Photo courtesy Allegro Orchestra Lancaster
1. Allegro Concert
For more than 16 years, Allegro Orchestra Lancaster has been on a mission to spread their love for classical music around Lancaster County. Join them for Music in the Round Master Works Edition: Arabian Nights in the Atrium at the Ware Center. Playing Saint-Saens’ “Bacchanale” from Samson and Delilah, Lehman’s Darkness to Light, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade with a 50-plus-piece orchestra, preceded by a festive reception with beverages for the over 21 crowd and hors d’oeuvres, this event could be a romantic night out or one spent with friends.
September 15 / Ware Center / 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster, PA / 717-925-3502 / allegrolancaster.org
2. Fort Hunter Day
Spend an autumn day walking back through history to gain a “sense of what the area was like before automobiles” with an annual free event offering anything but a modern experience. Enjoy a pony, hay, or even carriage ride while listening to live music from the Susquehanna Folk Music Society (and others) and exploring old-time chores like bee keeping, sheep shearing, and spinning. Shop at the craft show, take part in children’s games, and watch exhibits, like apple butter being made the old-fashioned way. Eat some tasty food like local handmade cheeses, pretzels, and other fall goodies. Handmade quilts by the African American Quilters Gathering of Harrisburg will be on display.
September 16 / Fort Hunter Mansion & Park / 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, PA / 717-599-5751 / forthunter.org
3. Harvest Hop
Learn about various businesses downtown through an interactive event offering a variety of ways to engage with local proprietors. Follow on Facebook for a list of participants who will be doing demonstrations, offering specials and promotions, or serving up refreshments. Take advantage of this experience by hopping (or walking) around downtown Camp Hill and learning about new places to shop.
September 22 / Camp Hill Borough / facebook.com/events/1997722507185464/
4. Renovators’ Home Tour
With more than 30 years of experience under their tool belt helping people both own and fix homes, Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity (LLHFH) returns for its 3rd annual Renovators’ Home Tour. On the day of the event, attendees can enjoy a self-guided tour of renovated homes in both Lancaster City and Country Club Estates that showcase innovative designs and engage with the homeowners to discuss their unique designs. Walk away with new ideas while getting an inside look at both urban and suburban uses of space and remodeling techniques. A celebratory VIP event takes place September 22 at Box Company Flats in Lancaster. Tickets available online or at David Lyall Home & Design or Penn Stone. All sales benefit LLHFH.
September 30 / Various locations on tour, Lancaster, PA / 717-392-8836 / lancasterlebanonhabitat.org
5. Latin American Festival
Lancaster’s Latin American Alliance invites everyone to join in celebrating their “Latin roots” with an amazing entertainment lineup along with food and dance. Taking the stage is Grupo Mania, a tropical, merengue, and Latin group from Puerto Rico; Los Monstros of Elizabethtown; Danza Fiesta, providing demos and dancing with Puerto Rican heritage, from New York City; Mariachi Real de Mexico; Ballet Folclorico Yaretzi performing traditional dances of Mexico; the U.S.A. Navy Band’s Country Current; and YeraSon Charanga Orchestra playing old-school Cuban music. Learn about a local culture that’s part of Lancaster’s heritage, or embrace your roots at this annual festival.
September 22 / Long’s Park / 1441 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA / 717-538-9498 / latinamera.com
6. York Fair
“America’s First Fair” continues more than 250 years of fun by celebrating for 10 straight days with music, food, rides, and games for all generations to enjoy. This year brings Alice Cooper, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, and 5 Seconds of Summer to the stage, to name a few. Agricultural displays and animals will entertain both kids and adults, while rides can be enjoyed during the day or at night with blinking lights illuminating the event. Come out and take part in a fair that’s older than America herself.
September 7-16 / York Expo Center / 334 Carlisle Ave., York, PA / 717-848-2596 / yorkfair.org
7. Kipona Festival
Celebrate Labor Day by enjoying a Native American pow-wow, music, art, and more at the 102nd Kipona Fest in Harrisburg. Riverfront Park and City Island bring together two live music stages, a biergarten, canoe races, an artist village, a children’s festival, and food. During Kipona, a special pow-wow event presents performers like Aztec Fire Dancers, singing, food, crafts, and a flute circle. A rubber ducky race down the Susquehanna River serves as both fun and as a benefit for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Set aside a day or two because with all of the events, it’s going to be a fun weekend.
September 1-3 / Riverfront Park and City Island, Harrisburg, PA / 717-255-3169 / harrisburgpa.gov
Photo by Mitchell Kriebel
8. What the Food Trucks
Take a park, close it, fill it with food trucks and a beer garden known as Treasure Island, and the result is the popular event known as What the Food Trucks. With more than 40 food trucks and 20,000 people coming to see what York’s all about, this family event even has an operational splash pad for the kids. In addition, there will be a “nonprofit kids zone” to round out the day for children. Live entertainment will fill all day on stage while food trucks sell everything from tacos to ice cream. It’s free to roll into this event.
September 2 / Penn Park / 100 W. College Ave., York, PA / 717-814-8087 / whatthefoodtrucks.com
9. Gettysburg Wine and Music Festival
Love wine? How about wine and music? Well, if hundreds of wines from more than 25 Pennsylvania wineries all in one place sounds fun, then this is the perfect event. Spanning a full fall weekend, the Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival promises a great time with not just wine, but a musical line-up featuring a variety of styles from modern country to dance, funk to jazz, and some rock in between. Ten food vendors will be serving up their goods as well, with pizza, soul food, crab cakes, and more. Join the fun for the day or two, with hotel packages available online.
September 8-9 / Gateway Gettysburg Complex / 95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg, PA / 717-334-8151 / gettysburgwineandmusicfestival.com
10. Bash & Benefit
Celebrating five years, Grandview Vineyard is hosting their 5th Anniversary Bash & Benefit, a day of food, wine, music, and giving back. Bring a blanket or chair to enjoy a full-day musical lineup, featuring headliner The Steel Wheel, and food from Killer Kitchen Gourmet (barbecue) and SproutStream (artisanal sandwiches and tacos). Stomp on grapes, take part in a barrel auction, and even let the kids enjoy their own activities from 2 to 4 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Among rolling hills of Lancaster County, attendees will indeed see what a grand view awaits.
September 22 / Grandview Vineyard / 1489 Grandview Road, Mt. Joy, PA / 717-653-4825 / thevineyardatgrandview.com
