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Out and About in Lebanon: From carnivals to tractor pulls, get outdoors this weekend!


Local fairs and carnivals are popping up all over like daisies - then there are tractor pulls, hikes through lovely locales, and live music performed outdoors - just a few good reasons to love summer!

5 P.M. TONIGHT >> This is the first of three nights of the summer festival at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Cornwall. The fun begins on the church grounds at Cornwall Road and Route 419, and lasts each night until 10:30 p.m. Entertainment tonight will be "Hit List," on Friday, "Jimi's Not Home," and on Saturday, "Galbraith, Briody, and Friends." Along with music, there will be games, including bingo, and plenty of fair food like funnel cakes and snow cones. Dinners will be served Thursday and Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m. Come on out for a pleasant family evening.

8 A.M. FRIDAY >> You'll have to get up with the chickens if you want to join in the fun at the Schaefferstown Volunteer Fire Company's annual Tractor Show and Tractor Pull held on the grounds of the fire company at Oak and Locust streets - but it will be worth it! Sign-up and show is from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. At 2 p.m., there is a "weigh-in." From 5 to 10 p.m. Friday evening, the tractor pull will take place. Admission is free for those under the age of 16, and $5 for those 16 and above.

Saturday's events are free, beginning at 9 a.m. with judging and lasting until 2 p.m., with a tractor show and parade. At 1 p.m., there will be a garden tractor pull - just for fun. Garden and pedal tractors are welcome. There will also be games, prizes, judging, and plenty of good food. That includes hot sandwiches, hot dogs, French fries, bloomin' onions, soft pretzels, funnel cakes, ice cream and sodas.For rules and regulations, go to:www.schaefferstownfc.com.

10 A.M. FRIDAY >> The folks at the Governor Dick Environmental Center are looking for "Outdoor Adventurers," ages 7 to 12. This event is map and compass fun for kids and may well get them started on a lifetime of outdoors appreciation. Cost is $5 per child. Meet at the Governor Dick Environmental Center on Pinch Road in Mt. Gretna. Kids must be pre-registered and leave a name and phone number in case of cancellations. Call (717) 964-3808 or go to: governordick@hotmail.com to register.

11:45 A.M. FRIDAY >> Come out and enjoy the "Brown Bag Music Concert" at the Penn Square Gazebo on King Street in Lancaster. The music will be provided by "Marty's One Man Orchestra," (famous musician Lee Moyer) and vocalist Ricky Herb. Take a break and enjoy a little down time with some of the best!

7 P.M. FRIDAY >> If you've never heard the sweet sounds of Sterling Koch's blues guitar, tonight may be the night; Koch will be appearing at Legends Cafe, 9 South Ninth Street, playing from 7 to 9 p.m.

10 A.M. SATURDAY >> Tickets go on sale for "The Red Hot Chili Pipers," a unique band called "bagpipes with an attitude," and "drums with a Scottish accent." Hershey will once again get to experience their show when they return to the theatre on Saturday, March 22, 2016 at 8 p.m.

Tickets for this show are $34.50, $39.50, and $49.50 and are available at the Hershey theatre Box office. They can be charged by phone at (717) 534-3405 and online at www.HersheyEntertainment.com or www.TicketMaster.com.Formed in 2002, the "Chilis" have become a worldwide phenomenon, fusing bagpipes with rock. For more information, go to: www.RedHotChilliPipers.co.uk.

9 A.M. SATURDAY >> The "Wings and Wheels" extravaganza will take place at the Golden Age Air Museum in Bethel. Gates open at 9 a.m. and admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12. Members are free. Biplane rides will be available. A "fly-in" and a car show will be featured, and the day will include vintage aircraft, automobiles, tractors, and memorabilia. Re-enactors will also be on the grounds. An aviation and automotive flea market will also be on hand. For more information, go to: www.goldenageair.org.

10 A.M. SATURDAY >> A DDS fundraiser, the Sixth Annual Bike and Car Wash in memory of Gavin Frank, will be held at Highlander's Laundromat at 1123 Reinoehl St. (the corner of Reinoehl Street and Sandhill Road). The event will last until 2 p.m. Rain date will be Saturday, July 18. Donations will be accepted for this event. All proceeds will benefit Lebanon County's Developmental and Disability Services.

10 A.M. SATURDAY >> Tickets go on sale today for "Rhythm in the Night," the Irish dance spectacular that is coming to the Hershey Theatre on Friday, March 18 at 8 p.m. This production takes the age-old form of Irish dance and turns it into an exciting performance, created by Justin Boros, a professional Irish dancer who toured with Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance." Tickets range from $30.00 to $55.00 and are available at the Hershey Theatre Box Office. They can be charged by phone at (717) 534-3405 and online at www.HersheyEntertainment.com or www.TicketMaster.com.

7 P.M. SATURDAY >> "Music in the Park," the summer concert series in Coleman Park will once again host the venerable Perseverance Band of Lebanon in the Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre. The Perseverance Band goes as far back as the 1700s, when the group was formed to welcome the Coleman family back to Lebanon, as they arrived at the railroad station. Those were the days! Bring a lawn chair. There is no admission fee, a free-will offering will be taken.

7 P.M. SATURDAY >> If you like classic rock - and who doesn't - come on out to Legends Cafe, 9 South Ninth Street, and take in the music of "Shift Seven." That's the way to make a hot summer evening turn real cool.

7:30 P.M. SATURDAY >> The Lebanon Big Swing Band will present a concert and swing dance at the Golden Age Air Museum on Schubert Road, Bethel. The concert is expected to last until 9 p.m. If you love the sound of big bands, you won't want to miss this! For more information, call (717) 933-9566 or go to:www.goldenageair.org.

8 A.M. SUNDAY >> If you are into keeping fit, the Governor Dick Environmental Center has a hike for you today. This is a fast-paced, four to six mile hike, beginning at the Center on Pinch Road in Mt. Gretna. Note the early start, so you can get going before the sun is high and hot. Call to register at (717) 964-3808 and leave a name and phone number in case of cancellation.

7 P.M. SUNDAY >> "The Isaacs" will be the featured performers for "Music in the Park" at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre at Coleman's Park, located on the north side of Lebanon, at 1400 Maple Street. "The Isaacs" are a bluegrass family group who play and sing gospel music. They have a tremendous following of avid bluegrass and sacred music fans. Bring a lawn chair; a free-will offering will be taken.

7 P.M. SUNDAY >> Bring your lawn chairs and get comfy for some of the best Christian music around this coming Sunday in Fountain Park, South Market Street, Schaefferstown, when "The Wehry Family" comes to town. The Wehrys' are a gospel music family ministry from Northumberland. Bring lawn chairs. Free admission; free-will offering will be taken. Rain location is St. Luke Lutheran Church, East Heidelberg Avenue. The service is sponsored by the Heidelberg Area Churches' Fountain Park Service.

10 A.M. MONDAY >> Tickets are on sale for the 2015-2016 Hershey Theatre Broadway Series. Performances include Roald Dahl's "Matilda," playing Nov. 10-15, 2015; Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella," playing Jan. 26-31, 2016; and "Ragtime: The Musical," playing April 26 to May 1, 2016.

6 P.M. WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 >> The Womelsdorf Community Days Carnival will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It's all happening at the town park; midway rides, games, food and music. "Junior's Farm" will perform at 7 p.m. Friday and Elvis tribute artist Andy Svrcek will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

9 a.m. Sunday, July 19: The "Fifth Annual America's 911 and Military Tribute Bike and Car Show" will be held at the Fort Indiantown Gap Community Club 9-65 Fisher Avenue, Annville. Registration is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Registration is by donation and all hot rods, motorcycles, trucks, cars, emergency and military vehicles are welcome. This is a day of giving back to our troops and first responders. Dash plaques will be given to the first 100 registered vehicles. Arts and crafts vendors will be on the grounds and music will be provided by "Rockin' Charlie the DJ." For more information, call (717) 673-5732 or go to: victoria@americas911foundation.org.

10 a.m. Saturday, July 25: Advance tickets are available now at the fair office for the Lebanon Area Fair, 80 Rocherty Road, which starts the 25th and lasts until August 1. The fair office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A weekly track pass is $45 and includes front gate and track gate admission. For more information, call (717) 273-3795 or go to:www.LebanonAreaFair.com.

6 p.m. Friday, August 7: Try out "The Cornwall Blast!" It's a beer and wine tasting event on the grounds of the historic Cornwall Iron Furnace. The event lasts until 9 p.m. and features local beers and wines. And that's not all - there's also a pig roast with all the trimmings, souvenir mugs, and root beer included in the ticket price. The Wayne Fox Trio will provide the music for the evening. Advance ticket sales are $40, and $45 on the day of the event. To buy tickets, stop by the furnace or call (717) 272-9711.

Guests must be 21 to sample the alcohol and aged 18 to attend.