ChambersFest Events Kick Off July 13
Chambersburg is gearing up for its annual summer celebration full of family entertainment, ice cream, crafts, activities, art and history during ChambersFest happening July 13 to 20.
The weeklong family-friendly festival will include a variety of fun community events including Restaurant Week, Scoop-a-Palooza, Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Race, Old Market Day, 1864: The Burning Re-enactment, history exhibits, live music and more.
“Our community looks forward to ChambersFest each year,” said Steve Christian, president of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. “We are grateful to bring together a variety of events and activities that highlight our area’s unique history and vibrant culture. Many local restaurants, retail businesses and nonprofits will participate, and we hope to see thousands of people enjoying the festivities.”
ChambersFest will start on Saturday, July 13 with the 8th Annual Restaurant Week sponsored by Signature Sponsor Penn National Insurance, Platinum Sponsors Ventura Foods, LLC and The Franklin Shopper. More than 35 restaurants will participate with special cuisines, meal deals and daily prizes through Saturday, July 20. Restaurants involved include The Barrel House Brewery, Brussel’s Café, Crumbl Cookies, Denim Coffee, Falafel Shack, Fiesta Maya, GearHouse Brewing Co. Hickory Ridge Restaurant, The Igloo, Kenny’s Grill & Ice Cream, Ledo Pizza, Meadows Frozen Custard of Chambersburg, Olympia Candy Kitchen, Veroni Café andothers. For a full list of restaurants and contest information, visit Chambersburg.org/ChambersFestRW.
Saturday’s events will also include the 20th 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 activities throughout the week include North Square Farmers Market, Franklin County Historical Society’s Louisa Brand Tombstone Dedication, 20th Anniversary Sale at Chambersburg Heritage Center, Groundbreaking of Mary B. Sharpe School and more.
Finally, the festival finale on Saturday, July 20, will conclude with the largest events of the week: Old Market Day and 1864: The Burning Re-enactment.
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. Later that evening will be the final round of the A Cappella & 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, North Square Farmers Market, Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation and others.
Special thanks to the ChambersFest Corporate Sponsors: Teflon Roofing, The Franklin Shopper, VerStandig Media and WellSpan Health.
We would also like to thank our Premier Sponsors: Chambersburg Area Development Corp., Salzmann Hughes, P.C. Law Firm, Valley Agency Company and Penn National Insurance. We’d also like to thank Benefactor Sponsor Brightspeed Business and Contributor Sponsors Community State Bank and Mercy House of Chambersburg.
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CHAMBERSFEST 2024 – Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 13 – Saturday, July 20
Restaurant Week
Back by popular demand, the 8th Annual ChambersFest Restaurant Week will feature unique cuisines and specials to showcase the best in dining. More than 35 restaurants are expected to participate with special meals, deals and prizes for patrons.
Details about the restaurant list and specials coming soon!
Presented by Penn National Insurance. Thanks to Platinum Sponsor Ventura Foods and The Franklin Shopper for your support. Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday, July 13
20th Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Race
July 13, 7 – 10 a.m., Chambersburg
Participate in the 20th Annual Tim & Susan Cook Memorial 1-Mile Race/Walk. Registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) upper stadium area, with the women’s race/walk at 8 a.m. and the men’s race/walk at 8:30 a.m. Money raised from this event is contributed to the Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Scholarship Fund, which annually awards scholarships to two seniors from CASHS. Day-of registration is $25 with a T-shirt (if available). Register here or call 717-264-7101.
Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce.
Scoop-a-Palooza
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) Cafeteria.
The Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation’s yearly ice cream festival returns on July 13! Sponsored by ACNB Bank, the festivities will include ice cream tastings, activities for kids, human sundae event and more!
Details: ScoopAPalooza.org
Coordinated by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation
Franklin County Historical Society: Louisa Brand Tombstone Dedication
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Cedar Grove Cemetery
Join the historical society as they honor Louisa Brand, heroine of the Burning of Chambersburg. Louisa Brand was twenty-one years old when the Confederate Army ransomed and burned Chambersburg in July 1864. She stood on her front porch with a pistol in hand and wrapped in an American flag, now on display at the Franklin County Historical Society. She dared any Confederate to try and burn her home down during the attack, earning herself the nickname “the heroine of the Burning of Chambersburg.” This event is free and open to the public.
Coordinated by the Franklin County Historical Society.
Saturdays July 13 & 20
North Square Farmers Market
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Downtown Chambersburg.
Enjoy Chambersburg’s only open-air farmers market offering farm fresh, seasonal and 100% locally grown produce. Products exclusively from local farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs in a fun, social atmosphere as well as kids’ activities, live music and more.
Details: NorthSquareFarmersMarket.com
Coordinated by North Square Farmers Market
Sunday, July 14
Summer Open House at Chambersburg Volunteer Fireman’s Museum
July 14, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 441 Broad Street, Chambersburg
Enjoy the Summer Open House with free admission and antique fire engines at the museum located at 441 Broad St. in Chambersburg! All are welcome to attend. Tours will be given and souvenirs will be for sale. Contact 717-263-8660 for more details.
July 15-19
20th Anniversary Sale at Chambersburg Heritage Center
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. 100 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg
Come celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Chambersburg Heritage Center & Gift Shop! All week long the entire gift shop is 20% 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.
Coordinated by Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce
Friday, July 19
Groundbreaking of Mary B. Sharpe School
This will be a Groundbreaking event with displays showing a 3D virtual walk-through and future apartments and an unveiling of the National Register of Historic Places marker and showing what elements are/will be recreated to restore the building to its original exterior facades. More details coming soon.
Coordinated by McKissick Properties.
Saturday, July 20
Old Market Day
July 20, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Downtown Chambersburg’s Main Street
Enjoy this free, family event in Downtown Chambersburg from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of art, artisans, craft vendors, food trucks and community organizations will line the streets of downtown. Come join the fun!
More information: www.facebook.com/OldMarketDay
Coordinated by the Downtown Business Council of Chambersburg.
Heroes & Angels Exhibit: 160th Anniversary of the Burning of Chambersburg
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 175 East King St., Chambersburg
The Franklin County Historical Society is excited to announce a new temporary exhibit, “Heroes & Angels: 160th Anniversary of the Burning of Chambersburg,” curated by museum director Ann Hull. The commemorative exhibit focuses on the stories of Chambersburg residents during the Confederate attack on Chambersburg in July 1864.
Northwood Books Special Hours
July 20, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 59 N. Main St., Chambersburg
Visit Northwood Books for extended hours on Old Market Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit northwoodbooks.com.
Coordinated by Northwood Books.
Summer Open House & Special Burning of Chamber Exhibit at Chambersburg Volunteer Fireman’s Museum
July 20, 4 – 9 p.m., 441 Broad Street, Chambersburg
Enjoy the Summer Open House with free admission and antique fire engines at the museum located at 441 Broad St. in Chambersburg! In addition, see the hose reel from the actual Burning of Chambersburg in 1864! All are welcome to attend. Tours will be given and souvenirs will be for sale.
Contact 717-263-8660 for more details.
A Cappella & Unplugged Finals
July 20, Franklin County Courthouse, 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg, 7 p.m.
The Final Round of A Cappella & 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!
More information: www.explorefranklincountypa.com/acappella-unplugged
Coordinated by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.
Burning of Chambersburg Reenactment
July 20, 11/30 Center, 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg, Dusk
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. A variety of activities will lead up to the reenactment of the Burning of Chambersburg light show.
More information: www.explorefranklincountypa.com
Coordinated by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.