CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — The Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce and community partners are preparing to celebrate the 40th Annual ChambersFest, a weeklong celebration of local history, culture, food and family fun taking place July 11 through 18 throughout the greater Chambersburg area.
For four decades, ChambersFest has brought the community together to celebrate the resilience and spirit of Chambersburg through a variety of events, activities, and experiences for all ages. This year’s celebration will feature returning favorites including Restaurant Week, Scoop-a-Palooza, the Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Race, Old Market Day, 1864: The Burning Re-enactment, live music, history exhibits and much more.
“ChambersFest is a celebration of the people, businesses and organizations that make our community unique,” said Nikki Howells, marketing manager of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. “Reaching 40 years is a remarkable milestone, and we are grateful for the volunteers, sponsors and partners who continue to make this event possible each year. ChambersFest showcases our history while creating new memories for generations to come.”
The festivities will begin Saturday, July 11 with the 10th Annual Restaurant Week. Local restaurants will participate through Saturday, July 18, offering special menu items, dining deals, and opportunities to win daily prizes. A complete list of participating restaurants and contest details is available at Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW.
Saturday’s opening events will also include the 22nd Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial 1 Mile Race/Walk beginning at 7 a.m. at Chambersburg Area Senior High School. Scoop-a-Palooza, the popular all you can eat ice cream festival, will return to CASHS from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., featuring ice cream from local vendors and fun activities for the entire family.
Additional ChambersFest events include North Square Farmers Market, live entertainment at the Spring Street Amphitheater by the Cumberland Valley School of Music, new book signings at the Franklin County Historical Society, Oscar & Felix, The New Look at the Odd Couple at Totem Pole Playhouse, horse and wagon rides, Fandom Fest, and special activities all day at the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.
The celebration will conclude Saturday, July 18, with two of ChambersFest’s largest events. Old Market Day will take place downtown from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring more than 150 craft and food vendors, entertainment, music and family activities. That evening, visitors can experience the final round of the Acappella & Unplugged music competition followed by 1864: The Burning Re-enactment, a powerful historical presentation remembering Chambersburg’s Civil War history.
ChambersFest began in 1986 as a way for local organizations to commemorate the rebuilding of Chambersburg following the Confederate burning of the town on July 30, 1864. More than 500 structures were destroyed and approximately 2,000 residents were left homeless. The determination of the community helped rebuild Chambersburg and shape the thriving community it is today.
Today, ChambersFest honors that same spirit through a celebration that highlights local businesses, organizations, history and community pride. A full schedule of events is available at Chambersburg.org/ChambersFest.
ChambersFest events are coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Council, Franklin County Visitors Bureau, North Square Farmers Market, Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation, Franklin County Historical Society, and other community partners.
Special thanks to the ChambersFest Corporate Sponsors: Chambersburg Area Development Corp., McAlister’s Deli, Teflon Roofing, The Franklin Shopper, VerStandig Media, and WellSpan Health.
Restaurant Week Signature Sponsor: Penn National Insurance, Premier Sponsor: Ventura Foods and Supporting Sponsor: Stacy Mellott Group.
For more information about ChambersFest, visit Chambersburg.org/ChambersFest or call the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce at 717-264-7101.
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CHAMBERSFEST 2026 – Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 11 – Saturday, July 18
Restaurant Week
More than 20 local restaurants showcasing special cuisines, meal deals and prizes for patrons all week long! See reverse for details. Presented by Penn National Insurance.
Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW
Oscar & Felix, The New Look at the Odd Couple at Totem Pole Playhouse
Brace yourself for uproarious laughter as Totem Pole Playhouse presents Oscar and Felix: A New Look at The Odd Couple—a fresh and spirited take on Neil Simon’s classic comedy. Get tickets: TotemPolePlayhouse.org. Coordinated by Totem Pole Playhouse.
Saturday, July 11
22nd Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial 1-Mile Race
7 – 9:30 a.m. – CASHS Upper Concession Stand. Proceeds provide scholarships to students at CASHS. Day-of registration is $25. 7 a.m. registration at CASHS Upper Concessions Stand; 8 a.m. Women’s/Girls’ Race/Walk; 8:30 a.m. Men’s/Boys’ Race/ Walk; 9:30 a.m. Results Ceremony.
Details: CVBAlliance.org/Events.
Scoop-a-Palooza
10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – CASHS Cafeteria. Scoop-a-Palooza, the Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation’s yearly ice cream festival, returns July 11 at Chambersburg Area Senior High School cafeteria. The festivities will include ice cream tastings, activities for kids, human sundae event, Scoop Scientists kids’ activity and more! Tickets available at the door! Learn more at ScoopAPalooza.org. Presented by ACNB Bank.
North Square Farmers Market
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Downtown Chambersburg at Chambers Fort Park. Enjoy Chambersburg’s only open-air farmers market offering farm-fresh, seasonal and 100 percent locally grown produce. NorthSquareFarmersMarket.com.
July 13 – 17
22nd Anniversary Sale at Chambersburg Heritage Center
8 a.m. – 1 p.m., 100 Lincoln Way E., Chambersburg.
All week long the entire gift shop is 20 percent 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.
Saturday, July 18
North Square Farmers Market
8 – 12 p.m. – Downtown Chambersburg at Chambers Fort Park. Enjoy Chambersburg’s only open-air farmers market offering farm-fresh, seasonal and 100 percent locally grown produce. NorthSquareFarmersMarket.com.
Old Market Day presented by F&M Trust
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Downtown Chambersburg. Free street festival featuring art, craft and food vendors, kids’ activities and on-stage entertainment. Thousands expected to attend! Facebook.com/OldMarketDay.
Coordinated by the Downtown Business Council.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB)
9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. – 15 S. Main St., Chambersburg. Enjoy a children’s area with activities, puppet theatre, and ball pit; a chance to win the Franklin Fresh basket of goodies; self-guided walking tours with historic post cards to recreate the history; Bell Across PA Liberty Bell, and an America250PA Franklin County exhibit. Details at: ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com Coordinated by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau
Local Musical Performances
Starts at 9 a.m. – Spring Street Amphitheater, Chambersburg. The Cumberland Valley School of Music Summer Camps 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 Annie. Cvsmusic.org. Coordinated by the Cumberland Valley School of Music.
Fandom Fest 2026 – 14 N. Main St. Chambersburg
9 a.m. Come one, come all as we invite mermaids, heroes, explorers of stars and more to downtown Chambersburg for the 4th Annual Fandom Fest! Join us with artist vendors, costume contests, photo ops,
Lightsaber Training and more at this FREE event for the entire family. Celebrate and enjoy all the things we are fans of! From space explorers, dinosaurs, superheroes, fairytales, and beyond!
Northwood Books Special Hours & Sale
9 a.m. to 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! More details at NorthwoodBooks.com.
Franklin County Historical Society Book Signings 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Old Jail, 175 E. King St., Chambersburg.Stop by the Franklin County Historical Society for a first-hand look at two new books on our local heritage, Homes of Franklin County Patriots by Ann Hull and Along the Way: The Chambersburg Chronicles by Carlton Bigler. FranklinHistorical.org. Coordinated by Franklin Co. Historical Society.
Evening Horse and Wagon Rides
Memorial Fountain, Downtown Chambersburg. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Rides are free, loading northwest of fountain. Ride is approximately ten minutes. Coordinated by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.
Acappella & Unplugged Finals
6 – 8:30 p.m. – Franklin County Courthouse Plaza, 14 North Main St., Chambersburg. 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! ExploreFranklinCountyPa.com. Coordinated by Franklin Co. Visitors Bureau.
1864: The Burning of Chambersburg Reenactment
8:45 p.m. – Dusk – Downtown Chambersburg. As darkness approaches, the town will transform to 1864 and the story of the town’s ransom, burning, and rebirth will come to life with incredible light and atmospheric effects. Details: ExploreFranklinCountyPa.com. Coordinated by the Franklin Co. Visitors Bureau.
