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Woo-Hoo for Festivals!!!

admin September 7, 2015 Entertainment Comments Off on Woo-Hoo for Festivals!!!

harvest-festivalThe Harrisburg Harvest Festival, that took place over the last weekend in August, was just awesome. We had such fun. Indeed, it has quite become the main pulling event of Harrisburg. I think Brian Latta, our City Manager, got his goal accomplished when he said that they wanted to make sure the Festival was “a local celebration for our heritage, farming and the grass seed harvest.” It truly was.

Also it’s good because apart from last year, they didn’t have the Harvest Festival for like a decade and a half. I’d really missed it. Was very glad it came back. They decided it would be a good way to draw people in to town and farmers were interested in doing it again. I think they succeeded.

Either way my kids loved the tent with games and the horseshoe tournament was just so different! In my opinion, it was a great pre back-to-school activity. And now that my kids are back in school I think I might just have to have a little festival of my own! Happy fall everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harrisburg Happenings

admin August 7, 2015 Entertainment Comments Off on Harrisburg Happenings

foodThere is a lot going on in Harrisburg over the summer. The two events that particularly caught my interest happened last week. First, the AFRAM Celebration that took place at my son’s school (Marshall Elementary School) which had a ton of stuff from various African-American businesses and youth groups. There was lots of yummy food being sold by local vendors too. I enjoyed a delectable hog jowl – I know, I know, probably not the healthiest thing I could have consumed but too delicious for words!

The other event I went to the next day with my girlfriend was the Equality Fest. I felt like considering I’m sort of from the older generation (okay yes I admit it I’m middle aged!) it was time I started understanding and accepting the whole gay thing that is truly a part of our lives now. This was a great festival and a fun way to pull down barriers. There were lots of crafts music and different performances as well as a wedding expo that was truly quite colorful and beautiful.

I look forward to the rest of the summer in Harrisburg! Bring on the festivals I say.

 

 

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day

admin July 7, 2015 Entertainment Comments Off on Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day

rainSeriously? Rain? On July 4? That’s not okay. How disappointing can you get!!! We were all so looking forward to the Harrisburg festivities this year for Independence Day. There were a lot of activities – for free (which is always great in summer – I wanted to take the boys to. But the rain. Oh the rain.

So we kinda managed. City Island was really great. I was so nervous at the beginning as drizzling did start so I did my little rain dance prayer (rain, rain, go away, come again another day) and it started to lift! Maybe I have some magical powers after all. Or not!

It wasn’t to last though. Me & US were just about to start at 10 30 in the morning and whoa did we feel the rain come tumbling down. Still, people were in good spirits and they stayed. There were only a few of us at that point. The face painting for the kids couldn’t happen either – rain and face paint doesn’t really go so well! But that’s okay as my kids aren’t into that.

Luckily for us, the kids were really optimistic and into it all. So we didn’t leave (like I was suggesting) and managed to thoroughly enjoy the riverboat! Rather, we got through it and had a fun time, despite the rain not listening to my prayers.

Microbrewery Celebration!

admin May 7, 2015 Entertainment Comments Off on Microbrewery Celebration!

breweryA few weeks ago Harrisburg enjoyed a huge celebration with the unification of craft breweries. The Harrisburg Beer Week enabled fans (and I’m certainly in that category!) to celebrate local microbrews for a full eight days throughout eateries and breweries in the region.

There were nearly 150 events during that week! Harrisburg has an awesome craft beer movement. I personally have an affinity toward Hershey’s Troegs, and Harrisburg’s Appalachian Brewing Company. Now there are microbreweries which have sprung off from that.

What else was great was that at the celebration you end up feeling quite virtuous (something that doesn’t happen all that often to me when I’m drinking beer!) as it is a fundraiser following the 2011 destruction of Cameron Street headquarters due to Tropical Storm Lee.

The celebration thus raises awareness for Harrisburg River Rescue too. So I really did eat, drink and became merry…with justification!

Bacco Pizzeria and Wine Bar

admin April 7, 2015 Entertainment Comments Off on Bacco Pizzeria and Wine Bar

Transforming from a nightclub – Club 20 – a pizza store and wine bar is due to open on 20 North Second Street in Harrisburg. This is because owner Max Randazzo believes that the nightclub scene in the area is becoming less popular and instead, restaurants are coming back “in” as it were.

Thus the focus of the new eatery will be Sicilian food, personal-pie pizzas, and more, all made in-house. What Randazzo is happy about is that he will be given the opportunity to do a wine bar which is something he’s always wanted to do. Tommy Pavlovic will be the eatery’s beverage director and he’s had a ton of experience in LA and other Harrisburg restaurants so for sure knows the scene and will be able to offer pre-Prohibition cocktails.

From my point of view this is great. My kids love pizza and I love wine! In addition I believe it will be a great venue to take a date. I for sure will order prosciutto as a topping. And then enjoy that with my cocktail with a difference!

Horse Expo Coming to Harrisburg

admin March 7, 2015 Entertainment Comments Off on Horse Expo Coming to Harrisburg

horse-racingHarrisburg is so underrated as the great city it is. There is just always so much going on – something for everyone. Take the Pennsylvania Horse Word Expo for example. In its 13th year, the biggest and longest-running hose expo in the mid-Atlantic is coming to town. In fact, we’re right in the middle of it now.

It started two days ago and lasts until tomorrow (the day I’m planning on taking the kids) at Harrisburg’s Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center which is always the perfect venue. It’s going to be crowded but my kids love the crowds. Also this year there is something I’m looking forward to – the show that choreographed comprising, circus, Wild West and horse ballet!

It’s definitely something different. And I love showing the kids how cool animals are, especially horses, one of my favorite types. Come to Harrisburg; it’s fun here!

Farm Show Milkshakes Are Back

admin February 7, 2015 Entertainment Comments Off on Farm Show Milkshakes Are Back

milkshakeFarm show milkshakes are available again! It’s a great excuse to go to the Great American Outdoor Show. We’re going today. It runs til Feb 15th at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center.

The milkshakes are going to be served by the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. The last time I had one was at the 2015 Farm Show. Apparently I wasn’t the only one; 165,000 were sold there! And thus because of that, they are now being sold again, even though they are going to be a dollar more a piece. But the way I see it, for $5, it’s worth it. They are so delicious, especially the vanilla one.

This will now be the third event at which I’ve had one of these milkshakes. The first time was back In 2013 at the Harrisburg’s Kipona Festival.

Harrisburg Calendar for July

admin July 1, 2014 Entertainment Comments Off on Harrisburg Calendar for July

wildwoodI’m wondering what to do this month to really get into the spirit of summer. So I started checking out the Harrisburg Calendar for fun activities, especially those that are outdoors, and also – preferably – kid-friendly ones.

So next week there is a Stress Relief Walk, starting at the Nature Center! I don’t think my kids are going to go for that so I’m going to try to see if the ex will have them that night. It’s early evening (the best time to walk in my opinion) and it’s a 3-mile stroll with short climbs and easy trails. Why not? I think it’s a great way to kick off the summer!

Now, the next night there’s a Canoe Wildwood by Moonlight. That looks really interesting but I’m not sure if I can get away two nights (I also have a lot of work commitments next week and the week after). Anyway, if I do get to go, I’ll learn all about what’s changed over time vis-à-vis the lake and the park, as I paddle into the aquatic ecosystem to check out the lake and marsh. It sounds phenomenal, especially since the timing will provide picturesque views as the moon rises over the lake.

On July 12 there is a Volunteer Work Day to help Wildwood and all its habitat enhancement projects. That’s from 10am to 1pm so that’s perfect for the kids and me to do since they are on holiday from school anyway. Then I’ll treat them all to a pizza. It’ll be a good day out I hope.

So that’s a start at least. It looks like it could be a really good summer. That’s presuming the ex and the kids co-operate!

Summer Harrisburg Clubs for Kids

admin May 31, 2014 Entertainment Comments Off on Summer Harrisburg Clubs for Kids

canooeingIt’s time to think about the summer. The kids are with me for a long stretch of time and I simply don’t have the cash to take them away anywhere. So I’ve just started looking around for local options. Thankfully there seem to be a few.

Clubs in the region will be opening ponds, streams and grounds for local kids to frolic and enjoy lots of outdoor activities – the perfect antidote to my three boys’ massive energy! Registrations are just beginning and I’m going to get in there! My philosophy is, the more exhausted they are, the better off for everyone!

This year there are some great opportunities for nine to sixteen year olds (which more or less covers all three of my boys). The Capital Area Sportsmen for Youth Field Day on June 14 will make a great weekend activity – starts at 7 30 and ends at 3 00pm. Thankfully I’m past the days of early risers so we’ll probably find ourselves there at around 11. It’s perfect – especially for my oldest who is constantly complaining we only do stuff for the younger ones. They are going to do shooting, canoeing, fishing, archery and more. He’ll definitely have fun there.

So it’s a start. I’m going to keep my eyes peeled though for more Harrisburg clubs and their activities to keep boys busy and active this summer.

Easter and Kids: Harrisburg, PA

admin April 29, 2014 Entertainment Comments Off on Easter and Kids: Harrisburg, PA

IM000337.JPGI had the kids this year for Easter for the first time in Harrisburg.  Had no idea what to do with them.  I started looking on line for things to do with kids in Harrisburg, over Easter and found a bunch of things.  But since my kids are quite different ages, I eventually settled on Hersheypark’s Springtime in the Park.

Everyone loves Hersheypark.  I know that I’ve taken the kids there a lot already but I find I never get bored of the place.  I’ve actually not yet experienced Springtime in the Park so I figured this would be as good a time as any to start, especially now that the weather is really great.

So we went and we really had a blast (I totally overate the Easter Eggs but of course that would happen at the Hersheypark!).  I was delighted to see that there were new rides just in time for the holiday season and my kids enjoyed both the Cocoa Cruiser and Memory Machine.  If you want to go, get your tickets ahead of time.

The best part for me was just before we left, my little one said “daddy, this was the best day ever; let’s come again soon.”  Success!