1. Spring Gate Peach Festival
Spring Gate really has adult guests covered for a warm summer day with its Peach Festival, a mouthwatering experience complete with music and food. Headlining the event is Spring Gate’s unique Peach Mello, made from Niagara grapes and real peaches with a sweet and medium-bodied flavor, available with or without bubbles. Other “peachy pickings” include wine slushies, Melba Spring Shines (frozen cocktails), peach blonde ale, peach mojitos, and peach cider. Food trucks with tacos, hoagies, BBQ, and more will be serving up favorites as well. Engage all the senses with music from Dovetail and Corinna Joy. Admission is free, with all items served à la carte.
July 26-28 / Spring Gate Vineyard / 5790 Devonshire Road, Harrisburg, PA / 717-857-5544 / springgatevineyard.com
2. Susquehanna Folk Festival
Pack a cooler, a guitar, and a tent for the Susquehanna Folk Festival–much more than just music, it’s a full weekend experience. With two full days on Saturday and Sunday, and Friday night too, there will be tons of jamming and dancing. In addition to the main stage, enjoy a dance hall, a coffeehouse stage, a patio stage, a family zone, an emerging artist showcase and more. Taking place will be dance workshops featuring a variety of styles, some bringyour- own instrument lessons, blues and bluegrass jams, and international styles for all to enjoy. Kids can make crafts, watch juggling, and enjoy a puppet parade. Food and water will be onsite along with craft beer and wine. The event encourages hanging around a day or two, so accommodations, including campsites, are available on the website.
July 26-28 / Roundtop Mountain Resort / 925 Roundtop Road, Lewisberry, PA / 800-838-3006 / susquehannafolkfestival.org
3. Marvelous Mondays
With all the blooms and things to do, Hershey Gardens is already a fun destination, but on Mondays in July (and two in August), enjoy additional activities for kids in the Children’s Garden. During Marvelous Mondays, children will participate in storytelling, puppet shows, crafts, and educational stations focused on natural themes, including birds and pollinator-friendly plants. The butterfly atrium is an amazing experience for the whole family, as well, making it indeed a “marvelous” day. The activity is included with day admission or with a membership (so you can do them all).
July 8, 15, 22, 29 & August 5, 12 / Hershey Gardens / 170 Hotel Hershey Road, Hershey, PA / 717-534-3492 / hersheygardens.org
4. Wild Women on the Mountain
Hawk Mountain, known for its beautiful views and hiking trails, is introducing a new series, Wild Women on the Mountain, intending to engage more women with the outdoors. During the month of July there will be two separate events, Hike to Owl Head and Birding by Boat. The Owl Head hike features a naturalist-guided hike to an area normally closed to the public and is two miles round-trip. In Birding by Boat, enjoy a calm kayak paddle on the lake while looking for waterfowl and shorebirds. No experience is necessary for either event; a brief lesson will precede the kayaking session, which includes all necessary safety equipment and the kayak.
July 7 & 21 / Hawk Mountain Sanctuary / 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, PA / 610-756-6961 / hawkmountain.org
5. Allegro at Wheatland
Support local history while being serenaded by a summertime concert with seasonally themed songs as Allegro returns to Wheatland for an orchestral performance on the lawn. Enjoy Copland’s “Outdoor Overture,” Vivaldi's “Summer,” Williams’ “Sound the Bells,” and more. Feel free to bring a comfortable chair or blanket and a bottle of wine to enjoy during the performance. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to Lancaster History. An alternate location will be used in the event of rain. Children 5-18 are free.
July 27 / James Buchanan's Wheatland / 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA / 717-288-8461 / allegrolancaster.org
6. Blueberry Festival
When a place celebrates a 64th annual event, it’s got to be fun, so come see what all the excitement is about at Hollabaugh’s Blueberry Festival. Get in on the fun with pick-your-own blueberries, sweet samples, baked goodies, blueberry ice cream, milkshakes, and more. Enjoy produce specials from the market as well as offerings from attending vendors. Live music takes place both days, and a food truck will also be on hand to sandwich something in between the buffet of blueberries. Take some home for when the taste buds beckon for more berry goodness.
July 13-14 / Hollabaugh Bros. / 545 Carlisle Road, Biglerville, PA / 717-677-8412 / hollabaughbros.com
7. Hanover Dutch Festival
For over 30 years Hanover has been hosting its Dutch Festival, honoring the heritage and traditions of all things German. With more than 300 arts and crafts vendors, food, and the popular antique and classic car shows, there’s something for everyone, German or not. Enjoy funnel cakes, whoopie pies, pretzels, and chicken on a stick, to name a few treats. Children will find activities just for them, as well as live German entertainment.
July 27 / Center Square / Downtown Hanover, PA / 717-637-6130 / hanoverchamber.com
8. En Plein Air
Engage with local artists outside during the En Plein Air event around Lancaster City. Plein air, French for “in the open air,” means to paint outdoors, for a different approach than painting inside. Watch as artists capture natural sunlight through the clouds, as cast shadows, or even on an overcast day. French Impressionists were known to really take the style to the next level. During this event by Lancaster City Arts and Lancaster City Art Galleries & Museums, see some known artists experiment with this outsidethe- studio art style.
July 13 / Various Galleries / Downtown Lancaster, PA / lancastercityarts.com
9. Civil War Days
Experience Lancaster as a Civil War-era crossroads village during the year 1863 at Landis Valley’s Civil War Days. History comes alive as costumed civilian and military re-enactors show cavalry and musket drills, present interactive demonstrations, and recreate camps. Wagon rides will provide a tour of the property, including regular exhibits and the farm animals that call the property home. Kids can participate in historic games and hands-on activities. Food will be available for purchase, and there is a gift shop containing handmade items, books, candy, and other fun, unique items.
July 20-21 / Landis Valley Museum / 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, PA / 717-569-0401 / landisvalleymuseum.org
10. Cornfield Banquet
Anyone who lives in, or has even driven through, Lancaster knows that cornfields are about as ubiquitous as it gets. But how many people have actually eaten in a cornfield with the meal prepared by a local family on their farm? Well, the Cornfield Banquet will have some local residents answering “yes, I have!” Start at the Bird-in-Hand Restaurant and take a hayride through the fields before ultimately reaching the dinner destination among the rows of corn. There, the Smucker family will be serving farm fresh favorites like BBQ chicken, freshly picked corn on the cob, and Grandma Smucker’s baked lima beans, to name a few dishes. Dessert will consist of whoopie pies from the restaurant bakery along with angel food cake topped with seasonal berries. In addition to the meal there will be family fun activities, a corn maze, music, and a bonfire. Get your Lancaster on!
July 18 & 25 / Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant / 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, PA / 717-768-1500 / bird-in-hand.com