As autumn’s kaleidoscope unfurls its fiery palette over southern Pennsylvania, Greencastle’s Fall Fest 2025 promises a harvest of high-octane hijinks at the American Legion Picnic Grounds, 4775 Williamson Road. The three-day extravaganza, running Friday through Sunday, Oct. 24-26, draws crowds with more than 15 food trucks slinging seasonal bites, 150 retail vendors hawking crafts and curios, a frothy beer garden, a gleaming car show, carnival rides courtesy of Snyder’s Attractions, daring helicopter jaunts, whimsical face painting, pony rides for the little ones and sundry surprises—all gratis to boot. Organized by local enthusiasts to kindle community spirit amid the crisp harvest hush, the event transforms the grounds into a whirlwind of fall frolic.
When clowns trade their red noses for sinister sneers, even the bravest souls might honk in fear. The Franklin County Historical Society-Kittochtinny is resurrecting its spine-tingling Haunted Jail attraction, featuring the return of malevolent clowns for Halloween 2025, on Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, at its historic site, 175 E. King St., Chambersburg. Doors creak open at 7 p.m. each night—arrive by 9:15 p.m. to snag your spot—with $10 admission per person funding the society’s preservation efforts amid the eerie festivities.
In a town where emerald ambitions run high, Chambersburg’s newest stage is set to enchant with a free outdoor screening of the spellbinding musical “Wicked” on Friday, Oct. 24, at the freshly unveiled Spring Street Amphitheater, 59 Lincoln Way W. Novel Reels—a collaborative venture of the Franklin County Library System, Mission Solved Inc. and Ghost Writer LLC—presents the gravity-defying spectacle starting at 6:30 p.m. with a costume contest offering prizes for all ages, followed by the film’s kickoff at 6:45 p.m. and complimentary books and snacks for attendees, all to foster community spirit in a nod to Oz’s timeless allure; the event, sponsored by Downtown Chambersburg and the Franklin County Community Foundation, requires adult accompaniment for children in fifth grade and under amid limited seating.
In Hagerstown, where even the dogs are plotting world domination one fetch at a time, the City of Hagerstown hosts its 13th Annual Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Parade on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fairgrounds Park, 351 N. Cleveland Ave., to celebrate spooky season with tail-wagging flair and community spirit. Pet owners can pre-register their pooches for $10 online until noon Friday at hagerstownmd.org/750/Dog-Costume-Parade, snagging a goodie bag for the first 50 entrants, or sign up on-site for $15 starting at 10 a.m. near the dog park—credit cards preferred, with exact cash or checks payable to the City of Hagerstown accepted. Expect a parade packed with prizes for the best-dressed pups, plus pet vendors and activities to keep the fun fetching all afternoon; for details, readers may call 301-739-8577, ext. 169, or email [email protected].
When feathers fly and fiddles wail under the cover of dusk, the Alsatia Mummers will strut their stuff in one of the East Coast’s grandest nighttime spectacles. The annual Mummer’s Parade, a vibrant celebration of community groups and their local legacies, marches through downtown Hagerstown along North and South Potomac streets on Saturday, Oct. 25, drawing families to honor tradition with a twist of Halloween flair. Kicking off at 4:30 p.m. with free trick-or-treating and kid-friendly activities, the procession officially steps out at 6 p.m., offering free roadside viewing or reserved seating tickets available through the Maryland Theatre. More details await at facebook.com/AlsatiaMummersParade.
