In a season where the only thing sweeter than holiday lights is the promise of free cocoa, Chambersburg’s downtown businesses will host the annual Cocoa Crawl on Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. along Main Street. The family-friendly stroll invites participants to sample steaming mugs of cocoa, fresh-baked cookies and other festive treats at local shops and pop-up spots, all while soaking in the twinkling ambiance of the borough’s historic core. Attendees collect stamps on voting sheets at each stop to enter a drawing for gift cards redeemable at participating venues, blending community cheer with support for small enterprises.
St. Rita’s Catholic Church will host Kringlefest 2025 as a community holiday extravaganza at the Blue Ridge Fire Hall in Blue Ridge Summit to spread seasonal cheer through local artisans and festive fare. The event runs Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., boasting 23 holiday craft vendors, fresh wreaths, small and medium table arrangements, fresh baked goods and a nostalgic display called Christmas Past, with food purchases from Cracken Catering and live entertainment by MountainAire.
The Waynesboro Area YMCA is spreading cheer with its annual Holiday Craft Show on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local vendors will hawk handmade treasures perfect for Christmas stocking stuffers, drawing shoppers to support small businesses and snag community-sourced goodies at no admission cost. Proceeds from vendor fees fuel the YMCA’s “Partner with Youth” program, which aids over 350 financially challenged individuals annually with memberships and activities, embodying the nonprofit’s mission to ensure no one sits out the fun for lack of funds. Attendees can refuel at the Y Cafe concession, snag facility tours from staff eager to spotlight recent upgrades and upcoming events, and learn why, as one organizer put it, “we think it’s important to support all the local vendors and that we support each other and the small businesses.” For more ways to join the cause, visit waynesboroymca.org.
Inaugural free Winter Wonderland Carnival, will be transforming Green Grove Gardens into a snowy playground of holiday cheer. The family-friendly extravaganza, designed to spark joy, unfolds Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1032 Buchanan Trail E. in Greencastle, boasting 19 interactive stations from meeting Santa and indoor snow games to temporary tattoos, Christmas movies and food vendors galore. For details, check the team’s Facebook page.
Williamsport residents are gearing up for a festive weekend of holiday events that unite the community in seasonal cheer. The annual Celebration of Trees kicks off Saturdays and Sundays in December at the Springfield Barn on 12 Springfield Lane, featuring more than 150 trees adorned by local families, businesses and organizations, alongside visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, light displays, photo opportunities, hot cocoa, reindeer treats and wagon rides; new this year, an expanded area extends to the Manor House with vendors and children’s activities. The Williamsport Christkindlmarkt, an outdoor German-style market benefiting a shoe drive for children and young adults, runs Friday through Sunday at Kelly Moore Sheds & Marketplace on 17051 Virginia Avenue, with $5 admission granting access to over 30 vendors offering handcrafts, gifts and food amid live music from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Capping off Friday, the beloved Christmas Parade rolls through town at 7 p.m., culminating in a free lighting ceremony at Byron Memorial Park on 11 Park Road, complete with floats, music and calls for community participants via email to foster holiday spirit for all ages.
