Theatre Harrisburg: A Tried and True Local Theatre

Theatre Harrisburg was founded in 1926 during the height of the "Little Theatre Movement"—a nationwide surge in quality regional theater to meet local demands for passionate, detail-oriented productions. The company is still dominating the community's arts scene in its now decade-old home at the Whitaker Center for the Science and Arts, located on Market Street in downtown Harrisburg. For more than 80 years, Theatre Harrisburg is continuously dedicated to its patrons, which means every season offers more convenient times, family friendly productions, and diverse, high-quality performance opportunities. Yearly productions are performed either at the mainstage or in the Krevsky Center, both of which also play host to other unique performance and musical events. Check out the calendar or just stop by to get a taste of the artistic action.

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St.
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 232-5501 ‎
www.theatreharrisburg.com

Color Me Mine: Show Your Artistic Side

People looking to flex their creative muscle have been coming to Harrisburg’s Color Me Mine for years. The wide range of artistic activities on offer at Color Me Mine encourage repeat visits. Here’s how it works: first, you select from the literally hundreds of ceramic pieces available to paint on. This stuff runs the gamut from plates and tiles to more complicated pieces, and the prices are very reasonable. Second, pay an eight-dollar studio fee and then start painting. The fee covers everything you’ll use at Color Me Mine… and there’s a lot of stuff. The sheer number of paints and glazes available boggles the mind, and the staff is always available to help you with your artwork. Once it’s done, you leave it there to be fired in the kiln and come pick it up approximately five days later. It’s a great creative outlet for people of all ages, and Color Me Mine offers a number of special deals and packages throughout the week.

Color Me Mine
5110 Jonestown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 909-8170
www.harrisburg.colormemine.com

Pennsylvania State Capitol: A Landmark of Power and Beauty

Combining all the best of classical grandeur and contemporary power, the Pennsylvania State Capitol is a breathtaking building and home to the keystone state's governmental seat. A public destination open to all visitors, it is an architectural gem and a historical symbol of the founding state's storied role in America's evolution. Dedicated in 1906—with none other than president Theodore Roosevelt in attendance—the building has long been an iconic landmark both inside and out. The interior features variously inspired details such as Renaissance designs, stained glass, as well as French, Greek, and Victorian aesthetic influences. Beyond the sprawling rooms and hallways, the central, Michelangelo-inspired 272-foot dome is not to be missed. But no matter what, this is a beautiful place to get a sense of Pennsylvania's political past as well as a glimpse of its future.

Pennsylvania State Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 787-6810
www.pacapitol.com

Ride the Trails of Civil War Generals

Here’s a new way to take in the Gettysburg scenery: go horseback. Confederate Trails of Gettysburg premiered its first season in 2010.   Small groups of six guests are led along scenic equestrian trails behind the Virginia Monument to Spangler Farm where they can glimpse Peach Orchard and Little Round Top in the distance. A two-hour option continues along through Pitzer’s Woods to Longstreet Tower. Perhaps from there you can catch sight of the Eisenhower Farm.

The pace is comfortable for novice riders (only age 8 and above). The operators have accommodated individuals with a range of disabilities and they assure nervous prospects that, upon request, they’ll send a person to walk alongside the horse to ease their anxiety. This is not a historic tour, so riders seeking informative narratives might wish to get that background before setting out on this venture. However, when children are in the group, consider requesting in advance a living history re-enactor at no additional charge. Helmets (provided) are required for guests under age 18, and adults who decline must sign a waiver. Reservations go rain or shine. Military families receive a 10 percent discount. Check the website for additional details.

Confederate Trails of Gettysburg
www.confederatetrailsofgettysburg.com

Atomic Warehouse: It’s A Blast

If your interests lie in the art and design of the 20th century, Harrisburg’s Atomic Warehouse is going to feel like a paradise on Earth. Specializing in art deco, Mission, and mid-century modern design, the two gigantic floors are packed to the rafters with incredible merchandise plucked from the vault of history. Atomic Warehouse's owner is obsessed with his finds and will gladly regale you with the details of their provenance. Even if you’re not going to buy anything, Atomic Warehouse is still an incredible place to spend an afternoon digging through treasures. Of course, the staff would really prefer it if you bought something! From amazing furniture to vintage magazines, Atomic Warehouse has something for every interest. Some complain that prices are a little high, but it’s not like a factory can just make more of this stuff. There is literally no other store like this in the country, so visitors should be thankful that it even exists.

Atomic Warehouse
1021 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 236-1900
www.atomicwarehouse.com

Midtown Cinema: Enjoy The Show

Most movie theaters left in America are fairly generic corporate-owned affairs, content to program the latest Hollywood blockbusters and leave everything else out. Not so with Harrisburg’s Midtown Cinema. This awesome indie theater was founded in 2001 by a pair of film lovers who wanted to bring the most cutting-edge cinema to the area, and they’ve programmed a regular slate of challenging, intriguing films for over a decade. Midtown Cinema has a fun, funky DIY feel, with comfortable couches in the waiting room and perfectly serviceable seating with good sightlines. They even have board games to play while you’re waiting for your screening to start. A semi-regular movie trivia night draws local cinephiles out of the woodwork as well to challenge themselves with increasingly difficult questions in exchange for prizes. This is a great example of what a community movie theater should be, and it’s well worth paying a visit.

Midtown Cinema
250 Reily Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 909-6566
www.midtowncinema.com

Five Senses Gardens

All this city life can make a soul pine for the natural world! Luckily the Five Senses Gardens are right here for Harrisburg residents and visitors alike to enjoy. Situated on the Capital Area Greenbelt, this lovely and distinctive park has endured some seriously adverse conditions in recent years, but thanks to the efforts of a very dedicated group of volunteers has rebounded and continues to serve the community. As you might guess from the name, the park is divided into five individual “gardens,” each one of which is designed to stimulate a specific sense! The sight garden offers flowering plants and beautiful botanicals that tantalize the eyes with color. The sound garden plays host to a wide variety of songbirds. The smell garden boasts a number of different plants that emit distinctive and pleasurable odors. The taste garden offers mint, blueberries and other examples of nature’s bounty. And, finally, the Labyrinth uses the sense of touch to navigate a maze. This is an experience not to be missed.

Five Senses Gardens
www.caga.org/five_senses_gardens

John Harris-Simon Cameron Museum

If you’re interested in the rich history of the Dauphin County area, there’s no better place to learn about it than the John Harris-Simon Cameron Museum. Located in one of the oldest and most majestic buildings in Harrisburg (the Harris-Cameron Mansion) the Museum is an enormous building constructed from locally quarried limestone. Simon Cameron, the house’s second occupant, was best known as Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln, and his family held onto the house until donating it to the Historical Society in 1941. Since then, the mansion has been carefully preserved and decorated to simulate 19th century life in the Harrisburg area, with each of the rooms arranged and decorated to provide insight into the lives of the families that lived there. The Museum also serves as the headquarters of the Dauphin County Historical Society, which presents a wide variety of educational programs, re-enactments and more. A visit here's sure to expand your mind.

John Harris-Simon Cameron Museum
219 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 233-3462
www.dauphincountyhistory.org

Linglestown Paintball: Make A Splat

Paintball sometimes gets a bad rap as a sport enjoyed just by teenage boys, but if you can look past the stereotypes you’ll find it’s actually great for team-building in a family or business context. Harrisburg's Linglestown Paintball is the perfect place to check it out for yourself! The basics are simple: players divide into teams and work together to blast their foes with paint before being shot themselves. Going off solo, however, will get you out of the game quick. Talking with your teammates, coordinating covering fire, and cooperating to flank enemies and take advantageous positions is where the real fun comes in. Linglestown Paintball gives you everything you need to get into the game, from a rental shop with guns, paint and safety gear to an excellent course filled with obstacles to take cover behind. If you’ve heard horror stories about how the paintballs hurt, ignore them – as long as you’re wearing long sleeves and pants, you’ll barely feel a thing.

Linglestown Paintball
7548 Linglestown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 541-8323
www.linglestownpaintball.com

Popcorn Hat Players: Theatre With Salt

If you’re looking for a more irreverent take on the stage, Harrisburg’s Popcorn Hat Players might whet your appetite. This much-loved local children’s theatre troupe has been putting on shows since 1993, using professional actors and directors to bring top-quality performances to children of all social and economic backgrounds. Plays put on by the troupe include adaptations of classic Mother Goose rhymes as well as fairy tales like The Little Mermaid and Rumpelstiltskin. Their performances are very entertaining. Although the stagecraft is serious business, each show has a real sense of humor that will keep kids riveted to the stage. And, of course, the Popcorn Hat Players throw in a few jokes for the grown-ups as well. Ticket prices are incredibly reasonable – just seven dollars – which makes it an excellent entertainment value. The troupe also runs a number of educational and outreach programs and mentors a group of young actors who perform in a yearly show.

Popcorn Hat Players
Third Floor
605 Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 238-4111
www.gamutplays.org/popcorn

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