handmade home goods for spring redecorating or Zoom room makeovers, April 17-June 12

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Virtual Student Honors Exhibition, April 21-May 6

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

“Sun + Light,” a collection of works from the series “Everyone Loves the Sunshine” by contemporary artist Charles Edward Williams that highlight his own personal encounters, past and present, with the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, through April 11

“The Modernists: Witnesses to the 20th Century,” works by a variety of modern artists, through May 16

“Project Pattern” multimedia display of photography, painting, sculpture, and installation by artists Nate Ethier, Nicole Herbert, and Luke Murphy, through August

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

“Art in the Wild,” exhibit of naturally inspired trailside installations created by artists using mostly natural materials and inspired by the theme “reimagining,” April 10-Sept. 30

Read, Make, Learn

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

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29” Thursday Art Club (grades 3-5), 3:30-5 p.m.
April 2, 9: Indigo and Shibori, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 14: Creative Collage, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 17, 24: Ceramic Jewelry, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Preschool Storytime on Zoom, 10 a.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23: Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 4 p.m.
April 3, 10, 17, 24: Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 3 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26 Born to Read (birth-18 months), 9:30 a.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Virtual Anime Club, 4 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Animal Crossing with The Library, 3:30 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Family Storytime, 6 p.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual Toddler Storytime, 10 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual Create Lab, 4 p.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Young Adult Book Club on Zoom, 4 p.m.
April 8: Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 7 p.m.
April 9: Virtual Device Club, 1 p.m.
April 13: Virtual Reading the Rainbow Book Club, 7 p.m.
April 28: Knit One, Crochet Too! on Zoom, 6 p.m.

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

April 13: Fort Hunter Conservancy Walk, 2-4 p.m.
April 18: Maple Sugar Festival, 12-4 p.m.

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

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Zoom Resume Writing Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Zoom Resume Writing Workshop, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Virtual Get That Job! Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Virtual Get That Job! Workshop, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
April 3-17: Easy Craft Grab and Go Bag (ages 4-7), 1 p.m.
April 5: Zoom—Fredricksen Writes on Zoom, 6:45 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Career Exploration Workshop on Zoom, 4:30 p.m.
April 5, 19: Teen Grab and Go Bag, 9 a.m.
April 6: Zoom—Curl up with the Classics on Zoom—“The Hound Of The Baskervilles,” 10-11 a.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Career Exploration Workshop on Zoom, 10:30 a.m.
April 7: Zoom—Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
April 9: Philosophers’ Roundtable, 2 p.m.
April 9, 23: Zoom STEM Storytime, 10 a.m.
April 11, 15: Virtual Peaceful Poses Children’s Story Time, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 12: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
April 12, 26: STEM Grab & Go Bag (ages 7-12), 9 a.m.
April 21: Zoom—Write On, 7:30 p.m.

Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta & Delta Research and Education Foundation
[email protected]

April 17: Virtual Party with a Purpose, 7-9 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

April 6-27: Learn Calligraphy, Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m.
April 28-May 19: Plein Air, Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

April 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Facebook Live Storytime, 10 a.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Facebook Live: Books & Babies, 10 a.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual 1, 2, Whee!, 10 a.m.
April 6, 20, 27: Beginner Calligraphy, 7 p.m.
April 7, 21: Virtual LEGO Club, 3:45 p.m.
April 12: Discovering Your Immigrant Ancestor (Friends Adult Program), 7 p.m.
April 17: Mirrors, Windows, & Sliding Glass Doors Family Book Group: Mommy’s Khimar, 2 p.m.
April 18: State Trivia (Family Program), 2 p.m.
April 20: Community Blood Drive, 1:30 p.m.
April 24: History of Blues in America—Kids Edition (Friends Children’s Program), 10 a.m.
April 24: Kids’ Carry & Craft Seed Bomb Edition, 12 p.m.
April 24: Teen/Adult Carry & Craft—Bird Feeder Edition, 1 p.m.

Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
historicharrisburg.com

April 24: Special How-To Program—Preserving and Restoring Historic Windows, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

April 1: LEGO Club (grades K-5), 6 p.m.
April 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30: Toddler Time (18 months to 3 years), 11:10 a.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Story Time (ages 3-6), 10-10:45 a.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Rhyme Time (18 months and younger), 10:15 a.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Story Time on Zoom, 1:30-2 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Zoom Rhyme Time (18 months and younger), 5:15-5:35 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Family Story Time on Zoom, 6:45-7:15 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Tea & Stitches on Zoom, 10-11 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Zoom Story Time (ages 3-6), 10-10:45 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Toddler Time on Zoom (18 months to 3 years), 11:10 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Toddler Time on Zoom (18 months to 3 years), 6 p.m.
April 9, 23: Dungeons & Dragons (grades 6-12), 6-8 p.m.
April 13: Tween Scene on Zoom—Get a Clue Mystery Challenge (grades 4-5), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
April 14: Mad About Mysteries on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
April 17: Kindergarten Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 19: Virtual Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
April 20: Nancy Drew and Her Mysterious History online program, 2-3 p.m.
April 20: Zoom STEM Club, 6-6:45 p.m.
April 24: Trivia at Home—Nancy Drew, 6-8 p.m.

LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

April 3, 10, 17, 24: Virtual Passageways Transgender & Non-binary Group, 2-4 p.m.
April 19: Navigating K-12 Settings for Parents of Transgender & Non-binary Youth, 7-8:30 p.m.

Manada Conservancy
manada.org/events

April 8: Native Plant Initiative program, 7 p.m.

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

April 1: Virtual and in-person Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Online Science Fiction Book Club
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Star Trek Rewatch online group
April 19: Virtual and in-person Mystery Book Club, 6 p.m.

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

April 6: An Evening with Julie Metz and Menachem Kaiser, 6-7 p.m.
April 20: Audrey Clare Farley in Conversation with Susannah Cahalan, 7-8 p.m.

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

April 3: First Saturday Open Studios, 2-5 p.m.
April 17: Fluid Art Class, 12-2:30 p.m.
April 18: Fluid Art Class, 12-2:30 p.m.

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

April 10: “Crossing the Deadline—The Rise of Civil War Prisons as Dark Tourist Destinations,” 1-2 p.m.

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

April 3, 17: Book Sales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
April 13: Book Review, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

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

April 24: Coffee Painting, 1-3 p.m.
April 24: Spring Bird Walk, 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

April 6, 13, 20, 27: Librarians Around Town Storytime, 10:30-11 a.m.

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

April 7-28: A Novel Idea—Crafting a Memoir, 6-8 p.m.
April 10: Rug Hooking for Beginners, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

April 2: Virtual Artists Conversations—Violet Oakley’s William Penn Mural, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
April 9: Virtual Adventures in Nature Lab—Vernal Ponds, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
April 11: Virtual Tonight’s Sky—A Live Chat with the Planetarium Director, 2-3 p.m.
April 16: Virtual Curator’s Choice— Flyover Pennsylvania, T.M. Fowler’s Bird’s-Eye Views of Pennsylvania, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
April 23: Virtual State Museum Perspectives, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
April 30: Virtual Treasures from the Vault—PA’s Last Mountain Lion, 12:15-12:45 p.m.

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

April 2: Kids Discover—Birds and their Nests (ages 5-10), 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
April 6: Skunk Cabbage Walk 2:30-3:30 p.m.
April 10: Volunteer Work Day—Litter Clean Up, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 11: Art in the Wild—Meet the Artists, 1-3 p.m.
April 13: Fort Hunter Conservancy Hike, 2-4 p.m.
April 15: Kids Discover—Pollywogs (ages 5-10), 2-4 p.m.
April 18: Spring Flower Walk, 1:30-3 p.m.
April 24: Wetlands Festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Live Music

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

April 9: Trace Adkins
April 17: Spring Doo Wop Cavalcade
April 24: Mark Lowry
April 30: Justin Willman

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

April 30: Martin Sexton

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

April 8: Drake Bell

The Englewood
1219 Research Blvd. Hummelstown
717-256-9480; englewoodhershey.com

April 4, 11, 18, 25: Jazz Sunday Brunch w/Central PA Friends of Jazz
April 16: Cody Tyler and Gypsy Convoy

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

April 17: Masterworks

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

April 10: Ryan Yingst

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

April 28: Stuart Malina & Friends

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

April 6: Jazz Combo
April 13: Symphonic Winds and Brass Choir
April 19: Chamber Ensembles
April 22: Wind Ensemble
April 23: Symphony Orchestra
April 25: United Voices of Praise
April 28: Spring Choral Showcase
April 29: Musica Nova—Student Compositions
April 30: Jazz Ensembles

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

April 27: Stuart Malina & Friends

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

April 3: Tom Paxton and the DonJuans
April 10: Lui Collins
April 17: Bill and the Belles

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

April 6: Tower of Power

The Stage Door

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

April 10, 12: York Symphony Orchestra—Music & Scenes from “Amadeus”

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

April 1-3: “Happy Days”
April 15-May 29: “On Your Feet”

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

April 9-25: “2 By Strindberg—The Stronger & The Outcast”

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

April 23-25: “Manifest the Glory of God”

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

April 2, 3: Larry XL and Kate Brindle
April 9, 10: Sean Finnerty and Tom Feeney
April 16, 17: Tennessee Tramp and Amy Dingler
April 23, 24: Rich Vos
April 29, 30: Shane Gillis

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

April 2-18: “Poirot Investigates! The Affair at the Victory Ball” virtual performance

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Happenings: Our March Calendar of Events

February 26, 2021 | by Missy Smith

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Look . . . They Gave Me a Map,” an exhibit examining the enduring appeal of free road maps, through April 23

“Minibike Mania,” a display of more than two dozen miniature motorbikes, through April 23

“Yeah, It’s Got a Hemi!” an exhibit focused on Hemi engines, through April 23

“Yes, We Drive These Cars!” is an exhibit of The Horseless Carriage Club of America, with three display cars, early signage and artifacts, and video of the cards on tour, through April 23

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

“Figuratively Speaking,” annual juried membership show, celebrating the human form, with an added theme this year of coronavirus lock-down/quarantine experience, through April 1

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

“I REaD it somewhere,” CALC’s Annual Members’ Exhibit, through March 6

“Annual Student Show: Honoring Seniors 2021,” March 18-April 10

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Local art display through March 27 at Hershey Public Library’s Hallway Art Gallery

Works by HAAA artists Mona Frey and Carolyn Alfano, through March 31 at Backstage Café’ Art Gallery (at Allen Theatre)

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

Works by Amie Bantz, Tina Berrier, Pamela Black, Tristan Bond and Tara Chickey, March 2-April 11

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

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Virtual exhibition of Graphic Design Works by Craig Welsh, through March 18; Zoom lecture: March 18, 5:30 p.m.

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

“Once A Future Kingdom,” sculptured materials and imagined relics by Anthony Cervino, through March 14

“Sun + Light,” a collection of works from the series “Everyone Loves the Sunshine” by contemporary artist Charles Edward Williams that highlight his own personal encounters with the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s,” through April 11

“Meanderings,” a collection of collagraphic prints by artist Valerie Dillon, through April 25

“Persephone/Persephone,” a multi-panel collaborative installation by Elody Gyekis and Joanne Landis, through June 20

“Project Pattern” multimedia display of photography, painting, sculpture and installation by artists Nate Ethier, Nicole Herbert, and Luke Murphy, through August

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“Danny Lyons—Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement,” through March 22

Read, Make, Learn

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

March 9: Metal Jewelry—Riveting & Texture, 6-8 p.m.
March 17: Experimental Mixed Media 1-Day Workshop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
March 17: Suicide Loss Survivors Creating Together, 5:30-7 p.m.
March 30: Jeweler’s Saw—Tips & Tricks, 6-8 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

March 1, 8, 15, 22: Virtual Anime Club, 4 p.m.
March 1, 8, 22: Born to Read (birth-18 months), 9:30 a.m.
March 2, 9, 16, 23: Animal Crossing with The Library, 3:30 p.m.
March 2, 9, 16, 23: Virtual Family Storytime, 6 p.m.
March 3, 10, 17, 24: Virtual Toddler Storytime, 10 a.m.
March 3, 10, 17, 24: Virtual Create Lab, 4 p.m.
March 3, 10, 17, 24: Young Adult Book Club on Zoom, 4 p.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Preschool Storytime on Zoom, 10 a.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 4 p.m.
March 6, 13, 20, 27: Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 3 p.m.
March 8: Virtual Device Club, 1 p.m.
March 9: Virtual Reading the Rainbow Book Club, 7 p.m.
March 10: Mental Health Series—Meditation, 7-8 p.m.
March 20: Virtual Mindfulness for Teens, 10-11 a.m.
March 23: Job Seeker Resources on Zoom, 6-7 p.m.
March 31: Knit One, Crochet Too! on Zoom, 6 p.m.

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

March 1, 15: STEM Grab & Go Bag (ages 7-12), 9 a.m.
March 1, 15: Zoom—Fredricksen Writes on Zoom, 6:45 p.m.
March 8, 22: Teen Grab and Go Bag, 9 a.m.
March 2: Zoom—Curl up with the Classics on Zoom—“ The Screwtape Letters,” 10-11 a.m.
March 2, 9, 16, 23: Career Exploration Workshop on Zoom, 10:30 a.m.
March 2, 9, 16, 23: Career Exploration Workshop on Zoom, 4:30 p.m.
March 3: Zoom—Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
March 4, 11, 18, 25: Zoom Resume Writing Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
March 4, 11, 18, 25: Zoom Resume Writing Workshop, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
March 4, 18: Virtual Peaceful Poses Children’s Story Time, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Virtual Get That Job! Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Virtual Get That Job! Workshop, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
March 6, 20: Easy Craft Grab and Go Bag (ages 4-7), 1 p.m.
March 8: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
March 12: Philosophers’ Roundtable, 2 p.m.
March 12, 26: Zoom STEM Storytime, 10 a.m.
March 17: Zoom—Write On, 7:30 p.m.

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

March 8, 15, 22: Practical Color Theory, 5-5:40 p.m.

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

March 2, 4, 9, 11, 14, 18, 23, 25, 30: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
March 6: Virtual COVID Safety Storytime, 10 a.m.
March 6: Connect for Your Health—Evaluating Online Health Information virtual workshop, 11 a.m.
March 7, 14: Art of Truth—Creative Non-Fiction virtual workshop, 2 p.m.
March 8: Discovering Your Patriot Ancestors virtual workshop, 7 p.m.
March 9: Virtual Connect for Your Health—MedlinePlus for Online Health Information, 6 p.m.
March 10, 24: Virtual LEGO Club, 3:45 p.m.
March 11: Morning Contemporary Book Group on Zoom, 9:30 a.m.
March 11: Evening Contemporary Book Group, 6:30 p.m.
March 12: “Brothers and Sisters”—a Bill Harley virtual watch party, 7 p.m.
March 13: Connect for Your Health: Health information in the News (virtual), 11 a.m.
March 13: One Book One Community Book Discussion (virtual), 2 p.m.
March 18: Life-long Readers Book Group on Zoom, 6:30 p.m.
March 20: The Spanish Influenza of 1917-1918 in the Philadelphia Region (virtual), 2 p.m.
March 21: Mythology Madness Virtual Trivia, 2 p.m.
March 22, 29: Facebook Live: Books & Babies, 10 a.m.
March 23: Blood Drive, 1:30 p.m.
March 23, 30: Virtual 1, 2, Whee!, 10 a.m.
March 25: Virtual Storytime, 10 a.m.
March 25: Zoom—Between the Lines Book Group on Zoom, 6:45 p.m.
March 27: Virtual Kids Carry & Craft—Kite Mosaic, 10 a.m.
March 27: Virtual Teen/Adult Carry & Craft—Rock Painting, 11 a.m.

The Hershey Story Museum
63 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-534-8939; hersheystory.org

March 1-31: Chocolate Lab classes
March 27, 28: Easter-themed Chocolate Lab classes

Historic Harrisburg Association
1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
historicharrisburg.com

March 22: Fourth Monday Program—Four Generations of Strong Women in Harrisburg, 6-7 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

March 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26: Toddler Time on Zoom (18 months to 3 years), 11:10 a.m.
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Story Time on Zoom, 1:30-2 p.m.
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Rhyme Time on Zoom (18 months and younger), 10:15 a.m., 5:15 p.m.
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Toddler Time on Zoom (18 months to 3 years), 6 p.m.
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Family Story Time on Zoom, 6:45-7:15 p.m.
March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Tea & Stitches on Zoom, 10 a.m.
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Zoom Story Time (ages 3-6), 10-10:45 a.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Story Time (ages 3-6), 10-10:45 a.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Zoom Toddler Time (18 months to 3 years), 11:10 a.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Rhyme Time (18 months and younger), 12-12:20 p.m.
March 9: Tween Scene on Zoom—Game Night (grades 4-5), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
March 10: Mad About Mysteries on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
March 12, 26: Dungeons & Dragons (grades 6-12), 6-8 p.m.
March 15: Virtual Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
March 16: Zoom STEM Club, 6-6:45 p.m.
March 20: Kindergarten Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

The LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Virtual Common Roads (Young Adult), 4-6 p.m.
March 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Passageways Transgender & Non-binary Group, 2-4 p.m.

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

March 4: Virtual and in-person Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Online Science Fiction Book Club
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Star Trek Rewatch online group
March 15: Virtual and in-person Mystery Book Club, 6 p.m.

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

March 4: An Evening with Anne Lamott, 7-8 p.m.

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

March 6: First Saturday Open Studios, 1-5 p.m.

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

March 21: Ducks and Geese of the Susquehanna, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

March 2, 4, 9, 11: Little Explorers Virtual Early Learning Classes, 10:30-11 a.m.

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

March 13: Virtual Paint Together, 4-6 p.m.

Pine Street Presbyterian Church

310 N. Third Street, Harrisburg

717-238-9304; pinestreet.org/education

Mar. 7, 14, 21: “The Sermon on the Mount,” 8:45 a.m.

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

March 5: Virtual Artists Conversations—Violet Oakley’s William Penn Mural, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
March 7: Virtual Charter Day
March 12: Virtual Adventures in Nature Lab: PA Songbirds, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
March 19: Virtual Curator’s Choice: Deadly Contact: Europeans, Native Americans, and Pandemics, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
March 26: Virtual State Museum Perspectives—Archaeology, 12:15-12:45 p.m.

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

March 14, 21, 28: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
March 14, 21, 28: Young Artist Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
March 17: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.

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

March 6: Kids Discover—Woodpeckers (ages 4-6), 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
March 6: Kids Discover—Woodpeckers (ages 7-10), 1:30-3 p.m.
March 13: Volunteer Work Day—Litter Clean Up, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
March 13: Spring Wreath Workshop, 8:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:45 p.m.
March 24: Bird Walk—Waterfowl and Early Spring Migrants, 8-10 a.m.
March 27: Juniors—Animal Habitats, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
March 30: Nature Journaling, 1-3 p.m.

Live Music

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

March 21: Air Supply
March 25: 38 Special
March 26, 27: Celtic Woman Celebration

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

March 13, 15: York Symphony Orchestra digital concert
March 18, 25: A.J. Croce livestream

Arts on the Square
Market Square Presbyterian Church
20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg
Facebook: Market Square Church

March 28: Pianists Ruth Slenczynska and Shelly Moorman-Stahlman (free live stream on Facebook page, 4 p.m.)

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

March 6: X Ambassadors

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

March 14: Ireland with Michael Londra virtual performance

Market Cross Pub & Brewery
113 N. Hanover St., Carlisle
717-258-1234; marketcrosspub.com

March 7: Shrimp Ryan’s Jig Band

Market Square Concerts
www.marketsquareconcerts.org

March 14: Verona Quartet at Whitaker Center

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

March 5: Messiah University Symphony Orchestra
March 7: Kuhlman Competition
March 26: Messiah University Concert Choir and Chamber Singers
March 27: Messiah University Percussion Ensemble

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

March 27: Leblanc, Kissinger & Messano

Pine Street Presbyterian Church

310 N. Third Street, Harrisburg

717-238-9304; pinestreet.org/music/maps

Mar. 21: Lenten Recital

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

March 13: We Banjo 3
March 14: SFMS Coffeehouse with Matt Minskie, Redacted, Roman Barten-Sherman
March 27: Väsen

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

March 18: The Allman Betts Band

The Stage Door

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

March 3-April 3: “Happy Days”

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

March 14, 29: “Do You Know Me?” digital performance

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

March 11-14: “The Little Mermaid”

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

March 4-7: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” livestream
March 26-27: Spring Senior Series livestream

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

March 5-21: “Everyman”

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HU Presents adds The Englewood to its growing list of concert venues

November 12, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The Englewood

Harrisburg University is adding another central PA venue to its locations for live music.

Starting next year, the music series, HU Presents, will host musical acts at The Englewood, a large, converted barn just outside Hershey.

“We are very excited to bring Harrisburg University Presents shows to this top-scale venue,” said Frank Schofield, HU director of live entertainment and media services. “The venue is beautiful, and we are partnering on many shows to highlight and complement our existing HU Presents line-up.”

Over the last few years, HU has offered music at several different Harrisburg locations, including XL Live, Whitaker Center and in Riverfront Park.

The Englewood expands the geographic reach of HU Presents into the Hershey area. The venue also offers a state-of-the-art music and lighting system installed by Clair Brothers, a nationally recognized audio products company based in Lancaster County.

The Englewood opened in July in a historic bank barn just off of Research Boulevard. In addition to a large, 250-person event space, the converted barn includes a restaurant and brewery, with total capacity for 650 people.

“This partnership will provide great exposure for our unique venue and the university’s exceptional programming,” said Angela Moramarco, marketing and creative director for The Englewood. “We are excited to showcase the space and the engineered elements designed to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience for both performers and guests.”

Due to the pandemic, HU had to cancel a large slate of shows it had planned for 2020. However, it already has rescheduled several of them for 2021, including Young the Giant (April 1) and MisterWives (May 1) at XL Live and Jason Isbell (May 29) and Cage the Elephant (Sept. 23) in Riverfront Park.

For more information about the HU Concert Series, including a full lineup of 2021 concerts, visit their website.

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Harrisburg organizations seek state grants for large-scale development projects

October 9, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

The Hudson Building on N. 6th and Maclay Streets.

Several Harrisburg companies and organizations soon will find out if they will receive state grant money for their large-scale redevelopment projects in the city.

On Friday’s edition of Community Conversations with Mayor Papenfuse, the city’s weekly Facebook Live event, the mayor spoke with several Harrisburg-based applicants who are seeking funds under the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).

“Some of these aging, larger structures in Harrisburg have tremendous fixed costs,” Papenfuse said. “Those costs can really overwhelm an organization which is trying to maintain them.”

The City of Harrisburg is requesting the most money of the nine local applicants. It is asking for $8 million to renovate the MLK City Government Center.

The RACP funding would push forward a plan to increase accessibility and community use of the building, explained Marc Woolley, the city’s business administrator.

Starting at the first floor, the city plans to soften the current cold, brutalist architecture with an overhang on the exterior of the building and a more welcoming lobby space with tables inside. Woolley said the city would add a small business incubator space, as well. Improvements to the other three floors would follow.

“We want to take hold of the namesake of the building—the Martin Luther King Jr. Government Center,” Woolley said. “It’s really about community fairness and accessibility.”

Many types of organizations, both public and private, are eligible for RACP funding. The annual program is for regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects, according to the PA Office of Budget.

Leaders of The Bridge Ecovillage hope to secure a significant amount of funding for their renovation of the former Bishop McDevitt school building in Allison Hill. Chief Executive Officer Gary Gilliam said the requested $2 million would go towards beginning construction, installing HVAC and sprinkler systems, roofing and electrical work, among other items.

“Getting that initial funding is paramount to getting the project to succeed,” Gilliam said.

The historic improvement aspect is emphasized in applicant Mighty Group Holdings LLC’s Hudson Building project. Owner Adam Maust is asking for $3 million to renovate the 45,000-square-foot building at N. 6^th and Maclay streets.

“For projects of this scale, the cost grows quickly,” Maust said. “This would allow us to get started soon.”

Maust said that he is still considering ideas for what the building will hold, but he is leaning towards an educational aspect and a grocery store.

Marc Kurowski, president of city-based K&W Engineers, also spoke of how the grant money would help fund plans to update and upgrade the historic King Mansion on the 2200-block of N. Front Street. The building serves as K&W’s headquarters, but includes event space, which is used for weddings and large events.

In Harrisburg, other projects that have applied for RACP funds include:

Judicial Office Center at Midtown, $3.7 million, to partially fund a five-story, 75,000-square-foot office and retail building, with a separate five-story parking structure, on a 1.5-acre site between Reily, Boyd and Fulton streets, by KevGar HoldCo LLC
Harrisburg Scottish Rite Cathedral, $1.38 million, for extensive building renovations and upgrades
Presbyterian Apartments, $2.5 million, for rehabilitation to the senior citizen high-rise downtown
Whitaker Center, $1.45 million, for building upgrades and renovations and to construct a new STEAM education and innovation studio
Olde Uptown Neighborhood Revitalization, $5 million, to continue acquisition and renovation of blighted properties, by WCI Partners LP

Typically, about one-third of applicants statewide receive RACP funds each year and often in lesser amounts than requested.

“We really have a wide array of really interesting projects being proposed for Harrisburg,” Papenfuse said. “For large-scale building projects, there is a need and role for this program.”

Local representatives including Sen. John DiSanto, Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) and Gov. Tom Wolf’s office will have the say in who is selected for the grant, Papenfuse said. A decision is expected by the end of the month, he added.

“From the city’s perspective, we hope we can fund all the projects,” Papenfuse said.

To view past Community Conversations, visit the city’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP.

Disclosure: Alex Hartzler, co-publisher of TheBurg, is a principal with WCI Partners.

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It’s a Go: Market Square Concerts plans a fall season, properly distanced

September 30, 2020 | by Lori M. Myers

Cuarteto Latinoamericano

Timing is everything, whether in life or in music.

No one knows that better than Peter Sirotin, co-director of Market Square Concerts in Harrisburg, who proclaims that this season’s programming “was meant to explore how music can transport us through time and space.”

“This might be our most geographically and historically far-reaching season yet,” he said. “I believe that a concept of using arts to expand one’s horizons by connecting to different cultures and eras is now more meaningful than ever, given how stationary all of us have been for most of 2020.”

But life has arts organizations locally and worldwide impacted by the pandemic, so one must address that proverbial elephant in the room. How will Market Square Concerts journey down that pandemic path during its upcoming 39th season, particularly given the domestic and international travel restrictions their performers might face? What about the audiences who flock to the various local venues to enjoy its concerts at Whitaker Center, Temple Ohev Sholom and Market Square Presbyterian Church?

Sirotin already has had to reschedule a piano recital and masterclass by British pianist Steven Hough to the 2021-22 season after Hough’s entire U.S. tour was cancelled. Fortunately, Sirotin was able to find a replacement for October, but the juggling required a lot of work to make it happen.

“When we had to cancel performances at the end of our previous season, the overwhelming majority of patrons chose to donate the cost of their tickets to MSC instead of requesting refunds,” he said. “As we go forward, we hope that the generous community support will continue because our season will be impacted by having to limit our audience in order to socially distance.”

Sirotin made sure that MSC kept connecting with its audiences despite the interruption by emailing video and audio recordings of performances accumulated over the last decade. As far as this coming season, it’s a go.

“We are passionate about the unique, spiritually nourishing quality of great live performances, but we also are planning to comply with all state and local government guidelines on face coverings and social distancing in order to present these events as safely as possible,” he said. “To accommodate those who may be reluctant to join us, we are planning to offer high quality recordings of concerts, contingent on artists’ permission, of course.”

With that said, MSC’s 2020-21 varied concert season incorporates music from Shakespearean England, the Italian Baroque era, 20th century Latin America and Eastern Europe, and even from the great American songbook.

The season opens on Oct. 6 at Whitaker Center with renowned pianist Mark Markham, whose “Dances and Improvisations” celebrates the freedom of expression by composers from Bach and Chopin to Ravel, Poulenc and others. For 20 years, Markham was the recital partner of the late Jessye Norman, one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century. A few years ago, he had also performed as a soloist with the Harrisburg Symphony, where he performed the Ravel Piano Concerto.

The Nov. 15 concert at Temple Ohev Sholom showcases the vitality of music from Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Italy. It presents a collaboration between Cuarteto Latinoamericano, winner of the two Latin Grammy awards for best classical recording, and Jiji, a Korean guitarist who won Concert Artists Guild’s international competition.

“This offers a spectacular range of virtuosity and unique style,” Sirotin says. “I am personally looking forward to this concert because one of my favorite string quartet CDs is the Cuarteto Latinoamericano recording of the Ginastera Quartets.”

More Music

When the calendar turns, Market Square Concert’s season will continue, exploring music throughout the world, along with a bit of romance.

On Jan. 13 at Market Square Presbyterian Church, MSC presents Tabea Debus, an award-winning German recorder virtuoso, and American lutenist Paul Morton.

Feb. 17 at Temple Ohev Sholom features the award-winning Sinta Quartet performing works by Schubert, Ligeti and others.

March 14, also at the temple, will feature performances by the Verona Quartet presenting Dvorak’s romantic “Cypresses.”

Finally, on April 28, at the church, “Stuart and Friends” will feature maestro Stuart Malina at the piano joined by Sirotin on violin, among others. Sirotin will perform Korngold’s Piano Quintet with the symphony.

For more details and tickets, call 717-221-9599, visit www.marketsquareconcerts.org/tickets or email [email protected].

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Happenings: Our September Calendar of Events

August 31, 2020 | by TheBurg Editor

Museums & Art Spaces

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

“Yes, We Drive These Cars!” exhibition of early signage, artifacts and several vehicles, preserving the history of horseless carriages, through Oct. 18

“’Look…They Gave Me a Map!’ The Enduring Appeal of Road Maps,” through Oct. 30

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

“Hidley Re-imagined,” through Sept. 7.

“La Petite” Fall Membership Exhibition, Sept. 13-Oct. 15

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

“Finding Inspiration,” works by painter and mixed media artist Rebecca Pollard Myers and found object sculptor Jason Lyons, through Sept. 19

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

“A Growing Creative Community,” works by the Susquehanna Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, through Sept. 12

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Hershey Public Library Hallway Gallery, through Oct. 10

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Virtual exhibition of ceramic sculptures by Chuck Johnson, through Oct. 1

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

“Creating Joy—Art Inspired By Music,” through Sept. 20

“Separate and Unequaled: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues,” through Oct. 18

“Picturing the Body,” an exhibition of photographs created as part of a Millersville University course of the same name, through Oct. 25

“Historic Memory,” paintings by Joerg Dressler and Shawn Huckins that address the collective, or historic, memory of Western culture and its influences on contemporary consciousness, through Nov. 8

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

“Art in the Wild,” nature-inspired trailside art installations created by artists using natural materials, through Sept. 30

Read, Make, Learn

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

Sept. 10-Oct. 15: ZOOM!—Shoot, Share & Discuss, 6:30-8 p.m.
Sept. 12: Eco-Dyeing with Staghorn Sumac, 10-11 a.m.
Sept. 12: Plein Air Pen and Ink Drawing Workshop, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sept. 16: Creative Collage, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Sept. 17: Create a Planter, 6-7:30 p.m.

Dauphin County Historical Society
Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

Sept. 9-Oct. 2: Archaeology Excavation, weekdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

Sept. 9: Rin Tin Tin—DIY Dog Toy, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 12: Reading the Rainbow Book Club, 1-2 p.m.
Sept. 14, 21, 28: Born to Read, 9:30-10 a.m.
Sept. 14, 21, 28: Build Your Own Book Club, 4-5:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: Animal Crossing—New Horizon (ages 18+), 4-6 p.m.
Sept. 15, 22, 29: Family Storytime, 6-6:30 p.m.
Sept. 16: Small Business Workshop, 3-5 p.m.
Sept. 16, 23, 30: Toddler Storytime, 10-10:30 a.m.
Sept. 16, 23, 30: Banned Book Club, 4-5:30 p.m.
Sept. 17: McCormick & Olewine Library Friends, 5:30-7 p.m.
Sept. 17: P-ARRR-ty Time!, 6-6:45 p.m.
Sept. 17: Device Club, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 18, 25: Preschool Storytime, 10-10:30 a.m.
Sept. 19, 26: Dungeons and Dragons, 3-5 p.m.
Sept. 23: Preparing for the 2020 Election, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 30: Knit 1, Crochet Too!, 6-7 p.m.

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

Sept. 3, 17: Family LEGO Club, 11 a.m.
Sept. 8-11: Book Sale, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sept. 18: Book Sale Bonus Day, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sept. 19: Book Sale Bonus Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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

Sept. 1: ZOOM—Curl up with the Classics—“Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” 10-11 a.m.
Sept. 2: ZOOM—Moving Forward Book Group w/Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
Sept. 3, 7: ZOOM—Plot Twisters (ages 15-18), 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: ZOOM—Mini Zen Garden (ages 6-10), 6 p.m.
Sept. 8, 15: Natalie D. Craumer Writers’ Workshop: Write Right Now, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sept. 9: ZOOM—Avoiding Identity Theft and Scams, 11 a.m.
Sept. 10: Peaceful Poses Children’s Story Time, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sept. 10, 24: ZOOM—Teen Book Club, 5:45-7 p.m.
Sept. 14: Twisted Stitches, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: KIND Book Club (ages 8-12), 6 p.m.
Sept. 16: ZOOM—Write On, 8-9 p.m.
Sept. 19, 28: ZOOM—Fredricksen Reads, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 21: ZOOM—Avoiding Identity Theft and Scams, 6 p.m.
Sept. 21: ZOOM—Fredricksen Writes, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 23: ZOOM—Jackbox Games (ages 12-18), 5 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Sept. 8-29: Virtual Watercolor Magic, Tuesdays, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 15-Oct. 20: Drawing, Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m.

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

Sept. 10: ZOOM—Morning Contemporary Book Group, 9:30 a.m.
Sept. 10: ZOOM—Evening Contemporary Book Group, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 13: Virtual Introduction to Publishing Your Writing, 2 p.m.
Sept. 13: ZOOM—Arabiqa! Drums and Dances from the Arab World Children’s Program, 2 p.m.
Sept. 13: ZOOM—Hershey Trivia, 4 p.m.
Sept. 14, 21, 28: Facebook Live—Books & Babies, 10 a.m.
Sept. 15: Virtual 1, 2, Whee!, 10 a.m.
Sept. 17, 24: Facebook Live Storytime, 10 a.m.
Sept. 17: ZOOM—Life Long Readers Book Group, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 20: ZOOM—Friends Program, Heroes of Flight 93, 2 p.m.
Sept. 24: ZOOM—Between the Lines Book Group, 6:45 p.m.

Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
historicharrisburg.com

Sept. 20: Preservation Celebration Toast, 5-7 p.m.
Sept. 26: Walking Tour—The Old 8th Ward, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

Sept. 1: Teen Game Night, 6-8 p.m.
Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.
Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sept. 8: Tween Scene, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 11: Dungeons & Dragons, 6-9 p.m.
Sept. 14, 21, 28: Rhyme Time In The Park (18 months and younger), 9-9:30 a.m.
Sept. 14, 21, 28: Story Time in the Park (ages 3-6), 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Sept. 14, 21, 28: Family Story Time at the Park, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: ZOOM STEM Club, 6-6:45 p.m.
Sept. 16: ZOOM Sci-Fi Book Club, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11 a.m.
Sept. 17: Outdoor Mindfulness, 6-7 p.m.
Sept. 19: Kindergarten Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Sept. 19: First Grade Club, 1-2 p.m.
Sept. 21: Virtual Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 23: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.
Sept. 26: Trivia Night at Home—Totally Tubular 80s, 6-8 p.m.

The LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27: Common Roads Young Adults, 4-6 p.m.
Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Common Roads Youth, 6-8 p.m.

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

Sept. 1: Live with Lynda Lopez, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 2: Live with Drew Hart, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 3: Live with Ian Toll and John McManus, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 8: Live with David Lienemann, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 9: Live with Fredrik Backman and Ruth Ware, 5-6 p.m.
Sept. 10: Live with Nick Flynn and Paul Weitz, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 11: Live with Chuck Palahniuk, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 14: Live with Timothy Snyder and Jason Stanley, 6-7 p.m.
Sept. 16: Live with Yaa Gyasi and Kiley Reid, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 17: Live with Wendy Walker and Mary Kubica, 7-8 p.m.

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

Sept. 12: Troegs + Ned Smith Center Rugged 5K Trail Run, 5 p.m.

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

Sept. 14: Palmyra Public Library Book Club, 6-8 p.m.

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

Sept. 1-30: Women in STEM Awards Program
Sept. 22: Talk with Docs—Dr. Bernadette Gilbert, 7-8:30 p.m.

Live Music

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

Sept. 17: Martina McBride
Sept. 24: Paul Anka sings Sinatra

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

Sept. 2: Drake Bell
Sept. 18: Puddle of Mudd, Jameson Rodgers
Sept. 28: Michael Sweet (of Stryper)

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

Sept. 25: Messiah University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds Livestream

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

Sept. 26: Stuart Malina & Friends

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

Sept. 6: RL Boyce with Lightnin’ Malcolm
Sept. 27: Steve Forbert

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

Sept. 25: Xun Pan plays Beethoven

The Stage Door

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

Sept. 17-Nov. 7: “Saturday Night Fever”

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

Sept. 12-28: “Chekhov Comedy—Love Hurts!”

Happenings: Our August Calendar of Events

July 31, 2020 | by TheBurg Editor

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, some live events may have been changed or canceled. Please check with the host before attending.

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Highlights of Our Collection,” featuring unique and notable vehicles from the museum’s permanent collection.

“Saluting First Responders and Frontline Workers,” an exhibit highlighting vehicles used to help in times of crisis.

“Yes, We Drive These Cars,” featuring several very early cars, kept in working order by the Horseless Carriage Club of America, plus early signage and artifacts, through Oct. 18.

“Look . . . They Gave Me a Map,” an exhibit of free road maps curated by the Road Map Collectors Association, through Oct. 30.

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

“Finding Inspiration,” works by painter and mixed media artist Rebecca Pollard Myers and found object sculptor Jason Lyons, who both look for and find inspiration in their surroundings by seeing things with fresh eyes, Aug. 7-Sept. 19

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month:

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

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

“Creating Joy—Art Inspired By Music,” through Sept. 20

“Separate and Unequaled: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues,” through Oct. 18

“Picturing the Body,” an exhibition of photographs created as part of a Millersville University course of the same name, through Oct. 25

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

“Art in the Wild,” nature-inspired trailside art installations created by artists using natural materials, through Sept. 30

Read, Make, Learn

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

Aug. 1: Intro to Quick Sketch Portraits, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Aug. 8: Experimental Mixed Media 1-Day Workshop, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Aug. 10-14: Art & Adventure Camp, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Aug. 17-21: ZOOM! Camp—Bread Making Magic, 1-4 p.m.
Aug. 18-Sept. 8: Sketching Around Carlisle, Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m.
Aug. 18-Sept. 22: Play with Clay at the End of the Day, 3:30-5 p.m.
Aug. 12: Lovely Lanterns, 6-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 22: Bundle Dye with Flowers and Herbs, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

Aug. 3: ZOOM—Paws 2 Read, 6-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 3, 10: ZOOM—Born to Read (birth-18 months), 10:30-11 a.m.
Aug. 3, 10: Online Armchair Traveler, 11 a.m.
Aug. 4, 11: Writers Workshop, 10 a.m.
Aug. 4: Virtual Family Paint Party, 10:30-11 a.m.
Aug. 5, 12: ZOOM—Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Aug, 5, 12: ZOOM—Build Your Own Book Club, 4-5:30 p.m.
Aug. 6: Virtual Family Paint Party, 6-6:30 p.m.
Aug. 6: Susan Orlean Spotlight—Oral History Workshop, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 7, 14: Virtual Preschool Storytime, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Aug. 7, 14: Mid-Day Get Away on Facebook, 1 p.m.
Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual Dungeons and Dragons, 3-5 p.m.
Aug. 8: Virtual Reading the Rainbow Book Club, 1-2 p.m.
Aug. 11: ZOOM—Fairy Tale Yoga for families and kids, 10:30-11 a.m.
Aug. 13: ZOOM—Fairy Tale Yoga for families and kids, 6-7 p.m.
Aug. 19: Virtual Community Café, 6-7 p.m.

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

Aug. 6, 20: Family LEGO Club, 11 a.m.
Aug. 5, 12: Tent Time with Jennifer, 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 11: Ryan the Bug Man, 2 p.m.

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

Aug. 3, 7, 10, 14: Online Story Time with Miss Emily and Roasty the Cat, 3-4 p.m.
Aug. 4: ZOOM—Curl up with the Classics—“Oliver Twist,” 10-11 a.m.
Aug. 5: ZOOM—Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: ZOOM—Plot Twisters (ages 15-18), 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 10: ZOOM—Meet Someone New Biography Club (ages 7-10), 10-11 a.m.
Aug. 12: ZOOM—Tween Paint Nights, 1-2 p.m.
Aug. 17: ZOOM—Budgeting Basics, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Aug. 24: ZOOM—Fredricksen Reads, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 26: ZOOM—Write On, 8-9 p.m.

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

Aug. 2: Art of Truth Creative Non-Fiction online, 2 p.m.
Aug. 4, 11: ZOOM—Marie’s All About Color, 7-8:30 p.m.
Aug. 5: ZOOM—Lightroom Processing, 7 p.m.
Aug. 23: ZOOM—U.S./China Relationship—Heading for War?, 2 p.m.
Aug. 27: Facebook Live—Hamilton Trivia—The Man & the Musical, 7 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24: Family Story Time, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25: Try It Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: ZOOM—Summer Story Time, 1:30
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Aug. 12: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 26: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.

The LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Common Roads Young Adult, 4-6 p.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Common Roads Youth, 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 10, 17, 24, 31: Passageways, 2-4 p.m.

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

Aug. 3: Virtual talk with David Livingstone Smith and Paul Bloom, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 11: Virtual talk with Rebecca Watson and Miranda Popkey, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 12: Virtual talk with Adam Rutherford, 6-7 p.m.
Aug. 17: Virtual talk with Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Ross Gay. 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 18: Virtual talk with Sarah Chayes and Jared Yates Sexton, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 20: Virtual talk with Jill Filipovic and Connie Schultz, 7-8 p.m.

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

Aug. 8: U.S. Grant, the Meaning of the Civil War, and the Election of 1868, 1-2 p.m.
Aug. 22: From Gettysburg to Little Big Horn: The George Armstrong Custer, Civil War and Indian Wars 2020 Symposium, 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

Aug. 4-6: Find Your Passion Art Camp
Aug. 11-13: Swirls, Stories & Spirals

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

Aug. 10: Palmyra Public Library Book Club (email [email protected] for location)

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

Aug. 1: Natural Tie-Dye, 12-3 p.m.
Aug. 12: Wildwood Wellness Walk, 5:45-7:15 p.m.
Aug. 12: Preschool Storytime—Summer at Wildwood, 10-10:45 a.m.
Aug. 16: Flower Walk—Heat Tolerant Plants, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Aug. 22; Summer Wreath Workshop, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Aug. 27: Wildwood Wellness Walk, 5:45-7:15 p.m.

Live Music

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

Aug. 15: YourVoice Virtual Event

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

Aug. 21: LA Guns, Dylan Scott

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

Aug. 1: Yam Yam, Shawan and the Wonton
Aug. 7: Brandon “Taz” Niederauer

Gretna Music
gretnamusic.org

Aug. 8: GM4K Storyteller
Aug. 23: Mozart String Trio
Aug. 30: McGill-McHale Duo

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Aug. 14: Escape the Fate
Aug. 22: Bark at the Moon tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

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

Aug. 1: Still Surfin’ – A Beach Boys Tribute
Aug. 8: The Ann Kerstetter Band
Aug. 29: Shotgunn

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

Aug. 9: Virtual Emerging Artist Showcase

The Stage Door

The Belmont Theatre

27 S. Belmont St., York

717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

Aug. 21-30: “The Miracle Worker”

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

Aug. 7-30: “Clue”

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

Aug. 12: Online Story Slam

Camp in the Burg: Summer youth programs test out virtual, in-person approaches

June 11, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

The Bethesda Mission Community Center on Herr Street in Harrisburg

School is finally done, now what?

Many Harrisburg summer camps are still planned despite having to adapt in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bethesda Mission’s Community Center in Allison Hill plans to hold camps for all age groups of kids. Beginning June 22, they will launch a program spanning about seven weeks.

“We are looking forward to opening,” Executive Director Scott Dunwoody said.

The program will only take around 25 kids in each age group for safety reasons, and much of the activities will be outdoors, Dunwoody said. Programming for elementary, middle and high school students is included.

Dunwoody explained how the teen group is especially beneficial because it provides internships and job training for young people.

Similarly, the Harrisburg Area YMCA will offer a youth program. However, this year it will look more like summer childcare than summer camp, explained Director of Marketing and Communications Rosie Turner.

“We know parents are going to have to go back to work so we had to provide some type of bridge care,” she said.

The capacity for children will be smaller than usual due to the limited number of schools allowing groups on their properties.

Opting out of the in-person approach Open Stage of Harrisburg announced it will hold virtual summer camps.

The program will run for 10 weeks and include live and pre-recorded instruction on musical theater, acting, theater history, design and tech. There will be two different age groups including 8- to 12-year-olds and 13 and up.

“Things are different this summer, but I think that has given us license to change things up,” Producing Artistic Director Stuart Landon said. “We’ve put together a really cool curriculum.”

Landon added that the course will be low-cost this summer as part of Open Stage’s effort to make their education accessible.

Open Stage has been more hesitant to reopen, but others, like Whitaker Center, are ready to open their doors.

They are offering a range of STEM, culinary and theater classes. Campers’ temperature will be checked at the door each day and all equipment and classrooms will be sanitized after each group’s use, according to a statement on their website.

Bethesda Mission’s Community Center is at 1438 Herr St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit https://www.bethesdamission.org/our-ministries/community-center/. To learn more about the Harrisburg Area YMCA’s summer childcare, visit https://ymcaharrisburg.org/. For more information on Open Stage’s Alsedek Theatre School, visit https://www.thealsedektheatreschool.com/. Whitaker Center is located at 222 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information or to register for camp, visit https://www.whitakercenter.org/camps.

Artsfest goes virtual this weekend, as pandemic forces annual festival online

May 20, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

A scene from last year’s Artsfest in Riverfront Park

The art world is known for being inspired, original, innovative, and Harrisburg’s Artsfest captures that. But this year, festival organizers had to get even more creative.

For 52 years, the arts have been celebrated in the city through Artsfest, a three-day festival in Riverfront Park. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, it’s moving online.

“I’m really excited for Artsfest this year,” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “I think we did the right thing. I know it’s different, but it can still be a lot of fun for people.”

From May 23 to 25, the city will stream the experience free through Facebook. That includes the juried art show, as well as musical and theatrical performances and activities.

Although the physical experience of perusing the crafts at Artsfest is on hiatus, shoppers and art connoisseurs can browse an online marketplace. Handmade items from nearly 200 artisans will be available, including ceramics, furniture, jewelry, paintings, photographs and more. Many of these artists will demonstrate their creative processes during the festival.

Papenfuse sees this aspect of Artsfest as particularly important this year, as customers have the power to help keep artists in business during the crisis.

“We can really show off artists and hopefully generate sales,” he said. “It’s about sustaining artists so they can come back next year.”

To accompany the visual art, the public can enjoy video performances from over 10 bands and musicians or listen to the Artsfest playlist including the artists on Spotify.

Children and families are encouraged to join the virtual festival for educational activities revolving around the arts. The Popcorn Hat Players will present “Sleeping Beauty,” and Open Stage will show kids what it takes to act with a theater lesson. Whitaker Center will demonstrate a S.T.E.A.M. craft, and there will be painting and dance tutorials by local studios.

To round out the experience, chefs will give the public a taste of the art of cooking. Knead HBG, Sherri’s Crab Cakes and Stock’s on 2nd are selling meal kits and offering video cooking tutorials for making some of their favorite recipes at home.

“I love the cook-at-home concept,” Papenfuse said. “I love the idea of getting festival food at home.”

One of the more virtual-friendly aspects of Artsfest, Moviate’s “Underground Film Fest,” will continue this year with 12 short experimental and international films.

This is the first year that Harrisburg city organized the event in-house. It was previously hosted by the Greater Harrisburg Arts Council then taken over by the former arts group, Jump Street.

Papenfuse explained that the virtual Artsfest will likely last this year only for the safety of the community. The city looks forward to welcoming visitors back to Riverfront Park next year.

The city is not the only one making tough decisions in the art world. Habitat for Humanity decided to move its 15^th Art Builds Homes Annual Art Auction fundraiser online as well.

The silent auction will go live on May 29 with an option to preview the art on the May 24. Tickets are available on their website and proceeds go towards building affordable housing in the greater Harrisburg area.

To participate in Harrisburg’s Artsfest live on May 23 to 25, follow their Facebook event. To watch performances and activities beyond the festival dates, visit the city’s website.

For more information or to register for Habitat for Humanity’s Art Auction, visit https://event.gives/arthbg.

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