Parents, pack your thermos with cocoa, brace for a flurry of fun, and make sure your holiday spirit is intact—Dauphin County Parks and Recreation has turned the holidays up to eleven this year! From toy trains and Victorian teas to reindeer sightings and bird counts, there’s something for every type of family elf. Here’s your guide to the top events, complete with humor, practical tips, and just the right amount of jingle.
1. Toy Train Exhibit
📍 Fort Hunter Mansion
🗓 November 30–December 22, Saturdays & Sundays, 12:30–4:30 PM
💰 FREE
If your kids have ever built a Lego train that only runs in a circle (and occasionally derails into the family dog), this massive model railroad exhibit is sure to blow their minds. Presented by the Keystone Model Railroad Historical Society, this display shrinks Central PA into a bite-sized holiday wonderland. Admission is free, but parental patience for hearing "Can we get a train set like that?" is priceless.
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2. Festival of Trees
📍 Fort Hunter Mansion
🗓 November 30–December 22, Saturdays & Sundays, 12:30–4:30 PM
💰 Free Admission (Raffle Tickets Available)
Nothing screams "holidays" like six fully themed Christmas trees, each decorated with more flair than your neighbor's entire front yard. Check out these dazzling creations, crafted by local garden clubs, and maybe even win one (if your living room is big enough to handle it).
3. Christmas at Fort Hunter Mansion
📍 Fort Hunter Mansion
🗓 November 30–December 22, Closed Mondays
💰 Admission fee applies
Take a guided tour of the mansion decked out in fresh greens, fruits, and flowers for a lesson in holiday elegance. Fun fact: the families who once lived here didn’t decorate with inflatable Santas. What restraint!
4. Winter StoryWalk: Squirrel’s Sweater
📍 Lyken’s Glen Park
🗓 December 2, 2:00–3:00 PM
💰 FREE
Stroll through the pages of Squirrel’s Sweater, a heartwarming tale about friendship, winter woes, and (of course) sweaters. Bonus points if your kids can resist asking why Squirrel doesn’t just buy a new sweater from Target.
5. Wreath Workshop
📍 Location TBD
🗓 December 2–3, Times Vary
💰 Registration fee applies
Channel your inner Martha Stewart and craft an evergreen wreath using cones, berries, and seed pods. Perfect for hanging on your door—or, if you’re me, giving as a gift when your DIY results are slightly... interpretive.
6. Young Birders: Counting is for the Birds
📍 Wildwood Park
🗓 December 7, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
💰 FREE
Introduce your kids to the science of bird counting—because nothing says "holiday spirit" like logging sparrow sightings while bundled up like Ralphie from A Christmas Story.
7. “Kids Only” Shop
📍 Fort Hunter Mansion
🗓 December 7–22, Saturdays & Sundays, 12:30–4:30 PM
💰 Most gifts under $15
A chance for kids to shop independently for loved ones—no peeking, parents! Volunteers help little shoppers choose, wrap, and label gifts, so you won’t end up with a surprise can opener (again).
8. Santa’s Reindeer & Storytime with Mrs. Claus
📍 Fort Hunter Mansion
🗓 December 14, 12:30–2:30 PM
💰 Donations accepted
Live reindeer, Mrs. Claus reading stories, and plenty of photo ops. It's like the North Pole came to Harrisburg—minus the frostbite. (Pro tip: the line for reindeer closes at 2:15 PM, so get there early!)
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9. Victorian Tea
📍 Fort Hunter Mansion
🗓 December 8, 11:30 AM–3:30 PM
💰 Registration required
Feeling fancy? Enjoy spiced tea and sweet treats while soaking in Victorian holiday décor. It's the perfect excuse to dress the kids in their holiday best—just make sure to snag a photo before the sugar hits.
10. Clear Toy Candy Demonstration
📍 Fort Hunter Mansion Summer Kitchen
🗓 December 8, 12:30–4:30 PM
💰 FREE
Learn the art of making clear toy candy, a nostalgic Christmas treat that might just make your kids think candy canes are boring. Buy a piece to take home—if it makes it past the car ride.
11. Natural Ornaments
📍 Wildwood Park
🗓 December 7–8, 14–15, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
💰 Small fee for materials
Pinecones, milkweed pods, and hot glue—what could possibly go wrong? Join this ornament-making workshop for a hands-on way to bring a little nature to your tree (and maybe some glitter to your carpet).
12. Holiday Concerts
St. Thomas Dulcimer Society: December 11, 6:30–7:30 PM
Brass Triumphant: December 22, 2:00–3:00 PM
Live music is always a win, especially when it’s free! These concerts at Fort Hunter are a great way to soak up holiday cheer (and keep the kids still for an hour).
13. Reindeer Workshop
📍 Wildwood Park
🗓 December 22, 1:30–3:00 PM
💰 Fee applies
Craft your very own wooden reindeer with Wildwood Park’s master craftsman. Perfect for your mantle—or as the centerpiece in your child’s school art contest submission.
14. Winter Discovery
📍 Olewine Nature Center, Wildwood Park
🗓 December 9–January 31, Ongoing
💰 FREE
Experience the magic of winter with hands-on activities, nature exhibits, and a self-guided trail tour. You might even learn something about hibernating animals—or how to convince your kids not to imitate them.
From reindeer meet-and-greets to crafting and concerts, Dauphin County Parks & Recreation has packed the season with enough holiday cheer to keep your family merry (and busy). Whether you’re there for the wreaths, the trains, or just the free hot chocolate, one thing’s for sure: these events will make your holidays unforgettable.
What’s on your family’s holiday to-do list? Let us know, and don’t forget to share your favorite moments with #DauphinHolidayMagic!
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Disclaimer: While the ideas and the bulk of the brilliance are all mine, I confess that I enlisted the help of ChatGPT for minor edits and revisions. Why? Because AI is the friendliest grammarian I know—no red pen, no judgment, just pure, unadulterated love for a well-placed comma. So if you find any rogue semicolons or unnaturally perfect phrasing, you can thank my digital editor for that.
