A holiday weekend, then a reason to get out again
Labor Day weekend isn't the whole week. Make room for a riverfront celebration, a quieter local-history outing, or live jazz when Friday arrives. Here are six plans in Dauphin and Lebanon counties, with the timing and ticket details that matter before you leave home.
This edition covers Sunday, September 6 through Saturday, September 12, 2026, and is published early so you can plan Sunday. All times are Eastern. These are selected outings, not a complete calendar; check the linked organizer or listing for changes before traveling.
This edition covers Sunday, September 6 through Saturday, September 12, 2026, and is published early so you can plan Sunday. All times are Eastern. These are selected outings, not a complete calendar; check the linked organizer or listing for changes before traveling.
Sunday, September 6: The Wall That Heals closes in Campbelltown
For a visit centered on remembrance, Sunday is the final opportunity to see this traveling, three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Campbelltown. The important detail is the early finish: don't plan an evening visit.
When: Closing ceremony at 1:45 p.m.; dismantling begins at 2 p.m. Allow time to visit beforehand.
Where: Campbelltown Community Park, 129 Lawn Road, Palmyra, PA 17078 — Lebanon County.
Cost: Admission and parking are free.
The Campbelltown American Legion's host page supplies the venue and admission details; its daily schedule gives Sunday's closing times.
When: Closing ceremony at 1:45 p.m.; dismantling begins at 2 p.m. Allow time to visit beforehand.
Where: Campbelltown Community Park, 129 Lawn Road, Palmyra, PA 17078 — Lebanon County.
Cost: Admission and parking are free.
The Campbelltown American Legion's host page supplies the venue and admission details; its daily schedule gives Sunday's closing times.
Sunday–Monday, September 6–7: Kipona on the Harrisburg riverfront
Kipona is the pick for a festival day with several things to do in one place: live music, food trucks, artisans and family activities. You still have two days of the September 5–7 festival inside this week's window. Choose Sunday if the fireworks are your priority, or Monday for the petting zoo.
When: Sunday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., with fireworks scheduled for 8:15 p.m.; Monday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where: Harrisburg's Riverfront Park, with additional activities on City Island — Dauphin County.
Budget and travel: The city lists free family activities, but food and some City Island attractions cost extra. Metered street parking is free Sunday and Monday; City Island parking is $5. Front Street between Forster and Walnut is closed through Monday evening, and additional Sunday-evening closures affect the fireworks period.
Use the city's Kipona schedule and travel information when choosing parking and checking weather-related changes.
When: Sunday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., with fireworks scheduled for 8:15 p.m.; Monday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where: Harrisburg's Riverfront Park, with additional activities on City Island — Dauphin County.
Budget and travel: The city lists free family activities, but food and some City Island attractions cost extra. Metered street parking is free Sunday and Monday; City Island parking is $5. Front Street between Forster and Walnut is closed through Monday evening, and additional Sunday-evening closures affect the fireworks period.
Use the city's Kipona schedule and travel information when choosing parking and checking weather-related changes.
Sunday, September 6: Take a narrated canal boat ride in Lebanon
If you'd prefer one focused outing to a festival itinerary, consider a narrated ride at Union Canal Tunnel Park. The roughly 45-minute trip gives local history a setting you can actually travel through, with three afternoon departures to choose from.
When: 12:30, 1:30 or 2:30 p.m., weather permitting. The historical society runs tours on the first two Sundays of each month from June through October.
Where: Union Canal Tunnel Park, at 25th Street and Union Canal Drive, Lebanon — Lebanon County.
Cost: Adults $10; students ages 6–17, $5; children 5 and younger ride free. Park admission itself is free.
Before you go: Sunday rides are first come, first served. The society asks visitors to confirm dates and times through its Facebook page or email before traveling.
See the Lebanon County Historical Society's tour and visitor information.
When: 12:30, 1:30 or 2:30 p.m., weather permitting. The historical society runs tours on the first two Sundays of each month from June through October.
Where: Union Canal Tunnel Park, at 25th Street and Union Canal Drive, Lebanon — Lebanon County.
Cost: Adults $10; students ages 6–17, $5; children 5 and younger ride free. Park admission itself is free.
Before you go: Sunday rides are first come, first served. The society asks visitors to confirm dates and times through its Facebook page or email before traveling.
See the Lebanon County Historical Society's tour and visitor information.
Tuesday, September 8: Hear Lebanon County's Revolutionary War story
The week's local-history thread continues indoors with Lebanon County in the Revolution. Visit Lebanon Valley lists a presentation by Jack McClain about the area's role beyond the battlefields, including the furnace, local militias and life on the home front. It also offers a way to join from home.
When: 7–8:30 p.m.
Where: Cornwall Manor, 1 Boyd Street, Cornwall, PA 17016 — Lebanon County — with an online option. Note that the listed venue is Cornwall Manor, not the furnace's visitor entrance.
Cost and registration: The listing says attendance is free, with donations welcome. Online attendance requires registration; use the registration link in the event listing.
Details are from Visit Lebanon Valley's dated lecture listing. Confirm joining details with the organizer before attending.
When: 7–8:30 p.m.
Where: Cornwall Manor, 1 Boyd Street, Cornwall, PA 17016 — Lebanon County — with an online option. Note that the listed venue is Cornwall Manor, not the furnace's visitor entrance.
Cost and registration: The listing says attendance is free, with donations welcome. Online attendance requires registration; use the registration link in the event listing.
Details are from Visit Lebanon Valley's dated lecture listing. Confirm joining details with the organizer before attending.
Friday, September 11: Choose your stops at Midtown JazzWalk
You don't need a festival ticket for Friday's JazzWalk. Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz lists free performances across Midtown Harrisburg, including stops at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, The Millworks and Susquehanna Art Museum. Pick a venue or two from the schedule instead of trying to catch every set.
When: 6–9 p.m.
Where: Participating venues across Midtown Harrisburg — Dauphin County. This is a multi-venue evening, not a performance at Fort Hunter Park.
Cost: JazzWalk admission is free; that does not include food or drinks you purchase.
Check the organizer's 2026 JazzWalk venue and musician list for your stops. The county notes that artists and venue locations can change.
When: 6–9 p.m.
Where: Participating venues across Midtown Harrisburg — Dauphin County. This is a multi-venue evening, not a performance at Fort Hunter Park.
Cost: JazzWalk admission is free; that does not include food or drinks you purchase.
Check the organizer's 2026 JazzWalk venue and musician list for your stops. The county notes that artists and venue locations can change.
Saturday, September 12: Settle in for Jazz & Wine at Fort Hunter
For a longer afternoon of music, Saturday opens the Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival. Unlike Friday's venue-to-venue JazzWalk, this is a ticketed park event where you can bring a chair, stay for several performances and browse the food and craft vendors.
When: Festival hours 3–8 p.m.; doors open at 2 p.m. A youth jazz ensemble is separately scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 — Dauphin County.
Tickets: $60 in advance or $75 at the gate; online processing fees apply. Children 12 and younger enter free. Tickets cover both September 12 and September 13, although Sunday falls outside this edition.
Bring and know: Bring a chair or blanket. No outside alcohol; wine tasting requires age 21+ and ID. Parking is free, and the event runs rain or shine.
See the county's festival schedule, ticket link and visitor rules.
When: Festival hours 3–8 p.m.; doors open at 2 p.m. A youth jazz ensemble is separately scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 — Dauphin County.
Tickets: $60 in advance or $75 at the gate; online processing fees apply. Children 12 and younger enter free. Tickets cover both September 12 and September 13, although Sunday falls outside this edition.
Bring and know: Bring a chair or blanket. No outside alcohol; wine tasting requires age 21+ and ID. Parking is free, and the event runs rain or shine.
See the county's festival schedule, ticket link and visitor rules.
Make the plan fit the day
Choose the one outing you most want to make, then check its source link for the latest hours, registration and travel notes. In particular, keep Sunday's memorial closing time separate from Kipona's evening fireworks, and Friday's free JazzWalk separate from Saturday's paid festival. The dates are close; the plans are different.
Event details were checked September 5, 2026. This guide is published by NextGen AutoWorks as a local planning resource; we are not an organizer of these events.
Event details were checked September 5, 2026. This guide is published by NextGen AutoWorks as a local planning resource; we are not an organizer of these events.
Photo credit
Area illustration: Susquehanna River at Market Street Bridge by Teresa Boardman, CC BY 2.0. Cropped and responsively resized. The image does not depict the events in this edition.
Central PA eventsDauphin CountyLebanon CountyLabor Daythings to do