Skip to main content

Your guide to food and fun this Labor Day


Sit back, relax and eat.

Labor Day weekend is here.

As the end of summer nears, this holiday weekend might be your last chance to dig in to some barbecue, crab cakes and Italian ice before pumpkin spice takes over your life. For real.

Dunkin’ Donuts is already selling pumpkin spice lattes, and grocery stores have stocked the shelves with all things pumpkin spice. There’s no escaping it.

So, get out and enjoy your last taste of summer while you can at these Labor Day weekend events.

What the Food Trucks

Sept. 4

Food trucks, a beer garden and live music? Count us in.

This food truck party will bring about 40 food trucks to Penn Park in downtown York from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. That means seven hours of eating, eating and more eating. You’ll find all your summer favorites from Texas-style barbecue to lobster rolls and much more.

Admission is free, but you’ll want to bring cash for the vendors.

And, don’t forget to pace yourself. Take a break at the FlipSidePA booth to say hello and play some lawn games. Here are some more things to do at the festival when you’re not eating.

Hanover Chili Cook Off

Sept. 4

Spend the day tasting award-winning chili from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Good Field Complex on N. Forney Avenue in Hanover. You can count on about 30 chili competitors, several non-chili food vendors and beer.

Plus, there will be face painting, caricatures, jugglers and live music for entertainment.

The event is held rain or shine, and proceeds benefit local non-profit organizations.

Visit hanoverchilicookoff.com for tickets and more info.

Annual Kipona Festival

Sept. 3-5

Celebrate 100 years of food and fun along Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park and City Island.

The free festival boasts 30+ food vendors, a beer garden, two live music stages, a Doggie Olympics, children’s entertainment, carnival games, art vendors, fireworks and more from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

Fireworks are scheduled for Sept. 4 at dusk.

Visit harrisburgpa.gov for more information.

Dover Firemen’s Fair

Sept. 3 and 5-10

Live music, rides and games will take over Union Fire and Hose Co. in Dover. But for some, the highlight is the food. Roast beef platters will be served on Saturday and Monday. Other dishes served throughout the week include baked turkey pie, pork and sauerkraut platters, boiled beef pot pie, baked ham platters and the fire department’s “famous” chicken corn soup.

Parking is available for carry-outs between 4 and 6 p.m. Serving begins at 4 p.m. daily.

Visit unionfireandhose.com for more info.

Maryland State Fair

Aug. 25-Sept. 5

Can’t wait until the York Fair? Get a jump start on eating your favorite fair foods at the Timonium Fairgrounds on York Road. You’ll find cotton candy, corndogs and other deep-fried delights on the Midway and fresh fruit, crab cakes and ice cream at the Maryland Foods Pavilion and Maryland Dairy Bar.

Charlie Puth and Ruth B. are scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, and Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots and Jana Kramer will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4.

For admission information and a complete schedule, visit marylandstatefair.com.

First Friday York

Sept. 2

September’s First Friday is fashion-themed in honor of the city’s annual Boutique Week, which means a chance to score some great deals on fall fashion at dozens of participating shops.

All that shopping will no doubt make you hungry (and thirsty). So, when that happens, pop in one of downtown York’s restaurants for food and drink specials from 5 to 9 p.m.

More than a dozen downtown locations will also offer beer tastings from The Beer Ace and Brewery Products while you shop.

For a complete list of fashion deals and food and drink specials, visit downtownyorkpa.com.

Long’s Park Art Festival

Sept. 2-4

Long’s Park will transform into an outdoor gallery featuring more than 200 artists and craftspeople from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

When you get tired of shopping, grab a bite to eat or a glass of wine or craft beer at the festival.

Children can create their own works of art using recycled materials at a children’s art tent.

Visit longspark.org/art-festival for more info.

International Bacon Day

Sept. 3

Oh, and did we mention Saturday is International Bacon Day? All the more reason to head to a food festival or your favorite restaurant for a BLT or barbecue bacon cheeseburger.