Join the City of Harrisburg for the 108th annual Kipona Festival on August 31 – September 2, 2024. The 3-day event will feature a Family Fun Zone, Multicultural Celebration, Native American Pow-Wow, fireworks, live music, Art in the Park, food trucks, beer/wine garden, and more.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
– August 31: 11am-8pm
– September 1: 11am-8pm (*fireworks at 8:15pm)
– September 2: 11am-6pm
Check back in mid-August for the full schedule of all activities
PARKING/TRANSIT:
– Street parking is FREE on Sunday and Monday. On Saturday, use the code LUVHBG to receive 4 hours of free street parking in the Downtown area.
– $5 parking on City Island
– The Market Square Garage is discounted to $10 from 10am-10pm courtesy of Park Harrisburg.
– The train station is a short 3 block walk away.
ROAD CLOSURES
– Front Street will be closed from Forster to Walnut from 9am Friday, August 30 until midnight on Monday, September 2
– From 7-9pm on Sunday, September 1:
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- West Shore traffic will be able to enter & exit the City Island parking lot but will NOT be able to access Front Street via the Market Street Bridge.
- East Shore traffic will NOT be able to access Market Street from 2nd Street to the West Shore.
- Traffic will not be able to access Front Street from Walnut Street from 8:15-9pm.
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SPONSORS:
Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Explore HBG, PHFA, Capital Blue Cross, UPMC, T-Mobile, American Remodeling/Epoxy Floor Experts, Leaf Filter, Green Mountain Energy, Renewal By Andersen, Sundance Vacations, Wireless Nation-Verizon Wireless Zone, Park Harrisburg
FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL:
FESTIVAL FAVORITES
NATIVE AMERICAN POW-WOW
This annual tradition features Native foods, crafts, dances, music and more on City Island. There will be a flutist, Aztec Fire Dancers, intertribal and specialty dancing, Candy Dance, Iroquois social dancing and more.
MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION
A wide variety of cultures will be highlighted through performances, demonstrations, and vendor booths. This area will be located in Riverfront Park between Market and Walnut Streets.
Interested in participating in the Multicultural Celebration? Contact [email protected]
BUBBLE FESTIVAL
Attendees of all ages are invited to join Grandpop Bubbles as he creates the biggest bubbles you will ever see – some as large as 70 feet! There will also be a variety of wands and plenty of bubble juice for everyone to have a day of bubble fun!
PHFA FIREWORKS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 | 8:15PM
Enjoy watching the PHFA fireworks display illuminate the Susquehanna River waterfront. The show will begin at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday, September 1. The optimal viewing area for the show is along Riverfront Park between Walnut & Forster Streets, but the show will be visible from miles of space along the park and other locations throughout the City as well.
FAMILY FUN ZONE
The UPMC Family Fun Zone will feature free activities for the whole family in Riverfront Park near Forster Street. Enjoy face painting, balloon animals, entertainers, a bubbles festival on Monday, and much more! Check back closer to the event for a list of daily attractions and entertainers.
EVERYDAY
- FREE face painting & balloon animals
- Pay-to-play carnival games, sand art, and a giant fun slide
- Pay-to-play activities on City Island including the railroad, mini golf, Pride of the Susquehanna, and Harrisburg Beach Club
LIVE MUSIC
Enjoy performances from 17 local bands and musicians at the Capital Blue Cross stage located beside Liberty Street. We will also have bands and dance groups performing in the Multicultural Celebration stage near Market Street.
ART IN THE PARK
FOOD & BEVERAGE
FOOD TRUCKS
A variety of food trucks will be on-site serving festival favorites such as funnel cakes, fresh cut fries, sausages, cheesesteaks, burgers, freshly squeezed lemonade, gyros and more.
BEER & WINE GARDEN
Enjoy a beer from City breweries and wine from local wineries along the riverfront while listening to live music.
EXPLORE THE CITY
CITY ISLAND
Plan a day of family fun on City Island! Take a ride on the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat, play a round of mini golf, tour the island aboard the City Railroad or enjoy a snack from Cafe Huey on their riverside deck. The island is also home to the Harrisburg Senators baseball team.
MURAL TRAIL
Harrisburg has 40+ murals to help brighten your day and boost your spirits. Explore Sprocket Muralwork’s Harrisburg Mural Trail to get a little inspiration, morale boost, and good old fashioned exercise. Get the map at www.sprocketmuralworks.com.
VISIT HERSHEY HARRISBURG ADVENTURE TRAIL
The VHH Adventure Trail highlights outdoor experiences for Hiking, Biking, Kayaking and Family Fun. Go for a stroll on the scenic 21 miles of the Capital Area Greenbelt, explore 8 trails at Wildwood Park, paddle along the Susquehanna River or head just outside the City for more adventures.
View all stops on the VHH Adventure Trail at visithersheyharrisburg.org
BREW BARONS BEER TRAIL
Participate in an interactive craft beer adventure in Harrisburg & Hershey. The trail features over 20 breweries, including 3 that are in the City. Be sure to download the Brew Barons Beer Trail app on your phone and check in as you visit each brewery to earn prizes. For full details, visit www.visithersheyharrisburg.org/things-to-do/beer-trails. See below for a list of breweries in the City.
Appalachian Brewing Company | Boneshire Taps at SOMA | The Millworks | The Vegetable Hunter | Zeroday Brewing Co.
SWEET TREAT TRAIL
Satisfy your sweet tooth by visiting more than 20 sweet locations in Harrisburg and Hershey, including 5 in the City. Check in to 8 locations online to earn a free Hershey’s drawstring bag. Learn more at https://www.visithersheyharrisburg.org/trails/sweet-treat-trail
PLAN YOUR STAY
With so much to see and experience at the event and throughout the City, consider staying for the weekend to maximize your visit. View nearby hotels and bed and breakfasts in the City at www.explorehbg.com/stay
SPONSORS
The City of Harrisburg relies on community partners to produce the Kipona Festival. This event will offer exposure to a diverse crowd of local residents and regional visitors alike. Please review the sponsorship packet and contact Cortney Ranck-Cameron at [email protected] for more information about sponsorship opportunities.
PRESENTING SPONSOR: VISIT HERSHEY & HARRISBURG
MARKETING SPONSOR: EXPLORE HARRISBURG
FIREWORKS SPONSOR: PHFA
FAMILY FUN ZONE SPONSOR: UPMC
STAGE SPONSOR: CAPITAL BLUE CROSS
SUPPORTING SPONSOR: T-MOBILE
COMMUNITY SPONSOR: AMERICAN REMODELING / EPOXY FLOOR EXPERTS
COMMUNITY SPONSOR: GREEN MOUNTAIN ENERGY
COMMUNITY SPONSOR: LEAF FILTER
COMMUNITY SPONSOR: SUNDANCE VACATIONS
COMMUNITY SPONSOR: RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
WIRELESS NATION – VERIZON WIRELESS ZONE
PARKING SPONSOR: PARK HARRISBURG
VENDORS
If you are interested in being a vendor at the event and are not on our vendor communications list, please complete the online vendor interest form here.
The 2024 art vendor application is not yet available. Please check back.
The 2024 food vendor application is not yet available. Please check back.
The 2024 specialty food vendor application is not yet available. Please check back.
The 2024 non-profit vendor application is not yet available. Please check back.
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