The 2nd annual Choctoberfest (CF) took place yesterday in ChocolateTown Square on a perfect autumn…read moreday. The music from local bands was playing, beer was being poured, bites were being eaten and -most importantly- the chocolate was sweet. All of those things came together for a family-friendly fall festival. I heard about the event on Yelp and decided to check it out. I'm glad we went on such a gorgeous day. Admission was free and parking was easy at the lot across from the theater. One of the nice things about a small festival is that you don't have to walk for miles to see everything. The area for listening to the bands was a great spot for viewers; they had haystacks for seating and tall tables throughout the park for drinking and eating. The lights strung from the trees were a nice touch. However, the tents area was cramped, crowded and not where I wanted to be. I wish they had a better space to spread them out. Luckily, once people got their items, they were able to move over to park area. The lines weren't too long, thankfully. I didn't eat any of the bites, but I did try one of the beers and it was good. In the back, they also had some activities for the kids. There was a bounce house, chalk drawing, free pumpkins and bags to paint, Frisbee Toss and a few others. They also had some portable toilets along with a hand washing station, which was good for those chalky fingers! I would definitely go back next year and I bet they will continue to grow. It seemed like a well-organized event and Hershey is a nice town to visit. I'm not a fan of festivals in general but CF is my type of small-town festivals. I'll be back!

From the owner: oin us for Choctoberfest 2023: A celebration of bands, beers, bites, and chocolate!…read moreThe 8th annual Choctoberfest will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm in ChocolateTown Square Park, located at the corner of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues in Downtown Hershey. Join us with family and friends for a fall afternoon full of great live music, local craft beer, delicious food from downtown restaurants, and, of course, chocolate! Choctoberfest offers an array of activities for all ages to enjoy and is free and open to the public, with food and beverages available for purchase. Check back as we detail more of the events for the day!

My wife and I had a wonderful time at the festival. The food was amazing. My wife purchased a…read morebeautiful Indian dress. The people were very friendly. I look forward every year to this amazing festival.

India Day has been serving the community for over 25 years. I was so glad to be a part of the…read morefestival crowd because it was one of the best organized festivals ever. Everything goes on time; large number of teenager volunteers; plenty of the food available (maybe dozen stands); affordable pricing; incredible amount of shade and seats available (very much appreciated); plenty of nearby parking; rich program and plenty of shops. I would not know what to critique so kudos to Indian-American community. I tried two mango lassi - one was OK another one great. Samosa chaat ($5) and pao bhaji ($5) were very good. Samosa took the show - they were the best ever - salty and crispy, and smooth and flavorful inside. I had to constraint myself after 4 (2 for $3). I was so happy for being able to support Indian American community and I will always remember wonderful time. sights and taste.

Great fireworks. The show is set to music on a radio station so bring a radio and a blanket and…read morehave fun. The show lasted a little more than 45 minutes and there were no down times. Fair food stations are around. A few took credit but bring cash just to be safe.

Truth be told, my mom has been dragging me to the National Apple Harvest Festival since I was a…read morelittle kid. So this wasn't my first rodeo--but after a 15-year hiatus from the apple-scented chaos, I decided it was time to make the trip again. My most vivid memory from those childhood visits was getting a scrapple, egg, and cheese sandwich as soon as we walked through the main gate. So naturally, that was my one and only mission this year. I left early on a cool Sunday morning to beat the crowd, and once I got close, I was impressed by how well-organized everything was. Signs for parking and shuttles were everywhere, and plenty of friendly folks were directing traffic. I scored a front row parking spot (woot woot!) and hopped on the yellow school bus shuttle--instantly transported back in time to grade school days, tire hump seat and all. Tickets were $11.80, which I bought online ahead of time (pro tip: screenshot your ticket before you leave home--cell service is spotty at the festival). The line for online tickets was blissfully empty, and moments later, I was walking through the gates toward my breakfast destiny. And there it was--the same stand in the exact same spot I remembered, still cranking out hot breakfast sandwiches to hungry festivalgoers. A few minutes later, I was living my memories: melty cheese, a thick slab of crispy scrapple, a simple no-nonsense bun, and a cold chocolate milk in hand. Standing in the sunshine on a crisp October morning, surrounded by laughter, music, and the smell of apples--it was pure nostalgia. After breakfast, I wandered through hundreds of vendors selling everything from handcrafted furniture and antiques to apple cider slushies and apple butter (of course I bought some). There was even a petting zoo, live music, and plenty of fall charm packed into every corner. The port-a-johns were plentiful, clean, and monitored (bonus points!), and the free parking/shuttle system worked like a dream. Go early if you want to avoid the crowds--by midday, the place was packed. All in all, it was a perfect fall morning--a welcome blast from the past and a reminder of a family tradition worth keeping alive.

This is an awesome event to attend. It is very well organized. I love going there. It is well worth…read morethe price. Lots of choices for food. Great place.

A great time for all ages with Apple Butter tasting, gifted artisans, and more. A great town with…read morehomes spun charm. So much to explore, do and see.

It was a lovely day the Sunday and final day of the 2023 festival. As usual the highlights were the…read moregood food and wine tasting. We came away with only four bottles. We enjoyed the antique stores and all the booths. Bought some lovely truffles and fudge.

I was soooooooo excited to check out the annual Whoopie Pie Festival! Who doesn't like these moist…read morecakes, with a nice creamy icing in between?! Held on the grounds of the Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn, this festival offers cute events such as a Whoopie Pie Treasure Hunt (hundreds of them are all hidden on the grounds in brightly-colored foil); a Whoopie Pie Race (you just grab a pie and run AHAHAHA); watch a Whoopie PIe Long Launch (whoever hits the target/gets close enough, wins!); play Whoopie PIe Checkers (if you're a checker master, you can go through the Tournament Rounds); participate in a Whoopie Yell Off (in your loudest voice, giving a shout-out for some Whoopie Pie love); watch/participate in an Amateur Whoopie Pie Eating Contest (watching who can eat dozen the quickest?); watch the participating chefs make the largest Whoopie Pie ever, and even get the opportunity to decorate your own Whoopie Pie :P There are also local artisans and craftsmen in which you can check out their items to purchase, for yourself or as gifts. If you're hungry, you can grab a meal at the Hershey Farm restaurant, or just stuff yourself silly with the variety of Whoopie Pie flavors they have available :D The variety of flavors they had for these pies were quic amazing - when you walk up to the main tent, you are given a plastic bag. There long aisles of compartmentalized wooden crates with labels of the flavors (such as Lemon Poppy Orange Cream Cheese, Oreos, Rocky Road, Death by Chocolate, Confetti with Strawberry, Banana with Orange Cream Cheese, etc.). I was a little disappointed that the pies have been refrigerated, and even though they were saran-wrapped, they were dripping with water, making them a little soggy T____T Once you fill your bag to your heart's content, you pay at the cashiers by the exit area. The place was definitely packed to the brim, and moving around was a little tight. Parking on the Farm was not allowed and needed to be done at nearby establishments (such as the outlet store); from there, a free shuttle (school bus) came every so often for a pick-up (this was another adventure, as so many violations were violated - the driver forced about 4 people per seat, trying to get as many people in the bus as possible :O We actually walked back from the festival, as the traffic was horrendous, in addition to some of the construction that was going on. An interesting festival to check out when you're in the Lancaster County area! :D +annual Whoopie Pie Festival :D +parking at nearby establishments +free shuttle offered

Friends of mine have been attending this festival for a few years, and I was finally able to join…read morethem last year (and plan to attend again this year). Think Renaissance Festival only a million times better: the people who put this one provide a real sense of community and a sacred space that is unlike any other I've ever been to. Drum circles, dances, great food, fun shops, and famous and soon-to-be famous authors work their magic on this place, and I look forward to attending as often as I can work it into my schedule. The festival held every year around the start of May and dressing up is highly, highly encouraged! Kubiando!

We had a blast with the kids. I thought it was a bit expensive for what it was and they didn't…read moreeven give us a flyer/map at the gate where we gave up our money. It is completely magical as explained in the other posts. It's fun and lots of people dress up and there are food vendors, stuff vendors, fairy goodies, circles, dancing, a may pole, characters walking around like smasher and mossman. I enjoyed it very much - I wish there had been some more shade here and there (got a bit warm for a while). Loved the animal corner with the pets to touch, greyhounds, pigs, and other awareness venues. Very fun, parking was at a cost as well, but it wasn't too bad. Glad it didn't rain - would have been a lot of mud. Porta pottys were not too busy, but they were running out of paper towards the end of the day. Magical - fun, I will be back.

Always the 2nd full weekend in June, Heritage is always a lot fun! Located on beautiful and…read morehistoric Washington Street and Downtown Cumberland, it 's full of arts, crafts, yummy food, musical and other entertainment, plus tours of museums and the old tunnels under the Emmanuel Episcopal Church! It's not summer in Cumberland until Heritage Days!