Delicious food, family activities, ice cream, history and so much more is planned for the 36th Annual ChambersFest from July 9 to 16 in the greater Chambersburg area.
The weeklong festival is family friendly and will include a variety of fun community events including Restaurant Week, Scoop-a-Palooza & Ice Cream Trail, Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Race, Old Market Day, 1864: The Burning, history exhibits, musicals and more. Each activity is coordinated by various organizations with the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce promoting the festival throughout the region.
“This community-wide event is a highlight of the year and we are excited to see so many local organizations contributing to the festival,” said Steve Christian, president of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. “Local nonprofits, restaurants, retail businesses and more are participating, and we encourage everyone to take time to enjoy the upcoming festivities.”
ChambersFest will start on Saturday, July 9 with the 6th Annual Restaurant Week sponsored by Signature Sponsor Penn National Insurance and Platinum Sponsors Ventura Foods, LLC and The Franklin Shopper. More than 30 restaurants will participate with special cuisines, meal deals and daily prizes through Saturday, July 16. Restaurants involved include Avocado Café, Big Oak Café, Bistro 71, Fireside Pub, GearHouse Brewing Co., Johnnie’s Family Restaurant, Kenny’s Grill & Ice Cream, Ledo Pizza, Meadows Frozen Custard of Chambersburg, Roy Pitz Brewing Company, South Mountain Creamery Ice Cream & Café, Subway, The Orchards Restaurant & RELAX Lounge, Veroni Café and others. For a full list of restaurants and contest information, visit Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW.
Saturday events will also include the 18th Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial 1-Mile Race/Walk beginning at 7 a.m. at Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) Upper Concession Stand. Scoop-a-Palooza, the popular all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, will also be at CASHS that day from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Other ChambersFest activites throughout the week include North Square Farmers Market, Totem Pole Playhouse: Beehive, Scoop-a-Palooza Ice Cream Trail, Franklin County Historical Society’s “The Patriots of WWII” exhibit, train rides at Norlo Park and Council for the Arts’ “Architecturally Designed” exhibit.
Finally, the festival will culminate Saturday, July 16, with the largest events including Old Market Day and 1864: The Burning.
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 throughout the day. Later that evening will be the final round of the A Capella & 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, Downtown Chambersburg Inc., North Square Farmers Market, Chambersburg Chamber Foundation and others.
Special thanks to the ChambersFest Corporate Sponsors: Everence Financial, The Franklin Shopper, TB Wood’s, VerStandig Media and WellSpan Health.
We would also like to thank our Premier Sponsors: Chambersburg Area Development Corp., The Shook Home, Penn National Insurance and Valley Agency as well as Benefactor Sponsor Community State Bank and Contributor Sponsors The Chambersburg Club and R. Perry Fence Co., LLC.
CHAMBERSFEST 2022 – Schedule of Events
Sturday, July 9 – Saturday, July 16
Restaurant Week
More than 30 local restaurants showcasing special cuisines, meal deals and prizes for patrons.
Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW
Sponsored by Penn National Insurance, Ventura Foods, LLC and The Franklin Shopper.
Scoop-a-Palooza & Ice Cream Trail
Scoop-a-Palooza, the Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation’s yearly ice cream festival, returns on July 9 at Chambersburg Area Senior High School Cafeteria. The festivities will also include a month-long Scoop-a-Palooza Ice Cream Trail happening July 1-31. Join the fun by following a downloadable trail map to local ice cream shops and taking pictures of your treats to enter to win $1,200 in prizes. Details: ScoopAPalooza.org. Presented by ACNB Bank.
Saturday, July 9
18th 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: Chambersburg.org/Events.
Saturdays July 9 & 16
North Square Farmers Market
8 a.m. – noon – Downtown Chambersburg at Chambers Fort Park.
Enjoy Chambersburg’s only open-air farmers market offering farm fresh, seasonal and 100 percent locally grown produce. More details at NorthSquareFarmersMarket.com.
July 9, 10, 12, 13, 16
Totem Pole Playhouse: Beehive
arious times – 9555 Golf Course Road, Fayetteville. Beehive is the ultimate celebration of 1960s female empowerment told from the perspective of six young women. Get tickets: TotemPolePlayhouse.org. Coordinated by Totem Pole Playhouse.
Sunday, July 10
Summer Concert Series: Reunited Quartet
7 p.m. – Chambersburg Memorial Park, 1 Washabaugh Way, Chambersburg.
Gather at the Chambersburg Memorial Park Kiwanis Bandshell to enjoy this free southern gospel concert. This is a smoke-free environment; please bring lawn chairs, blankets, food and non-alcoholic beverages. Coordinated by Chambersburg Recreation Department.
Tuesday, July 12 – Saturday, July 16
Franklin County Historical Society “The Patriots of WWII” Exhibit
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 175 E. King St., Chambersburg. Learn more about the experience of the local service men and women from Franklin County who served in WWII. For large groups, call 717-264-1667 or visit FranklinHistorical.org. Coordinated by Franklin Co. Historical Society.
Wednesday, July 13 – Saturday, July 16
Council for the Arts’ “Architecturally Designed” Exhibit
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 103 N. Main St., Chambersburg. View the new exhibit: “Architecturally Designed: The Places We Live, Work and Play.” For more information, call 717-264-6883. Coordinated by Council for the Arts.
Thursday, July 14
Summer Concert Series: JCM Band
7 p.m. – Chambersburg Memorial Park, 1 Washabaugh Way, Chambersburg.
Gather at the Chambersburg Memorial Park Kiwanis Bandshell to enjoy this free oldies, 50s & 60s concert. This is a smoke-free environment; please bring lawn chairs, blankets, food and non-alcoholic beverages. Coordinated by Chambersburg Recreation Department.
Saturday, July 16
Old Market Day
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 Historical Society – Book Signing
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 175 E. King St., Chambersburg. Virginia Stakes will sign the reprint of “John Brown in Chambersburg 1859” with additional chapters. Details: FranklinHistorical.org. Coordinated by Franklin Co. Historical Society.
Train Rides at Norlo Park
1 – 4 p.m. at 3050 Lincoln Way East, Fayetteville. Ride the miniature train complete with a cattle car and caboose. Last train boards at 3:50 p.m. Open to riders of all ages; donations accepted. Coordinated by Cumberland Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.
A Cappella & Unplugged Finals
7 p.m. – 11/30 Visitors Center.
Annual talent sarch contest featuring live entertainment on the steps of the 11/30 Visitors Center. Spectators can vote for their favorites! ExploreFranklinCountyPa.com. Coordinated by Franklin Co. Visitors Bureau.
1864: The Burning Reenactment
9 – 10 p.m. – Downtown Chambersburg.
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. Details: ExploreFranklinCountyPa.com. Coordinated by the Franklin Co. Visitors Bureau.