A note before you dive in: Many of the events below were planned before Saturday's storms, and with power still out for many across the area, some venues honestly don't know yet what their weekend will look like. We're listing them as planned — check with the venue if you want to be sure before you head out.
And if you're one of the many households living out of a cooler right now: a night out, if you're able, isn't a bad trade. It's a break from the mess at home, and it's real business for restaurants and venues that could use it just as much as you could use a hot meal that you didn't have to cook on a camp stove.
Lemoyne is the place to be Saturday, when Live at Negley Park turns the riverfront into a free, all-day summer festival with six live bands, food trucks, and a petting zoo. The rest of the West Shore keeps pace — national flat-track motorcycle racing roars into Williams Grove in Mechanicsburg, backyard gardens open up for the Bee City Garden Tour in Camp Hill, and well over a dozen library and kids' programs fill the week from New Cumberland to Enola. Grab a lawn chair and pace yourself, because the West Shore doesn't let up this time of year.
Thursday, July 9
Family Entertainment Series - The Amazing Magi: Dinomania
Thu 7/9 · 10:30–11:30 AM · New Cumberland Public Library - Foundation House, New Cumberland · Free
A magic show taking the audience on a trip through the Mesozoic era to discover life-size dinosaurs, with merry mayhem and magnificent props. event details
Make Your Own Frushi
Thu 7/9 · 3–4 PM · New Cumberland Public Library - Children's Program Room, New Cumberland · Free · Ages 12-18 / Grades 6-12
A hands-on cooking program where teens roll their own fruit-and-sushi "frushi" and enjoy the results. event details
Elementary Test Lab
Thu 7/9 · 3:30–4:30 PM · Fredricksen Library - Courtyard, Camp Hill · Free · Ages 06-11 / Grades K-5
A STEAM-themed play session where kids ages 6-8 conduct experiments testing design and engineering skills. No registration required. event details
Teen Fandom-palooza
Thu 7/9 · 4–5:30 PM · Fredricksen Library - Kunkel Creation Station (KCS), Camp Hill · Free · Ages 12-18 / Grades 6-12
A teen program where attendees take the podium to brag about their favorite book series, show, anime, artist, or fandom. Registration required. event details
New Cumberland Food Truck & Restaurant Rally (July)
Thu 7/9 · 5–8 PM · Downtown New Cumberland (New Cumberland Borough), New Cumberland · Free to attend
A monthly outdoor food truck and local-restaurant rally hosted by the New Cumberland Borough & Parks Group, with a rotating lineup of vendors. event details
Forgotten Heroes of the Revolutionary War (Session 2)
Thu 7/9 · 6–7 PM · Simpson Public Library - Meeting Rooms A & B, Mechanicsburg · Free · Ages 06-11 / Grades K-5
A second session of the kids' history program on the Minute Women and a German baker's role in the Revolution, with a gingerbread cookie decorating activity. Registration required. event details
Intermediate Excel
Thursday, July 9 · 6–7 PM · Fredricksen Library - Business & Career Center - HUB, Camp Hill · Free · Ages 19 and up / Adults
A hands-on workshop covering next-level Excel functions including formulas, database functions, and pivot tables. event details
That Acoustic Thang!
Thu 7/9 · 6–9 PM · Metropolis Collective, Mechanicsburg · No Cover
A weekly open mic for singer/songwriters to share their music and network — come to play or come to listen. All ages, BYOB. event details
Thursday Group Runs
Thu 7/9 · 6–9 PM · Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg, Mechanicsburg · Free
A weekly group run with a suggested distance of 3 miles, starting at 6 PM. No registration required. event details
Environmental Club Night
Thu 7/9 · 6:30–8 PM · Foundation House, New Cumberland
A monthly gathering of the New Cumberland Collective's Environmental Club to connect, collaborate, and plan environmental adventures. event details
Gardening with Nature: Zone Pushing Tender Plants in Central PA
Thu 7/9 · 6:30–8:30 PM · Fredricksen - Ruggaber Community Room, Camp Hill · $5 at the door · Ages 19 and up / Adults
A Penn State Extension Master Gardeners lecture with Hylton Hobday on pushing tender, non-native plants in Central PA's growing zones. event details