Your ultimate summer guide to outdoor fun in York
Spend your summer weekends outside with this calendar of awesome outdoor events.
Summer weekends are best spent outside. Plan your York County staycation with this guide to awesome outdoor weekends through the end of July.
June 18 and 19
June 18 — Double Creek
Walk, run or ride to support underinsured kids and their families. Like to stay on your feet? Choose from a half marathon, 5K, walk or fun run. Cyclists can opt for a 10-, 30-, 48- or 62-mile tour. Or do both with the endurance or mini-endurance events that combine running and cycling.
- Location: North Salem Elementary School, 5161 N. Salem Church Road in Dover Township.
- Cost: Price varies depending on the event.
- Details: Visit doublecreek.org or call Lisa Oriolo at 717-851-2149 for more information.
June 19 — Codorus Blast
Take advantage of a festival atmosphere to the park with this Friday-through-Sunday event. Take a pontoon ride, paddle a kayak, watch dock dog demonstrations, grab a snack or marvel at the butterfly house, all while supporting Codorus State Park.
- Location: Codorus State Park, near the bandshell and main boat launch off Sinsheim Road in Manheim Township.
- Cost: Free to attend, $5 to park.
- Details: Visit codorusblast.org, email codorusblast@gmail.com or call 717-637-2816.
June 25 and 26
June 25 — Susquehanna Mayfly Festival and Biathlon
Don't be grossed out by mayflies — embrace them as part of a healthy ecological system. Start the day with the Susquehanna Biathlon, a 4K run and 5K paddle. Then hang out and enjoy the festival with music, art, food, paddling and games. Proceeds from the event go to protecting the Susquehanna Valley.
- Location: John Wright Restaurant boat launch area, 234 N. Front Street in Wrightsville.
- Cost: The biathlon is $30 for individuals, $50 for a team. The festival is free.
- Details: Visit susquehannamayflyfestival.com or call the Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association executive director Bill Minarik at 443-604-5894.
June 26 — Ropes course open climb at Mountain Roundtop Resort
Don't let your kids say they didn't do anything fun this summer. Try a selection of high ropes course elements, fly down the zipline, work through problems on the climbing wall and paddle a kayak or canoe during this open climb session.
- Location: Mountain Roundtop Resort, 925 Roundtop Road in Warrington Township.
- Cost: $15 for the ropes course open climb from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Details: Visit skiroundtop.com, email skiroundtop@skiroundtop.com or call 717-432-9631.
July 2, 3 and 4
July 2 and 3 — Celebrate reptile week
Introduce your kids to some creatures during reptile week at Nixon Park. Kick things off July 2 with a live reptile show featuring snakes, lizards, turtles and crocodiles from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 2 p.m. Then, on July 3, test the strength of your stomach and learn about snake anatomy while watching a local veterinarian dissect a large boa constrictor from 2:30 to 4 p.m.. The reptile show is great for kids of all ages, but the dissection is recommended for kids 8 and older.
- Location: Richard M. Nixon County Park, 5922 Nixon Drive in Springfield Township.
- Cost: $2, children under 5 are free.
- Details: Visit yorkcountyparks.org, email nixoncountypark@yorkcountypa.gov or call 717-428-1961.
July 4 — Fish for free
Find a friend and grab a fishing rod this Independence Day. Pennsylvania residents and non-residents are allowed to legally fish for one day without a license in the commonwealth.
- Location: Pennsylvania.
- Cost: Free.
- Details: Visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website at fishandboat.com/fishforfree or call the Harrisburg headquarters at 717-705-7800.
July 9 and 10
July 9 — Shoe House 5-miler
Come for the race, stay for the ice cream. Push past that 5K distance and try this 5-mile race. Finishers receive a technical shirt, medal, food and water. After your race check out Haines Shoe House for a tour and some ice cream. Not into running? Make some funny signs and cheer on the runners.
- Location: The race starts and finishes at Faith Alive Community Church, 1401 Williams Road in Springettsbury Township.
- Cost: $25 before the race, $30 on race day.
- Details: Visit usroadrunning.com or contact race director Toni Arbogast by email at Toni@usroadrunning.com or call 570-916-3882.
July 10 — Pick-your-own fruit
No berry tastes better than the ones you pick yourself. Find a farm near you and fill up on nature's candy.
- Location: York County farms
- Cost: Varies
- Details: Visit pickyourown.org to find a farm near you.
July 16 and 17
July 16 — Moonlight boat ride
Experience boating in a whole new way. Learn about summer constellations from an amateur astronomer and experience the serenity of a calm dark lake with a moonlight ride on Lake Redman starting at 8:30 p.m.
- Location: Lake Redman boat launch at William H. Kain Park, 267 Hess Farm Road in Springfield Township.
- Cost: $30 to rent a boat that can fit up to two people. Private boats are $20 for two people. Every additional person is $5.
- Details: Visit yorkcountyparks.org, email parks@yorkcountypa.gov or call 717-840-7440. Pre-registration is required.
July 17 — Kayaking
Prefer to do your boating in the day time? Rent a kayak at Lake Redman, Shank's Mare Outfitters, or Chiques Rock Outfitters and explore the water in a whole new way.
- Location: Lake Redman is in William H. Kain Park in Springfield Township. Shank's Mare Outfitters is in Lower Windsor Township, and Chiques Rock Outfitters is in Columbia.
- Cost: Varies.
- Details: For Lake Redman visit yorkcountyparks.org or call 717-840-7440. For Shank's Mare Outfitters visit shanksmare.com or call 717-252-1616. For Chiques Rock Outfitters visit chiquesrockoutfitters.com or call 717-475-6196.
July 23 and 24
July 23 — Yogis Take the Park
Spend the day celebrating York's yoga community with eight hours of yoga from 16 area instructors. Take a break from all the stretching at the kids corner, lay out a blanket and listen to live music, visit one of the local crafter's booths or shop in the farmers market.
- Location: 150 E. Main St. in New Freedom.
- Cost: Free
- Details: Visit yogistakethepark.com or contact Nicole Montanarelli at freecoley@gmail.com. Bring a yoga mat or towel and props if you have them.
July 24 — Y-tri sprint triathlon
Test your fitness with a 500-yard swim, 15-mile bike and 3.1-mile run at the 12th annual Y-tri. This pool-swim triathlon is perfect for first-timers and is co-ed for the first time this year. Not quite in triathlon shape? Cheer on participants or be a part of the even by volunteering to help on the course.
- Location: York College Grumbacher Sports and Fitness Center at 890 Grantley Road in Spring Garden Township.
- Cost: $70 if you register by June 24. $75 for race day registration.
- Details: Visit ywcayork.org or contact race director Tara Neff by e-mail at Tneff@ywcayork.org or call 717-434-1749.
July 30 and 31
July 30 — Pedal to paddle
Spend the day on the Susquehanna River with Chiques Rock Outfitters. Start at their store in Columbia and ride one of their bikes 7.5 miles to their northern location at East Donegal Riverfront Park. Exchange your bike for a kayak and paddle your way back to your car. Or change it up and paddle first then bike second.
- Location: 41 Walnut St. in Columbia.
- Cost: The trip costs $69 plus tax or $74.20 to take a shuttle instead of biking.
- Details: Visit chiquesrockoutfitters.com
July 31 — Celebrate the reopening of the York County Heritage Rail Trail
The Rail Trail has been closed for improvements from Pershing Avenue in York to Grantley Road in West Manchester Township. It's scheduled to reopen at the end of July or early August so celebrate this beloved section of the trail with a walk, bike or run on the newly paved path.
- Location: York County Heritage Rail Trail from Pershing Avenue in York to Grantley Road in West Manchester Township.
- Cost: Free.
- Details. Visit yorkcountyparks.org or call 717-840-7440.
