Kipona Festival

GIANT PUPPET PARADE

Saturday, September 5 at 2:45pm
(rain date is Sunday, September 6 at 2:45pm)

Craft a water themed costume or giant puppet to show off as you march through the parade route. Examples include a fish, narwhal, sea shell, jellyfish, otter, or even a river monster! You can create a simple mask, full body costume, decorate a bike or wagon to pull your child in – the possibilities are endless! All costumes and sculptures should be handmade. We encourage you to be as creative as possible!

There will be cash prizes for the Best Group, Best Youth (under age 13), and Best Individual (over age 12) entries.

We will commission at least 1 artist to construct a giant puppet that is 15-ft or larger. We will also have a street band join us as we parade through the festival to add to the excitement. 

View a video of our 2024 event here. 

FOLLOW THE 2025 FACEBOOK EVENT

Sign-ups Coming Soon!

FIREWORKS SHOW

Sunday, September 6 at 8:10pm

Look to the sky for fireworks show on Sunday, September 6 at 8:10pm. The show can be viewed best from Riverfront Park and the lower riverwalk between Walnut-Forster Street. If you plan to watch from a watercraft, please position yourself near the Walnut Street Bridge or on the north side of State Street.  Our water safety teams will be on-site to direct you accordingly.

Monitor the festival's Facebook event for any weather related changes to schedule.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 - 12 to 5 pm
CITY ISLAND

This annual tradition features Native foods, crafts, dances, music and more on City Island. There will be Iroquois Dancers, hoop dance, MMIW presentations,  performances by the Grey Cloud and Smokey River Singers, story telling, and more.

The 2026 Native American Festival will be coordinated by Five Feathers Productions, a family run Indigenous business.  Patrick ‘Littlewolf’ Brooks is a proud member of the Tuscarora nation, the sixth tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy in upstate New York.  Ashleigh Brooks is a member of Cherokee Nation with Tuscarora roots. Patrick is a decorated 12-year Army veteran having served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with their children, their passion for educating the public about Native culture has taken them to numerous venues to conduct presentations and dance programs to audiences of all ages sharing the history and culture of Indigenous Americans and First Nations People. Patrick is an accomplished dancer and has served as a member of the head staff at several Native gatherings. Patrick is also a 6th generation flute player following in his family's footsteps. The husband and wife duo also design and build regalia items for Native dancers. The work they put into their jewelry, cedar boxes and dance fans reflects their belief that these skills must be passed on to our younger generations in order for the Native culture to survive. As a 3rd generation storyteller, Patrick continues his great, great grandfather’s teachings through the stories he was told as a child. The Brooks family live life as traditionalists and as such they strives to honor their people and ancestors by bringing awareness and understanding to those who want to learn more about the indigenous people of this land.

For vendor and entertainer inquiries, please contact [email protected]. 

A wide variety of cultures will be highlighted through dance and music performances, demonstrations, and vendor booths. This area will be located in Riverfront Park between Locust and Walnut Streets.

Interested in participating in the 2026 Multicultural Celebration? Contact [email protected].

FOLLOW THE 2025 FACEBOOK EVENT

Keystone Dock Dogs returns to the Kipona Festival! There is no experience necessary and dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds and ages (above 6 months) are welcome to participate. New to DockDogs? Learn more and sign up to compete at dockdogs.com

Want to participate? Registration is now open! Please register at this link!

VIEW THE 2025 FACEBOOK EVENT

The Family Fun Zone will feature free activities for the whole family in Riverfront Park. Check back closer to the event for a list of daily attractions and entertainers.

EVERYDAY

• FREE face painting & balloon animals
• Pay-to-play activities on City Island including the railroad, mini golf, and Harrisburg Beach Club

SATURDAY

• Several organizations from the community will offer a variety of free activities. There will also be a variety of entertainers and educational demonstrations throughout the day.

SUNDAY

• TBD attraction

MONDAY

• TBD attraction
  

   

  VIEW THE 2025 BUBBLE FESTIVAL FACEBOOK EVENT

Enjoy performances from 15 local bands and musicians at the stage located in Riverfront Park near State Street. We will also have bands and dance groups performing in the Multicultural Celebration stage near Market Street.

Interested in performing at this event in the future? Please submit your interest form here for consideration.

Over 70 artisans will be set up along the riverfront during the festival. Shop a variety of handcrafted items such as jewelry, artwork, apparel, pottery, glassworks, bath and body products, home décor and more.

VIEW THE 2025 FACEBOOK EVENT FOR ARTIST PREVIEWS

FOOD TRUCKS

25 food trucks will be on-site serving festival favorites such as funnel cakes & fresh cut fries along with more unique dining options such as dumplings, mini pancakes,  a wide variety of cultural cuisines, and more.

BEER & WINE GARDEN

Enjoy a beer from City breweries and wine from local wineries along the riverfront while listening to live music.

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.

HARRISBURG ARTS DISTRICT

The Harrisburg Arts District is a walkable area encompassing parts of the Capital City’s downtown, midtown, and riverfront. Explore our art galleries, live music venues, theater performances, public art displays, and more! Learn more at www.visithersheyharrisburg.org/trails/harrisburg-arts-district

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 . Mural pictured above was created by Artist Juuri Robertson.

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 .

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  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 .

The 2026 art vendor application is due Monday, June 1. This application is open to artisans selling handmade items. Buy-sell items are not permitted.

The 2026 food vendor application is due Monday, June 1. This application is for food trucks, trailers, and tents that sell food made on-site to be consumed on-site.

FOOD SAFETY INFO
FOOD OPERATIONS & BEST PRACTICES

The 2026 shopping vendor application is due Monday, June 1. This application is for vendors selling products on-site that can be taken home. Examples include bicycles, apparel, pet care items, etc. This form is not intended for businesses distributing information about services or products available outside the festival, which would require a sponsorship.

The 2026 specialty food vendor application is due Monday, June 1. This application is for tented vendors selling pre-made, pre-packaged items not necessarily meant to be consumed on-site. Examples include baked goods, bottled sauces, loose-leaf tea, etc.

The 2026 non-profit vendor application is due Monday, June 1. This application is for groups with 501(c)(3) status.