What’s Happening | December 9, 10, 11

Here’s a list of opportunities to get out and about this weekend!

Shippensburg

• The Towne Singers will present the “The Sound of the Season” at Messiah United Methodist Church, 30 S. Penn Street in Shippensburg on Friday, December 9th at 7:30 PM. 

• Katie’s Place Thrift Shop is having its next monthly sale December 8, 9, & 10 from 8 AM – Noon.  The store is located at the old Martin’s Bakery Building (go down the hill to the bottom of the building) at the corner of S. Penn and E. Garfield Streets in Shippensburg.

• The Greyhound Family Restaurant is having a Santa Breakfast on Saturday, December 10th from 10 AM – noon.

• On December 10, you are invited to Build the Holidays with Bob the Builder at Shippensburg University Rec Center!  Families with children aged 3 to 8 along with their older and younger siblings are welcome.  Meet Bob the Builder and play, learn, and explore!  This is a FREE, family event from 9 AM – 12:30 PM but RSVP is requested for planning purposes.

• The Little Princess Playhouse returns in December with productions of “Elsa & the Snarls” and “A Princess Christmas.”  The playhouse will present the holiday double-feature at 10 AM and again at 11:30 AM December 10 in Stewart Hall, Old Main Drive, Shippensburg.  Tickets for the double feature are $5 and will be available at the door.

• Tiny World is now decorated and lighted for the holidays.  Visit Tiny World at 6720 Rice Road, Shippensburg and see a miniature village whose tiny buildings are landscaped, lighted and furnished. 

Newburg

• Beam’s Blue Mountain Farm, Lurgan Rd, Newburg will be having their craft open house at the farm on December 8, 9, & 10 from 9 AM to 6 PM.  Free refreshments.  There will be handmade primitive items ranging from everyday display to Christmas display.  Swan Candles, jellies, and pumpkin/apple butter for sale. If you spend $25, you will receive a free ornament of your choice.

• Breakfast with Santa will be held Saturday, December 10 from 8 AM – 10 AM. The event is held at the Hopewell Township building on Three Square Hollow Road.  An auction will be held at 9 AM.

Newville/Carlisle

• Roots Cut Flower Farm, 2428 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle is having a Holiday POP-UP Shop!  Their Wreath Sale Open House will be held for four days: Friday November 25, Saturday November 26, Saturday December 3 and Saturday December 10.  Hours:  10 AM – 4 PM.  Wreaths, greens, plants, local artists, and more!

• On Sunday, December 11th from Noon to 4 PM, enjoy this once-a-year opportunity to explore the Cameron-Masland Mansion, a mountain stone villa built in 1908 as a summer home. Take a self-guided tour of both floors of the mansion in seasonal decor.  All ages are welcome to attend this free event.

• Benchfield Farms will be offering Carriage rides in downtown Carlisle (weather permitting) on Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10,  5 PM – 9 PM (with Santa)  Carriage rides will cost $5 for Adults, $3 Children Ages 6 -12, children 5 and under are free.  Rides will load and unload next to the Old Courthouse.

• Meadowbrooke Gourds located at 125 Potato Road Carlisle, is having its Winter Gala on two weekends – December 3 & 4 and December 10 & 11 from 10 AM – 3 PM.  Make your own Winter gourd.  Reservations are needed for this event.

Chambersburg

• Come visit Sensory Friendly Santa Claus on Saturday, December 10 from 9 AM – Noon. Cookie decorating (gluten free too) and holiday crafts! Remember your camera.  Pediatric Therapy Specialists of SCPA, 455 Lincoln Way East, Suite B, Chambersburg, PA 17201

• You are invited to the Christmas Open House at The Inn at Ragged Edge on Sunday, December 11 from 2 PM – 8 PM. Come and tour this historic railroad mansion – decorated for Christmas. Enjoy live Christmas music by various artists on the beautiful Steinway Grande Piano. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free, please bring a wrapped gift for a child (ages 1 – 12), to place under the Christmas tree. The gifts will then be shared with children who would otherwise not likely receive a gift at Christmas time.

• Bell Avenue Christmas Lights located near the corner of Sollenberger Road and Bell Avenue in Chambersburg features a light show with over 15,000 lights set to music.  When you arrive, tune to 106.5FM to enjoy the show and holiday music. Sun-Thur: 5:30-9:30pm & Fri & Sat: 5:30-10:30pm. Shows may not run during bad weather.

•  3rd Annual Christmas gift and craft show will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 10^th 9 AM –  2 PM in the Family Life Center.

Greencastle

•  Antrim Brethren In Christ Church will present The Cradle to the Cross, a drive through journey December 9, 10, & 11 from 6 PM – 9 PM.  Travel back in time in the comfort of your own car and experience the Christmas story.  With over 150 cast members and live animals, this is a event the whole family will enjoy.  After you drive through the narrated scenes, you are welcome to go through the petting zoo and stop inside for refreshments. Call 375-4658 for more information.

• The 2016 Greencastle Heritage Christmas Home Tour is Sunday, December 11 from 1 – 5 PM. Read about this year’s homes here.  Tickets available at Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce, Carl’s Drug Store, and the shop.

Mercersburg

• On Saturday December 10, come see the Conococheague Institute during the Christmas Open House.  Handmade decorations made from natural materials, music, house tours, children’s games, and refreshments. 1 – 4 PM.

McConnellsburg

• The Fulton County Festival of Lights is a “Drive Through” Christmas Light Display located at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in McConnellsburg. The Christmas Light Displays are set up along the roadways throughout the fairgrounds where visitors will drive through the event in their own vehicles.  The 2016 Festival of Lights will be held Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 and Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10. The times are 6 PM – 9:30 PM on all nights.  Visitors to the light display enter through the upper fairgrounds gate and pay $4 per vehicle.

Biglerville/Gettysburg 

• Enjoy hot mulled cider and cookies while you shop at Boyer Nurseries & Orchards, Biglerville. Live Christmas trees, apple & citrus Holiday gift baskets, fresh cut greens & holly, balsam wreaths, gift certificates, jams, jellies, honey, and more.   Dates/Times:  Saturday, 12/10 – 7:00 am to 5:00 pm  Sunday, 12/11 – 11:00 am to 5:00 pm  Kids! Santa’s here on Sundays during Open House from 1:00-3:00 PM.

• The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg offers FREE Carriage Rides on Friday & Saturday, December 9 & 10 from 5-8PM each night.

• The annual festive tour of Gettysburg area historic homes, inns and properties is December 10.  This is a special opportunity to tour historic homes in the Gettysburg area, enjoy festive music, taste specialty dishes prepared by the inns and enjoy local wines too.  This tour is self-guided and may be completed in any order. Receive a wristband and program at your first stop.  For ticket ($20) info visit here.

Ongoing Holiday Attractions

• Tis the season to look for a Christmas Tree!  We have rounded up a list of the Christmas Tree farms in our area.

• The Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad operates tourist passenger trains.  The Santa Surprise Trains and the Polar Bear Express Trains are going on now. Reservations are required for these trains, but any unsold seats will be available first-come-first-serve.

• Pennsylvania’s oldest operating trolley museum, Rockhill Trolley Museum is now open for the holiday season with the Polar Bear Express and Santa’s Trolley.  Come to the Rockhill Trolley Museum for the Polar Bear Express on Fridays and Saturdays through December 10, 2016 from 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Cost is adults $8, children $5.  Ride aboard a historic trolley car on December 3, 2016 between 10 AM – 4 PM and each child will be personally visited by Santa and receive a gift. Tickets: $8.

• Save on Admission to Dutch Winterland Wonderland! Celebrate the magic of the season at Dutch Winter Wonderland with rides, entertainment, and the Royal Light Show, a spectacular display of thousands of twinkling lights dancing to music. Open select weekends and weekdays in November and December.

• Hersheypark Christmas Candylane continues with select dates until January 1.  Admission to Candylane is regularly $19 for ages 3 and up. Children ages 2 and younger are FREE.  More than 40 rides are open, including 5 coasters.

• Santa’s Wonderland is at Bass Pro Shops, 3501 Paxton Street, Harrisburg.  There are free crafts, games, and activities.  Kids get a FREE 4×6 photo with Santa.  Please refer to the website for specific times.

• The Trains of Christmas at Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum continues this weekend.  Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays 1 – 5 pm. The Trains of Christmas Show features an “O” Scale 3-Rail Christmas layout with steam and diesel trains by Lionel, MTH, Williams, Weaver, and other operating in snow scene on four levels. Railroad artifacts, photos, trains for kids to run, and a gift shop too! Admission: $5 Adults; $.50 Kids (ages 12 & under).

• Whitaker Center’s Holiday Trains & Trees exhibit is open.  Beautifully decorated trees, surrounded by themed toy train sets and hands-on activities.  Holiday Trains and Trees is included with standard Science Center admission.  Find the Holiday Film Series at the Whitaker Center schedule on their website.  The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is located at 222 Market Street, Harrisburg.

• ZooLights at the National Zoo in Washington, DC is a FREE holiday event transforming the zoo into a winter wonderland.  Zoolights continues through Jan. 1, 2017 (except Dec. 24 and 25) from 5 PM to 9 PM.

• Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., just kicked off its ICE! attraction, featuring a collection of ice sculptures and 2-story tall ice slides.  ICE! with its new theme “Christmas Around the World” is open now through January 1, 2017.

• Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights at Ridge County Park, York County is a half-mile walking trail featuring 600,000 lights creating holiday displays. Activities include visits with Santa, G-gauge train display, the “Light-O-Rama” animation display, nightly entertainment and food.