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, live music, Art in the Park, food trucks, beer/wine garden, a Giant Puppet Parade, Keystone Dock Dogs competition, and more.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
– August 31 & September 1: 11am-7pm
– September 2: 11am-6pm
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 9am-9pm 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
SPONSORS:
Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Explore HBG, Capital Blue Cross, UPMC, Focal Point Remodeling, Aetna Better Health, T-Mobile, 58 Foundations & Waterproofing, American Remodeling/Epoxy Floor Experts, AT&T, Green Mountain Energy, Harrisburg Academy, Leaf Filter, On Point Health Services, Penn State College of Medicine, Renewal By Andersen, Sundance Vacations, That 1 Painter, Trinity Solar, Wireless Nation-Verizon Wireless Zone, Park Harrisburg
FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL:
NEW ATTRACTIONS & FESTIVAL FAVORITES
GIANT PUPPET PARADE
September 1 | 2:30pm
You are invited to our inaugural Giant Puppet Parade during the Kipona Festival! Craft a water themed costume or kinetic sculpture 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! Those interested in participating should meet on the lower riverwalk below the Walnut Street Bridge by 3:45pm on August 31.
Coexist Gallery will offer a $100 cash prize to the Best Group, Best Youth (under age 13), and Best Individual (over age 12).
Our Lead Artist, Jeff Semmerling, is creating a giant Harrisburg River Monster puppet to lead the way. We also plan to have a street band join us as we parade through the festival to add to the excitement. Our event is loosely inspired by the Baltimore Kinetic Race and NOLA’s Giant Puppet Parade initiative. If you want to participate but are unable to craft your own costume, our lead Artist will have extras you can borrow so complete the form below if interested.
Thanks to our sponsors, Coexist Gallery and Art Side Out Art Studio!
KEYSTONE DOCK DOGS
Keystone Dock Dogs is coming 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 by visiting their website: dockdogs.com
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!
The event takes place in the UPMC Family Fun Zone on Monday, September 2 from 11am-5pm.
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.
The event takes place August 31-September 2. Admission is free.
MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION
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.
See the full entertainment lineup and schedule of activities here.
Interested in participating in the 2025 Multicultural Celebration? Contact [email protected]
UPMC FAMILY FUN ZONE
The UPMC Family Fun Zone will feature free activities for the whole family in Riverfront Park near Forster Street. 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, and Harrisburg Beach Club
SATURDAY
- Several organizations from the communtiy will offer a variety of free activities. There will also be a variety of entertainers and educational demonstrations throughout the day.
- See the full schedule here
SUNDAY
- Free Eurobungy and rockwall
MONDAY
- FREE Bubble Festival from 11am-6pm. Watch as Grandpop Bubbles makes bubbles over 30′ long and join is the bubbling fun yourself with custom wands and over 150lbs of magic bubble juice! RSVP to the Facebook event here.
LIVE MUSIC
Enjoy performances from 15 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
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, Indian cuisine, stuffed pretzels, 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
FAMILY FUN ZONE SPONSOR: UPMC
STAGE SPONSOR: CAPITAL BLUE CROSS
SUPPORTING SPONSOR:
FOCAL POINT REMODELING
SUPPORTING SPONSOR:
T-MOBILE
SUPPORTING SPONSOR:
AETNA BETTER HEALTH
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
58 FOUNDATIONS & WATERPROOFING
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
AMERICAN REMODELING / EPOXY FLOOR EXPERTS
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
AT&T
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
GREEN MOUNTAIN ENERGY
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
HARRISBURG ACADEMY
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
LEAF FILTER
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
ON POINT HEALTH SERVICES
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
PENN STATE HEALTH COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
COMMUNITY SPONSOR:
RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN
COMMUNITY SPONSOR: SUNDANCE VACATIONS
COMMUNITY SPONSOR: THAT 1 PAINTER
COMMUNITY SPONSOR: TRINITY SOLAR
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 due Wednesday, June 5. This application is open to artisans selling handmade items. Buy-sell items are not permitted.
The 2024 food vendor application is due Wednesday, June 5. This application is for food trucks, trailers, and tents that sell food made on-site that is meant to be consumed on-site.
The 2024 shopping vendor application is due Wednesday, June 5. This application is for vendors selling products on-site that can be taken home with them. Examples include bicycles, apparel, petcare items, etc. This form is not intended for businesses disbursing information on their services or products to shop outside the festival, which would require a sponsorship.
The 2024 specialty food vendor application is due Wednesday, June 5. This application is for tented vendors selling pre-made, pre-packaged items that are not necessarily meant to be consumed on-site. Examples include baked goods, bottled sauces, loose leaf tea, etc.
The 2024 non-profit vendor application is due Wednesday, June 5. This application is for groups with 501(c) 3 status.
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