CHAMBERSBURG– Delicious food, family activities, ice cream, history and so much more is planned for the 37th Annual ChambersFest from July 8 to 15 in the greater Chambersburg area.
The weeklong family-friendly festival will include a variety of fun community events including Restaurant Week, Scoop-a-Palooza, Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Race, Old Market Day, 1864: The Burning, history exhibits, live music and more.
“ChambersFest is one of the most enjoyable community celebrations in Chambersburg, and we are grateful for all the organizations that have shown their support this year,” said Steve Christian, president of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. “Many local restaurants, retail businesses and nonprofits will participate, and we hope to see thousands of people enjoy the festivities happening all over our town.”
ChambersFest will start on Saturday, July 8 with the 7th Annual Restaurant Week sponsored by Signature Sponsor Penn National Insurance, Platinum Sponsors Ventura Foods, LLC and The Franklin Shopper and Supporting Sponsor R. Perry Fence Co., LLC. More than 25 restaurants will participate with special cuisines, meal deals and daily prizes through Saturday, July 15. Restaurants involved include Big Oak Cafe, Brussel’s Café, Fiesta Maya, Fox’s Pizza Den, GearHouse Brewing Co., Hickory Ridge Restaurant, Kenny’s Grill & Ice Cream, Ledo Pizza, Meadows Frozen Custard of Chambersburg, Veroni Café andothers. For a full list of restaurants and contest information, visit Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW.
Saturday’s events will also include the 19th Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial 1-Mile Race/Walk beginning at 7 a.m. at Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) Upper Concession Stand. Scoop-a-Palooza, the popular all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, will also be at CASHS that day from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Other ChambersFest activities throughout the week include North Square Farmers Market, Totem Pole Playhouse presents: Annie: The Musical, Franklin County Historical Society’s “Stanley Company” exhibit, tours of WellSpan Health’s Mobile Mammography Coach and more.
Finally, the festival will culminate Saturday, July 15, with the largest events of the week: Old Market Day and 1864: The Burning.
Old Market Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will fill the streets of downtown with music, food, arts and crafts. The day features more than 150 craft and food vendors, on-stage entertainment and other activities. Later that evening will be the final round of the A Cappella & Unplugged music competition as well as the popular military re-enactment light show: 1864: The Burning.
ChambersFest began in 1986 when local organizations came together to create a festival commemorating the town’s rebirth after its burning on July 30, 1864. On that fateful day, Chambersburg became the only town north of the Mason-Dixon line to be burned by Confederates during the Civil War. More than 500 structures were destroyed and 2,000 people left homeless. The townspeople were resilient, however, and rebuilt the town, which enabled Chambersburg to grow and prosper.
Today, ChambersFest celebrates the spirit of the townspeople with fun, family-friendly events. View the entire schedule of events at Chambersburg.org/ChambersFest. For questions about ChambersFest, please call the Chamber at 717-264-7101.
ChambersFest events are coordinated by a variety of organizations, including the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Council, Franklin County Visitors Bureau, North Square Farmers Market, Chambersburg Chamber Foundation and others.
Special thanks to the ChambersFest Corporate Sponsors: Everence Financial, The Franklin Shopper, VerStandig Media and WellSpan Health.
We would also like to thank our Premier Sponsors: Chambersburg Area Development Corp., Salzmann Hughes, P.C. Law Firm, SunnyHill Properties, Inc., Valley Agency Insurance and Penn National Insurance as well as Benefactor Sponsor Community State Bank and Contributor Sponsors Mercy House of Chambersburg and R. Perry Fence Co., LLC.
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CHAMBERSFEST 2023 – Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 8 – Saturday, July 15
Restaurant Week
Back by popular demand, the 7th Annual ChambersFest Restaurant Week will feature unique cuisines and specials to showcase the best in dining. More than 25 restaurants are expected to participate with special meals, deals and prizes for patrons.
Details: Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW. Presented by Penn National Insurance
Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, July 9
19th Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial 1-Mile Race
7 – 10 a.m. – Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS).
Registration begins at 7 a.m. in the upper stadium area, with the women’s race/walk at 8 a.m. and the men’s race/walk at 8:30 a.m. Money raised from this event is contributed to the Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Scholarship Fund, which annually awards scholarships to two seniors from CASHS. Registration is $25 with a T-shirt (if available).
Details: chambersburg.org/chambersfest/ or call 717-264-7101
Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce
Scoop-a-Palooza
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) Cafeteria.
The Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation’s yearly ice cream festival returns on July 8! Sponsored by ACNB Bank, the festivities will include ice cream tastings, activities for kids, human sundae event and more!
Details: ScoopAPalooza.org
Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation
Saturdays July 8 & 15
North Square Farmers Market
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Downtown Chambersburg.
Enjoy Chambersburg’s only open-air farmers market offering farm fresh, seasonal and 100% locally grown produce. Products exclusively from local farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs in a fun, social atmosphere as well as kids’ activities, live music and more.
Details: NorthSquareFarmersMarket.com
Coordinated by North Square Farmers Market
July 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15
Totem Pole Playhouse presents: Annie: The Musical
Various times – 9555 Golf Course Road, Fayetteville.
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC.
Get tickets: TotemPolePlayhouse.org
Coordinated by Totem Pole Playhouse
Sunday, July 9
Summer Concert Series: Mercy Run
7 p.m. – Chambersburg Memorial Park, 1 Washabaugh Way, Chambersburg.
Gather at the Chambersburg Memorial Park Kiwanis Bandshell to enjoy this free southern gospel concert. This is a smoke-free environment; please bring lawn chairs, blankets, food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Coordinated by Chambersburg Recreation Department.
Tuesday, July 11 – Saturday, July 15
Franklin County Historical Society “Stanley Company” Exhibit
Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – The Old Franklin County Jail, 175 East King Street, Chambersburg.
The Franklin County Historical Society invites you to view the new “Stanley Company” Exhibit. For large groups or questions, call 717-264-1667 or visit franklinhistorical.org.
Coordinated by the Franklin County Historical Society.
Wednesday, July 12
Mobile Mammography by WellSpan Health
8 a.m. – 4 p.m., 62 South Central Avenue, Chambersburg.
WellSpan’s Mobile Mammography Coach will be available for tours all day in the parking lot beside The Shook Home. Screenings will not be offered this day, but community members are invited to tour the coach.
Details: Contact Colleen Hunt at [email protected] or 717-818-0807.
Coordinated by WellSpan Health.
Thursday, July 13
Summer Concert Series: HoBoLa
7 p.m. – Chambersburg Memorial Park, 1 Washabaugh Way, Chambersburg.
Gather at the Chambersburg Memorial Park Kiwanis Bandshell to enjoy this free classic rock-n-roll concert! This is a smoke-free environment; please bring lawn chairs, blankets, food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Coordinated by Chambersburg Recreation Department.
Saturday, July 15
Old Market Day
9 a.m. to 4 p.m – Downtown Chambersburg.
Enjoy this free, family event! Hundreds of art, artisans, craft vendors, food trucks and community organizations will line the streets of downtown. Come join the fun!
Details: www.facebook.com/events/625223169146498
Coordinated by the Downtown Business Council of Chambersburg.
Free Tours of Historical Rose Rent Church and Stained-Glass Window Presentation
Tours: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Stained Glass Window Presentation: 1 p.m. – Zion Reformed United Church of Christ, 259 South Main St., Chambersburg.
Zion was formed in 1778 and the current building dates to 1811 and has many of the original features. It is included on the National Historical register. The tour will include the Sunday School/Fellowship Hall with many memorial plaques, paintings and the cemetery map and the Sanctuary with the Minister’s Memorial Plaque as well as other memorials, the 1813 Crystal Chandelier and the 1883 Stained Glass Windows. There are many displays throughout the church and information will also be provided on the cemetery. View the stained-glass windows with a special tour guide at 1 p.m.
Details: bit.ly/3NSvzKj
Franklin County Historical Society – Book Signing
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – The Old Franklin County Jail, 175 East King Street, Chambersburg.
The Franklin County Historical Society invites you to visit the Old Jail on Old Market Day. Carlton Bigler and Ann Hull will be signing their new book: “The Way We Were…Continues”. For large groups or questions, call 717-264-1667 or visit franklinhistorical.org.
Details: FranklinHistorical.org
Coordinated by Franklin Co. Historical Society.
Council for the Arts, Foundry Art Market and Northwood Books Extended Hours
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Downtown Chambersburg.
Visit Council for the Arts, Foundry Art Market and Northwood Books during Old Market Day for extended hours!
Train Rides at Norlo Park
1 – 4 p.m. at 3050 Lincoln Way East, Fayetteville.
Ride the miniature train complete with a cattle car and caboose. Last train boards at 3:50 p.m. Open to riders of all ages; donations accepted.
Coordinated by Cumberland Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.
A Cappella & Unplugged Finals
7 p.m. – 11/30 Visitors Center.
The Final Round of A Cappella & Unplugged will be taking place before the 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth Reenactment in Downtown Chambersburg! The winner of the audience vote will receive $500 and perform 2 additional songs before the reenactment. Join us for a fun night of entertainment!
Details: ExploreFranklinCountyPa.com/acappella-unplugged
Coordinated by Franklin Co. Visitors Bureau.
1864: The Burning Reenactment
9 – 10 p.m. – Downtown Chambersburg.
As darkness approaches, the town will transform to 1864 and the story of the town’s ransoming, burning and rebirth will come to life with incredible light and atmospheric effects.
