Parks and Recreation Events

Pop in the Tavern House summer kitchen to see and smell the fire burning in the hearth and chat with the cook, Audrey Trussell, as she prepares holiday treats over the open fire, using recipes (called receipts) from the 1800s.

Visit the Olewine Nature Center, where special exhibits and activities will highlight the magic of the winter world. Follow self-guided signs along the Towpath Trail to enhance your winter outdoor experience while learning about the natural history of Wildwood Park and animals in winter.

Visit the Olewine Nature Center to view and vote for your favorite photos! Take a tour of beautiful photographs from all of Dauphin County’s parks. Winners will be announced at the Photo Contest Reception on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 1:00 pm. Prizes will be awarded for winning entries. The People’s Choice Award winners will be announced in February after the display ends. 

Enjoy a 45-minute tour of the Historic Fort Hunter Mansion as the halls are decked and the mantles trimmed for the holiday season. After, make a holiday craft, enjoy some snacks, and partake in some festive activities led by our education staff.

Stop by the Nature Center Bird Viewing Area for a warm cup of bird- friendly coffee, tea or hot cocoa with Appalachian Audubon Society. Discover what birds visit our feeders most often and learn how to identify each one. On the second Saturday from November - April, join us in observing and counting common feeder birds as part of Project FeederWatch. Pre-registration is not required.

Experience the Fort Hunter Mansion by candlelight this December and see the halls decked for the holidays and hear what traditions were celebrated in years past.

Spend time outdoors this fall at beautiful Detweiler Park enjoying The Snow Thief by Alice Hemming, illustrated by Nicola Slater.

Experience the Fort Hunter Mansion by candlelight this December and see the halls decked for the holidays and hear what traditions were celebrated in years past.

Jump start your holiday season with a workshop at Wildwood Park. Craft your very own wooden reindeer with Friends of Wildwood President and Craftsman, Jim Caufield. 

Enjoy a free concert of Christmas music. Join the Mechanicsburg area brass group as they play familiar holiday tunes and Christmas songs in an informal concert setting.