Looking for some fun in September? Here are some things to do in Franklin County

Amber South, Chambersburg Public Opinion
·6 min read

Summer may unofficially be over, but there is no shortage of things to do in September. Consider these events, listed in chronological order, for your calendar.

Jammin’ in the Park Music and Arts Festival

1-7 p.m. Sept. 4

Main Street Park, 25 E. Main St., Waynesboro

Spend your Sunday listening to live music and taking part in other activities to support the Arts Alliance of Greater Waynesboro.

There will be two stages of music, featuring the bands Samz@7; Sussman, Jankura & Hepfer; The Loose Screws; Lucky Punk; Big Whiskey; John Dolly; The Flying Matlocks; G@g; and The Note Riders.

Food trucks will serve up tasty dishes. Rough Edges Brewery and Lake House Distillery will sell alcoholic beverages (no BYOB).

There will also be arts and craft vendors, activities for kids and a 50/50 drawing.

Tickets are $10 at the door or in advance at bit.ly/3POmOQa. Kids ages 10 and under are free.

Proceeds support the Arts Alliance.

Learn more at artsalliancegw.org.

Mainstreet Waynesboro, Inc. owns Main Street Park and often hosts events there, like the weekly farmers market, movie showings and live music.
Mainstreet Waynesboro, Inc. owns Main Street Park and often hosts events there, like the weekly farmers market, movie showings and live music.

Beach Boys Tribute

2 p.m. Sept. 4

Capitol Theatre, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg

Take a seat in Capitol Theatre to be transported to a world of sand, surf and “Fun Fun Fun,” as the Beach Boys tribute band Sail On takes the stage.

The most-booked Beach Boys tribute band in the world, Sail On performs the group’s classic hits, as well as songs from the Beach Boys’ extended catalog.

Beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks and concessions will be available.

Tickets are $35 for adults; $30 for 60+, military and frontline workers; and $25 for students 18 and under and those with college ID. Go to thecapitoltheatre.org to buy online, or call the box office at 717-263-0202.

Friends of Legal Services Book Sale

Sept. 16 (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.), Sept. 17 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Sept. 18 (noon to 4 p.m.)

Former Burlington store, Chambersburg Mall

Whether you’re a book lover seeking to top up your collection or just want to browse, this massive annual book sale will have something for you. Thousands of books, games, puzzles and other media will be on sale at bargain prices.

More than 40 titles and special pieces will be part of a silent auction; bids will be accepted until 4 p.m. Sept. 17.

The book sale is a fundraiser for Franklin County Legal Services.

For more information, go to bit.ly/3cj8CAT

Thousands of books and other media are on sale for bargain prices each year at the annual Friends of Legal Services book sale. In 2022, the sale will be held Sept. 17-18 at the former Burlington store at Chambersburg Mall.
Thousands of books and other media are on sale for bargain prices each year at the annual Friends of Legal Services book sale. In 2022, the sale will be held Sept. 17-18 at the former Burlington store at Chambersburg Mall.

Two Top Ruritan Steam and Gas Show

Sept. 16-18

Two Top Ruritan Club, 12270 Two Top Road, Mercersburg

Spend your weekend browsing and buying at the big flea market and craft show. There will also be truck and tractor pulls and a pedal pull. Live bands will perform Friday and Saturday evenings: Clearspring Bluegrass at 6 p.m. Saturday; Rob Lowe, Unwound from 2-5 p.m. Sunday and New Country at 7 p.m. Sunday. Masters Trio and Pastor Ronnie Martin will be on hand at 9 a.m. Sunday.

There will also be homemade food, beginning with breakfast each morning at 7:30 a.m.

Admission is free.

For more information, check out the flyer on Facebook at bit.ly/3cdLzHT.

Pour Trail Bus Tour

10:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17

Around Franklin County

Hop on a bus and get ready to sample more than a dozen beers, wines and spirits served by small businesses around Franklin County.

Franklin County Visitors Bureau launched the Pour Trail during this year’s IceFest to highlight the county's growing number of beer, wine and spirit makers. The bus tour is a way to check out a selection of participating businesses, all without having to drive yourself.

The bus tour will organize at the 11/30 Visitors Center in Chambersburg's Memorial Square before traveling to:

  • Jan Zell Winery in Jim’s Country Market, Chambersburg;

  • GearHouse Brewing Co., Chambersburg;

  • Liquid Art Brewing Co., (formerly Roy-Pitz), Chambersburg;

  • Oktoberfest at Renfrew Park, Waynesboro;

  • 633 Brewing, Waynesboro;

  • James Buchanan Pub, Mercersburg;

  • Cold Spring Hollow Distillery, Mercersburg.

Cold Spring Hollow Distillery, 8 Findlay Drive, Mercersburg.
Cold Spring Hollow Distillery, 8 Findlay Drive, Mercersburg.

Each stop includes samples of alcoholic drinks. The stop at Renfrew’s Oktoberfest includes a German meal.

Guests will get a Pour Trail Passport, which they can use to track points ($1 equals one point) from visits to Pour Trail sites that can be redeemed for prizes. All guests on the bus tour will get 100 bonus points.

Tickets are $75 and include 15 samples, a signature cocktail, and the meal. Buy tickets online via Eventbrite (https://bit.ly/3R5sYfI) or call the visitors bureau at 866-646-8060.

There are 52 seats on the bus. Tickets were still available to buy online Aug. 24.

Learn more at explorefranklincountypa.com/franklin-county-pour-trail-bus-tour/.

Oktoberfests

There will be two Oktoberfest events on Sept. 17, at Renfrew Park in Waynesboro and at Totem Pole Playhouse in Fayetteville.

Renfrew: Noon to 4 p.m. German music, silent auction, family fun area, biergarten ($5 pours), farmstead activities and demonstrations and more. General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 3-17. “Full package” tickets that include a German meal served noon to 3 p.m. are $35 for adults and $25 for ages 3-17; these tickets must be purchased in advance. Get more information at renfrewmuseum.org/oktoberfest.

Totem Pole: 1-5 p.m. German food, biergarten, “costume shop treasures yard sale,” dance contest, German band and more. Bring a chair.

Mercersburg Townfest

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24

Downtown Mercersburg

More than 120 crafters, artisans, food and other vendors and upwards of 8,000 guests come to Townfest each year. Community and school bands will entertain. Don’t miss the kids’ activity area.

Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24

Hollow Acres Farm, 6969 Upper Strasburg Road, Pleasant Hall

The Franklin County Farm Bureau hosts this event at a different farm or agriculture-related business each year. In its 32nd year, Ron and Amy Wenger's Hollow Acre Farms will offer activities including cow milking, hayrides, ice cream and more.

Learn more at facebook.com/FranklinFallFarmFunFest.

Kids got the chance to pet a bee at the 2018 Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest, which was held at Musser Farm.
Kids got the chance to pet a bee at the 2018 Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest, which was held at Musser Farm.

JAM in the Park

Gates open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sept. 24

Britton Park, 304 Britton Road, Shippensburg

Proceeds generated from this day of live music, food trucks and more will support the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance. There will be a car show at 11 a.m. and corn hole at 4 p.m. Small games of chance will be available.

Admission is $10 a person (ages 8 and under are free).

Get more information at bit.ly/3Ra6DOq.

This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Things to do in Franklin County, Pa., in September 2022