CHAMBERSBURG – Delicious food, family activities, ice cream, history and so much more is planned for the 39th Annual ChambersFest from July 12 to 19 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 Re-enactment, history exhibits, live music and more.
“ChambersFest is a powerful reminder of what makes our community special. It takes the dedication and collaboration of many organizations and volunteers to bring this celebration to life each year,” said Steve Christian, president of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. “We’re proud to celebrate our history, culture and local businesses with a week full of events that showcase the best of Chambersburg.”
ChambersFest will start on Saturday, July 12 with the ninth Annual Restaurant Week sponsored by Signature Sponsor Penn National Insurance and Platinum Sponsor The Franklin Shopper. More than 20 restaurants will participate with special cuisines, meal deals and daily prizes through Saturday, July 19.
Restaurants involved include Affinity Café, Big Oak Café, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, Falafel Shack, GearHouse Brewing Co., Hickory Ridge Restaurant, Kenny’s Grill & Ice Cream, Montezuma Mexican Restaurant (both Chambersburg locations), The Orchards Restaurant, Screaming Bambino Cellars, Veroni Café, Waffles & Shine Powered by Cold Spring Hollow Distillery and others. For a full list of restaurants and contest information, readers may visit Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW.
Saturday’s events will also include the 21st Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial 1-Mile Race/Walk beginning at 7 a.m. at Chambersburg Area Senior High School Upper Concession Stand. Scoop-a-Palooza, the popular all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, will also be at the high school that day from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Other ChambersFest activities throughout the week include North Square Farmers Market, The 39 Steps at Totem Pole Playhouse and the 21st Anniversary Sale at the Chambersburg Heritage Center.
Finally, the festival finale on Saturday, July 19, will conclude with the largest events of the week: Old Market Day and 1864: The Burning Re-enactment.
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. The Cumberland Valley School of Music Summer Camps will perform starting at 9 a.m. on the courthouse steps. Later that evening will be the final round of the Acappella & 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, Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation and others.
Special thanks to the ChambersFest Corporate Sponsors: Live & Work at Central, Rose Rent Lofts, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Mont Alto, Penn State York, Teflon Roofing, Tommy’s Express Car Wash, The Franklin Shopper, Ventura Foods, VerStandig Media and WellSpan Health.
We would also like to thank our Premier Sponsors: Chambersburg Area Development Corp., Patriot Federal Credit Union, Salzmann Hughes, P.C. Law Firm, Valley Agency Company and Penn National Insurance. We’d also like to thank Benefactor Sponsor Impressive Aesthetics and Wellness.
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CHAMBERSFEST 2025 – Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 12 – Saturday, July 19
Restaurant Week
Back by popular demand, the 9th Annual ChambersFest Restaurant Week will feature unique cuisines and specials to showcase the best in dining. More than 20 restaurants are expected to participate with special meals, deals and prizes for patrons.
Details about the restaurant list and specials at Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW.
Presented by Penn National Insurance. Thanks to Platinum Sponsor The Franklin Shopper for your support. Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday, July 12
21st Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Race
July 12, 7 – 10 a.m., Chambersburg
Participate in the 21st Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial 1-Mile Race/Walk. Registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) 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. Day-of registration is $25 with a T-shirt (if available). Register here or call 717-264-7101.
Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce.
Scoop-a-Palooza
10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) Cafeteria.
The Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation’s yearly ice cream festival returns on July 12! Sponsored by ACNB Bank, the festivities will include ice cream tastings, activities for kids, music, Scoop Scientists kids’ activity, human sundae event and more!
Details: ScoopAPalooza.org
Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation
Saturdays July 12 & 19
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 14-18
21st Anniversary Sale at Chambersburg Heritage Center
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. 100 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg
Come celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the Chambersburg Heritage Center & Gift Shop! All week long the entire gift shop is 20% off! Find Chambersburg memorabilia, t-shirts, postcards, keychains and more. Remember to leave enough time to explore the free interactive museum. Learn more at Chambersburg.org/HeritageCenter.
Coordinated by Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce
July 18 & 19
The 39 Steps at Totem Pole Playhouse
The 39 Steps – Framed for murder and on the run, Richard Hannay faces plot twists galore in this parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film. Four actors! Fifty characters! One riotous farce!
Get tickets: TotemPolePlayhouse.org. Coordinated by Totem Pole Playhouse.
Saturday, July 19
Old Market Day presented by F&M Trust
July 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Downtown Chambersburg’s Main Street
Enjoy this free, family event in Downtown Chambersburg from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of art, artisans, craft vendors, food trucks and community organizations will line the streets of downtown. Come join the fun!
More information: www.facebook.com/OldMarketDay
Coordinated by the Downtown Business Council of Chambersburg.
Local Musical Performances
July 19 starting at 9 a.m., Franklin County Courthouse Steps, 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg
The Cumberland Valley School of Music Summer Camps will perform starting at 9 a.m. on the courthouse steps. CVSM will present Sam’s Camp in collaboration with the Chambersburg Memorial YMCA. Students from the Voice and Drama Camps will also perform scenes and songs from Frozen.
Northwood Books Special Hours & Sale
July 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 59 N. Main St., Chambersburg
Visit Northwood Books for a special sale – 10% off espionage books and modern first editions! The 50 Illuminated Manuscripts Book will be available for sale, which Ami can autograph! Hidden within its pages is a worldwide treasure hunt – the treasure is an estimated $5,000 value! Northwood Books will have extended hours on Old Market Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Coordinated by Northwood Books. Details at northwoodbooks.com.
Franklin County Historical Society: Old Jail Graffiti – Stories from the Walls
July 19, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Old Jail, 175 East King St., Chambersburg
Join the historical society as they open a new exhibit: Old Jail Graffiti – Stories from the Walls. This event is free and open to the public. Details at FranklinHistorical.org.
Coordinated by the Franklin County Historical Society.
Acappella & Unplugged Finals
July 19, Franklin County Courthouse, 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
The Final Round of Acappella & 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!
More information: www.explorefranklincountypa.com/acappella-unplugged
Coordinated by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.
Burning of Chambersburg Reenactment
July 19, Courthouse Plaza, 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg, 8:45 p.m./Dusk
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. A variety of activities will lead up to the reenactment of the Burning of Chambersburg light show.
More information: www.explorefranklincountypa.com
Coordinated by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.
