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Capture Family Memories in HBG

Published: May 3, 2023
Gamut - Shakespeare in the Park

Harrisburg is the perfect place to bring the family for a day of mini‐golf, museums, riverboat tours, kidfriendly theatrical performances, and science‐driven summer camps. There are plenty of free outdoor activities and low‐cost indoor events happening all summer long. Check out a few of our family‐friendly recommendations below.


Outdoor Activities

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Discover Wildwood Park

Located on the outskirts of Harrisburg City, Wildwood Park is a 229‐acre park known for its rustic nature trails, mile‐long boardwalk over the wetlands, and beautiful 90‐acre lake. Whether you are looking for biking paths, hiking trails, a place to picnic, or the perfect place for wildlife spotting, Wildwood has you covered. Check out their upcoming events on their website calendar featuring the annual Wetlands Festival, Summer Day Camps, Art in the Wild Exhibit and their Astronomy Programs.

Enjoy Shakespeare in the Park

Locals and visitors alike look forward to free Shakespeare in the Park, hosted by Gamut Theatre each June. Performed in Harrisburg’s beautiful Reservoir Park, Gamut’s 2022 performance of “Richard III,” will run from June 2nd through the 17th. Bring your lawn chairs and come early to mark your spot for a night of Shakespeare under the stars. For more information visit gamuttheatre.org/fsip. Gamut will be collecting canned goods for Bethesda Mission at all performances so be sure to bring your favorite canned staple.

Harrisburg Senators Baseball

Catch a Senator’s Baseball Game

The Harrisburg Senators are scheduled to play several home games in beautiful FNB stadium on City Island. The season began on Friday, April 6th and runs through Sunday, September 17th so there are plenty of games to choose from. The kids are sure to enjoy the antics of Rascal, the team mascot, and lots of on‐field entertainment between innings. Seats start at only $13 and each game offers different promotions and special events including “kids run the bases” games, t‐shirt giveaways, wet‐nosed games (where your dogs are welcome), post‐game fireworks, jersey giveaways and more. Visit their website for a full list of games and special promotions.

Play Water Golf

Bring the whole family for a morning of mini‐golf played on City Island’s beautiful 18‐hole Water Golf course located on the North end of the Island. Featuring a 60‐foot walking bridge, several water traps, and beautiful views of the Susquehanna River, Water Golf is an affordable family activity with tickets starting at only $8. They are open daily from 10am to 10pm and offer a delicious concession stand serving hand dipped ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, and more. Visit http://h2ogolf.com/ to plan your visit.

Pride of Susquehanna Sunset

Ride the Pride of the Susquehanna

Departing from City Island, the Pride of the Susquehanna is an authentic paddlewheel riverboat offering river cruises all summer. Throughout the season, the Pride offers themed cruises including Thursday Jazz Nights, Murder Mystery Dinner Cruises, Senior Mondays and more. Check out their website for their upcoming cruise schedule: hbgriverboat.org.

Rainy Day Activities

State Capitol Welcome Center

Visit the Pennsylvania State Capitol

No visit to Harrisburg can be complete without visiting the iconic Capitol Building. A guided tour is a great way to explore the building's many highlights such as the impressive rotunda and the House and Senate Chambers. Children of all ages will enjoy the engaging tours as well as the interactive displays at the new Interactive Welcome Center. It features floor projection games, the commonwealth statue built with Legos, virtual tours and more. Plan your visit to the capitol here.

Museum-PA National Fire Museum in Harrisburg-Firemen Display

Explore the PA National Fire Museum

One of the hidden gems in Harrisburg is the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum. Located on North 4th Street in Midtown Harrisburg, the Museum is home to antique fire trucks dating back to the 1930’s, a 1792 hand pumper, a large display of firemen equipment, parade hats, antique alarm systems, and other memorabilia. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm, admission to the Fire Museum is only $7 for adults. Discounted family passes are also available. Visit pnfm.org for more information and a complete list of museum exhibits.

Visit the Whitaker Center

The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts offers special events, activities, and exhibits for children of all ages. The youngest ones will enjoy Little Learners, an interactive STEAM program held in the KidsPlace exhibit. Whitaker’s STEM Sensory Days offer families affected by autism spectrum disorders, a special time to explore the HARSCO Science Center in a quieter setting with decreased visual stimulation. Whitaker also offers numerous summer camps for grades K‐8th including Engineering Extravaganza Camp, Girls in Stem programs, Musical Theater programs, Art Camp, Innovation Camp and more! Registration for summer camps is now open and seats fill up quickly, so be sure to reserve your seats today. Register here!

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Catch a Popcorn Hat Players Show

Now in their 30th season, the Popcorn Hat Players bring fairy tales, fables, and folk tales to life using original adaptations and bit of comedy. This season they are performing a creative rendition of “The Three Little Pigs.” Performances are held on the Alex Grass Second Stage located within Gamut Theatre’s beautifully renovated building on North 4th Street in downtown Harrisburg. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased online.

Author: Explore HBG