For a little city, Harrisburg sure packs a lotta punch! Whether you’ve lived here 6 months, 2 years, or 25 years there’s always a new leaf to uncover or new leaves falling. I’ll think you’ll find yourself surprised at everything you’ve yet to discover!
With new restaurants and shops popping up all over, it’s time to start tackling your Harrisburg bucket list. The items are broken down by season and categories to help give a jumping off point – pick a season, pick an item, and get to grooving your way around Harrisburg’s must-see and do sights.
ALL-SEASON
Weather doesn’t affect all the fun in Harrisburg, in fact, some activities you can do all-year round in Harrisburg.
1. Introduce an Out-of-Towner to the Broad Street Market
Harrisburg’s hailing glory, the Broad Street Market, deserves recognition from everyone even if only passing through. Make sure to take an out-of-town guest to the market for a meal, grocery haul, or just to peek around at the nation’s longest continually running market.
2. Make a Meal From Only What You Buy at the Market or Provisions
With easy access to fresh and local foods, challenge yourself to make a meal from only what you can pick up at either the Broad Street Market in Midtown or Provisions in Strawberry Square. Get creative and let the ingredients inspire you!
3. Catch a Flick at Midtown Cinema With a Zeroday Crowler
There’s always something new in the lineup at Midtown Cinema, but did you know you can spice up movie night with a crowler from Zeroday? Grab a crowler from Zeroday before the movie starts and bring it into the theater with you!
4. Volunteer at Bethesda Mission or Another Homeless Shelter
Take time to volunteer at one of Harrisburg’s homeless shelters. Just one of many shelters, Bethesda Mission offers opportunities to volunteer on its dinner soup line from 4:30-6:30 any night of the week.
5. Enjoy an Afternoon at Midtown Scholar
Everyone’s deserving of a morning spent drinking coffee, browsing books, or working remotely at Midtown Scholar. With its seemingly endless isles, plan to spend more than a couple hours in serenity.
6. Attend a Show at Open Stage or Gamut Theater
The arts are alive in Harrisburg – Open Stage and Gamut Theater help contribute to that. Catch a weekend show at either of the theaters and you won’t leave disappointed.
7. Tour the Capital Building
So much of our city’s history stems from inside our Capital Building’s walls. Take a guided tour, or tour yourself around during the day. You can enter the capital free-of-charge from its public entrances and find tour dates and times on the PA Capital website.
8. Attend a Concert
Enjoy the music scene in Harrisburg by attending a concert at one of the venues across town. The Whitaker Center, Club XL, HMAC, and other small venues frequently host artists throughout the year.
9. Drink Coffee at All Three Little Amps Locations
With not one, but three locations to spread the Little Amps love, make it a goal to sit and sip at all of their locations – Green Street, State Street, and Strawberry Square.
10. Go Axe Throwing at Joe K’s Brewhouse
Grab some friends and go axe throwing at Joe K’s Brewhouse. It’s easier than you might think, and with an instructor to guide and keep score along the way, there’s no shortage of laughs and competiton.
SUMMER
With the summer heats comes ample opportunities for getting out and about around the city. Here are some things to do in Harrisburg in the summer.
11. See a Senator’s Game on City Island
Spend a weekday or weekend taking in a Senator’s baseball game on City Island. Tickets are a steal and the atmosphere is fun for friends or families.
12. Take a Bike Tour of All the Murals
Sprocket Mural Works helps add some color to our city by pairing artists with blank canvases across town. Start in Midtown or Downtown and work your way through the city to discover all of Harrisburg’s hidden murals.
13. Enjoy a Beer at the Millwork’s Rooftop Biergarten
A summer staple, soak in the Millwork’s rooftop Biergarten hailing views of historic Midtown, Harrisburg. Plan to spend at least an hour there enjoying the food, drinks, and table games.
14. Bike or Walk the Walking Bridge to City Island for Ice Cream
Don’t let Harrisburg’s Walking Bridge look so intimidating! Reward yourself with stunning views of the Susquehanna along the ride/walk from the city, and reward yourself with ice cream at Café Huey’s on the other side.
15. Attend Shakespeare in the Park at Reservoir Park
Every summer Gamut Theatre Group puts on Shakespeare in the Park at Reservoir Park. Just a short drive from Downtown, Harrisburg, come back each summer to watch a modern rendition of a Shakespeare classic.
16. Have a Sunset Picnic at Negley or Riverfront Park
Pack a picnic and enjoy the hours before sunset at either Negley Park or Riverfront Park. From Riverfront Park you can watch the Pride of the Susquehanna – Harrisburg’s riverboat – make its final rounds while enjoying your meal. And from Negley Park you can watch the sun set on Harrisburg from an overlook facing the city.
17. Walk or Bike the Front Street Path to Shipoke
Deserving a spot of its own, don’t let Shipoke – Harrisburg’s little gem – get overlooked. Follow the Front Street path along the river down to this Harrisburg neighborhood. If you go near sunset, you can watch the sunset on your walk or bike ride home.
18. Watch the 4th of July Fireworks From Front Street
A yearly tradition, gather with friends and family along Front Street to watch the 4thof July Fireworks take place across the river. Bonus – if you get there early enough, you can also watch fireworks directly following the Senator’s game on City Island.
19. Attend Kipona
For the last 100+ years, the Shipoke neighborhood hosts Kipona over Labor Day Weekend. With many different food and arts vendors, the festival celebrates American workers and our great city.
20. Participate in Restaurant Week
Hosted over two weeks in the fall, Harrisburg’s Restaurant Week partners with local restaurants across town to offer amazing dinner deals. It’s a great opportunity to try new spots and re-visit old favorites.
21. Participate in Harrisburg Beer Week
Hosted in the spring, Harrisburg’s Beer Week partners with local breweries, pubs and restaurants to showcase craft beer across the state. Watch for an events list to appear as spring rolls around.
22. Mini Golf on City Island
You could easily spend an entire afternoon trekking City Island, but make sure to leave room for Mini Golf on the west side of the island. With river views and a themed course, show off your hidden putt putt skills.
WINTER
No need to haul up inside all winter long. Mark you calendar for events happening in Harrisburg during the winter months.
23. New Years Eve on 2nd Street
Ring in the New Year with a bang in Market Square on 2ndStreet where at midnight you can watch fireworks alongside the strawberry drop – a Harrisburg tradition. You can enjoy activities throughout the night prior to midnight as well.
24. Admire the Christmas Tree on the Capital Steps
From November through the holiday season, take in the Christmas tree that decks the Capital steps. Great as a backdrop for family photos, or as a photo on its own, you don’t want to miss its appearance.
25. Watch the Harrisburg Holiday Parade
Hosted in November, the Harrisburg Holiday Parade takes to 2nd Street in a spectacular manner. Starting at the Market Street Bridge, the parade winds up 2nd Street and loops back around Front Street. Bundle up, bring chairs, and enjoy floats, marching bands, larger-than-life scaled balloons and more.
26. Attend the Ice & Fire Festival
As a newer tradition, plan to attend the Ice & Fire festival each March. The event features ice sculptures and an ice skating rink alongside food vendors and live music. Drink hot cocoa and marvel at sculptures throughout the event.
27. Christmas at Italian Lake
For one weekend in December, you can enjoy the holiday spirit with Christmas at Italian Lake which benefits Bethesda Mission, a local homeless shelter. It’s free to attend and various activities run throughout the event.
28. Attend the Harrisburg Farm Show
Every January, the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg hosts the Harrisburg Farm Show featuring family fun for all. From the milkshakes to the rows of show-quality livestock, there’s enough to keep everyone entertained for hours.
BEER, WINE & SPIRITS
PA contributes its fair share of craft beer, wines and spirits, and Harrisburg doesn’t like to get left out of the action. Check out some of Harrisburg’s breweries, distilleries, and wineries.
29. Attend Boozy Bingo at Zeroday
Hosted by the one and only Felicia O’Toole, clear your schedule every third Thursday for Boozy Bingo at Zeroday Brewing. It’s not just any old bingo, prepare to laugh and drink your way through.
30. Take a Trip to Breski’s
Also referred to as craft beer heaven – deemed by yours truly – make the short drive to Breski’s beverage where you’ll find aisles lined with craft beer from across the U.S. They also do growler and crowler fills which pair well with their boozy slushies. What more can you ask for?
31. Try a New Drink at Midstate Distillery
Thanks to Midstate Distillery, beer doesn’t hog all the fun in Harrisburg. Try one of their cocktail concoctions featuring local PA spirits.
32. Order a Flight at Zeroday or the Millworks
With so many craft breweries popping up, make sure to experience Harrisburg staples such as Zeroday or the Millworks. With too many good options to choose from, and changing beer rotations, treat yourself to a flight so you can soak it all in.
33. Attend a Themed Event at Spring Gate
Open year round, Spring Gate Vineyard and Brewery hosts themed weekends every month. Check out their Facebook page to learn what weekend events are on the horizon.
HEALTH & WELNESS
It’s hard not to stay active in Harrisburg with so much going on. Check out the following must-try fitness activities going on in Harrisburg.
34. Take a Free Summer Yoga Class By the River
During the summer months, Harrisburg Parks and Rec sponsors free yoga classes by the river. Classes typically fall on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m. Dates and times change each season.
35. Kayak the Susquehanna
Whether you own kayaks, or want to rent from a local outfitter, work up a sweat and build those triceps while kayaking the Susquehanna. Plan to either start toward Downtown, Harrisburg and work your way upstream to make the paddle back easier. Or start upstream and drop a car downstream to make the trek home more enjoyable.
36. Rent a Zagster Bike and Peddle front street
With rental stations all across town, there’s no excuse not to get your butt up and moving on a Zagster bike. Bike Front Street and take in both river and city views along your cruise. The bikes come with locks so you can lock up your bike and enjoy a bite along the way.
37. Run a Harrisburg Race Along Front Street
From Spring to Fall, Front Street hosts many races throughout the warmer months. The race lengths vary and most support good causes – find a race that peeks you or your friends/family’s interest and sign up to compete in one!
38. Trek Wildwood Park and the Capital Area Greenbelt
For a city, Harrisburg’s greenery would surprise you. Take a walk through Wildwood Park or around Italian Lake and see for yourself. For a longer journey, hop on the Capital Area Greenbelt via bike or foot to explore this 20-mile loop around the city.
39. Take a Yoga Class at Community Yoga
Located in Midtown, Harrisburg, take a pay-what-you-can class at Community Yoga. Classes run weekly from Monday to Sunday with times and classes available for all levels.
SHOPPING
Harrisburg loves its fashion trends and supporting its local artisans all at once. Check out all that Harrisburg’s shops have to offer.
40. Shop at Stash & Midtown Dandy in SoMa
Located in SoMa, take a little shopping trip to Stash and Midtown Dandy’s collab store. Catering to all wardrobes, everyone’s sure to leave with more than they walked in with.
41. Peruse an HBG Flea Market
Hosted on the first Saturday of every month, attend an HBG Flea Market and leave with some well-deserved goodies from local artisans. The market pops up in the Midtown Cinema parking lot during the summer, and can be found inside Strawberry Square during the winter.
42. Check Out the Artisan Studios at the Millworks
The Millworks is home to many of Harrisburg’s talented artisans with artist studios lining the bottom and top portion of the restaurant. When the artists aren’t in their studios, you can find their work for sale in the gift shop located near the front entrance.
RESTAURANTS
For a small city, Harrisburg’s restaurant scene does not disappoint. That said, it wouldn’t be a Harrisburg bucket list without a roundup of my personal top restaurant choices. If you only have a short time to explore the city, here’s my must-try-no-exceptions list.
43. Burger Yum
Burgers and fries and shakes to die for, Burger Yum is a perfect joint to grab and snack along the way, or sit down and enjoy.
44. Yellow Bird Cafe
Open for breakfast and lunch only, take in the gentle ambiance of Yellow Bird Café and definitely order everything on the menu.
45. Bacco’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar
This is happy hour haven. With a half-priced happy hour menu running from 5-7 p.m. during the week, stop in and treat yourself to a cocktail and hand-crafted pizza.
46. Bon Appetit Creperie
Perfect for any meal, Bon Appetit Creperie covers all your bases from breakfast to dessert. Spoil yourself and your taste buds by adding this place to your list.
47. Café 1500
Brunch is calling. Café 1500 makes the perfect brunch weekend brunch setting and a mimosa pitcher or Bloody Mary special is a must. Oh, and don’t even dare forget their $2 taco Tuesdays.
48. Alvarro’s
A lunchtime favorite, and a dinner treat. Alvarro’s is only open for dinner Thursday through Saturday, so plan ahead and make a reservation far in advance.
49. Café Fresco
Did someone say date night? Café Fresco has the perfect ambience for date night, and a menu to match.
50. Freshido
The easiest to-go or sit down meal, Freshido creates poke bowls and wraps to taste. You order assembly-style so you can pick and choose what to add to your creation.
51. Passage to India
Mid-day hunger is perfectly cured by Passage to India’s undeniably good $10 lunch buffet special. It’s perfect for trying new food items or filling up on the ones you already love.
Time to Start Checking Off To-Dos
I can’t wait to keep exploring the ins and outs the city has to offer, so don’t expect the list to stop here! I’d love to hear any of your bucket list items too so pass them along in the comments below, or shoot me a DM on Instagram!
Cherishburg 