Central Pennsylvania Regional Programs & Events – December 2025
CHILDREN
Barks & Books
Date: December 1st
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Carroll Valley Library, Fairfield
Description: Read to Danny, the therapy dog
Holiday Card Making
Date: December 1st
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Ages: 5yrs-12yrs
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Description: Miss Dana will teach card making techniques. Supplies provided
Registration: Online registration required
Legopalooza
Date: December 1st
Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm
Ages: 4yrs-12yrs
Location: New Oxford Library
Description: Free play with optional challenges
Christmas Bingo & Craft
Date: December 1st
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Ages: 5yrs-10yrs
Location: Carroll Valley Library, Fairfield
Description: Make a Christmas craft & play some bingo
Registration: Online registration required
Read to the Dogs
Date: December 2nd, December 9th & December 16th
Times: 4:30pm, 4:50pm & 5:10pm
Ages: Up to 12yrs
Location: Amelia Given Memorial Library, Mt Holly Springs
Description: Sign up for 15minute slot to read to therapy dog
Registration: Online registration required
Multicultural Music
Date: December 3rd
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Ages: 5yrs-12yrs
Location: Littlestown Library
Description: Hands-on music program with multicultural instruments
Registration: Online registration required
Stories & Something to Make
Dates: December 3rd
Time: 10:30am-11:15 am
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Description: Stories followed by simple crafts
1st & 2nd Grade Book Club
Date: December 3rd
Time: 4:30pm-5:15pm
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Discuss a good book & share a snack
Legapalooza
Date: December 3rd
Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm
Ages: 4yrs-12yrs
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Free play with optional challenges.
Registration: Online registration required
After School Adventures: Building Masters
Date: December 4th
Time: 4:15pm-5:15pm
Ages: K-6th grade
Location: Amelia Given Memorial Library, Mt Holly Springs
Details: Test building skills using various materials such as Knex, Legos, etc.
Registration: Online registration required
Barks & Books
Date: December 4th
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Location: New Oxford Library
Details: Read to the therapy dogs
Registration: Sign up for 15 min session. Call 717-624-2182 or visit the library
Lego Club
Date: December 4th
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Ages: 6yrs & up
Location: Dillsburg Library
Details: Free play with optional challenges
Homeschool Club
Date: December 5th
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Ages: 5yrs-12yrs
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Enjoy STEAM activities while making a “gingerbread” house
Registration: Online registration required
Afternoon Storytime
Date: December 8th
Time: 4:30pm-5:00pm
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Join in stories, songs and a craft
Alice in Wonderland
Date: December 8th
Time: 6:00pm-6:30pm
Location: Gettysburg Library
Description: Enjoy story time with guests from the Gettysburg Community Theater sharing songs from their upcoming Alice in Wonderland production
Paper Plate Snow Globes
Date: December 9th
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: New Oxford Library
Details: Make simple snow globes using paper plates, coloring paper and artificial snow
Registration: Online registration required
Barks & Books
Date: December 9th
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Sign up for a 15 mins session to read to a therapy dog
Registration: Online registration required
Barks & Books
Date: December 9th
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Read to a therapy dog
3rd & 4th Grade Book Club
Date: December 10th
Time: 4:30pm-5:15pm
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Discuss a good book and share a snack
Second Saturdays: Candy Cane Chaos
Date: December 13th
Time: 10:30am-11:30am
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Stories, stations, snacks and more. Candy Cane Chaos
Registration: Online registration required
Barks & Books
Date: December 15th
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Littlestown Library
Details: Come read to Danny, the therapy dog
5th & 6th Grade Book Club
Date: December 17th
Time: 4:30pm-5:15pm
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Discuss a good book & share a snack
Afterschool Craft-time
Date: November 19th
Time: 4:30pm-5:45pm
Ages: 6yrs-12yrs
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Make holiday crafts
Registration: Online registration
Book to Movie – Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Date: December 18th
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Pick up the book after December 1st & join friends at the library to enjoy the movie. Popcorn provided
Registration: Online registration required
Afterschool Adventures: STEM
Date: December 18th
Time: 4:15pm- 5:15pm
Ages: K – 6th grades
Location: Amelia Given Memorial Library, Mt Holly Springs
Details: Hands-on program on robots. Build a maze for the robots to navigate
Registration: Online registration required
Plastic Cup Shrinky Dink Ornaments
Date: December 18th
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Ages: 7yrs-12yrs
Location: Carroll Valley Library, Fairfield
Description: Decorate a plastic cup & watch what happens when you heat it up
Registration: Online registration required
Homeschool – Full STEAM Ahead
Date: December 19th
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Ages: K – 6th grade
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Enjoy hands-on STEAM learning
Registration: Online registration required
New Year Craft
Date: December 28th
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm
Ages: 5yrs-17yrs
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Enjoy making a craft for the New Year
Grinch Party
Date: December 29th
Time: 10:30am-11:30am
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Join Miss Dana reading a classic by Dr Seuss & enjoy Grinch stations of games, crafts & activities
Registration: Online registration required
Countdown to Noon New Year’s Party
Date: December 31st
Time: 11:30am-12:30pm
Ages: up to 8yrs
Location: Amelia Given Memorial Library, Mt Holly Springs
Description: Enjoy music, snacks, crafts & countdown to noon
Registration: Online registration required
TEENS
Teen Monthly Craft: Candy Cane Reindeer
Date: December 2nd-December 23rd
Time: Drop in between 2:45pm-6:00pm on Tuesday - Friday
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Supplies provided at Teen Center for teens to make a candy cane reindeer
Teen Books & Snack Boxes
Date: December 1st – December 8th
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Pick up a box with a monthly book & a snack
Gaming Club
Dates: Tuesdays
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Hone your skills & learn new games
Registration: Online registration required
Teen Book Club
Date: December 11th
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Ages: 13yrs-18yrs
Location: Carroll Valley Library, Fairfield
Details: Discuss Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll. Bring a snack to share
Registration: Online registration required
Diamond Painting for Teens & Tweens
Dates: December 4th
Time: 4:00pm-5:30pm
Ages: 10yrs-17yrs
Location: Littlestown Library
Details: Make a seasonal sparkling diamond painting project. Supplies provided
Registration: Online registration required
Teen STEAM Night
Date: December 4th
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Hands-on STEAM project making homemade snow
Registration: Online registration required
Teen Homeschool Afternoon
Date: December 5th
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Interactive STEAM learning focused on gingerbread houses
Registration: Online registration required
Karaoke Time
Date: December 5th
Time: 5:00pm-6:00pm
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Join friends in singing karaoke
Registration: Online registration required
Young Birders Christmas Bird Count
Dates: December 6th
Time: 10:00am - Noon
Location: Wildwood Park, Harrisburg
Details: Learn bird identification and help collect data on local bird populations. Sponsored by the Young Birders Club of Appalachian Audubon
Registration: Online registration required
Writers Workshop
Dates: December 9th
Time: 5:00pm-6:00pm
Ages: Teens & Adults
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Explore writing and discuss elements of writing through prompts & independent writing.
Registration: Online registration suggested
Teen Diamond Painting
Date: December 9th
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Enjoy a night of diamond painting. Supplies provided
Registration: Online registration required
Mario Party Jamboree Competition
Date: December 11th
Time: 3:30pm-5:00pm (1st game)
5:30pm-7:00pm (2nd game)
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Mario video game competition
Registration: Online registration required
Teen Time
Date: December 11th
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Enjoy night making cards. Supplies provided
Registration: Online registration required
Writers’ Group
Date: December 16th
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Ages: Teens & Adults
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Join writers of all levels & genre to hone your skills & discuss projects
Registration: Online registration required
Operation Save Santa
Date: December 17th
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Littlestown Library
Details: Interactive mystery event where everyone is a suspect
Registration: Online registration required
7th & 8th Grade Book Club
Date: December 18th
Time: 4:30pm-5:15pm
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Discuss a good book & enjoy a snack
Cardboard Gingerbread Houses
Date: December 18th
Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Location: New Oxford Library
Details: Enjoy making a non-messy cardboard gingerbread house
Registration: Online registration required
9th - 12th Book Club
Date: December 18th
Time: 4:30pm-5:15pm
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Discuss a good book & enjoy a snack
Art Night with Roberta Ross
Date: December 18th
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Trone Memorial Library, East Berlin
Details: Enjoy a night of Stranger Things crafts with Roberta Ross. Supplies provided
Registration: Online registration required
Teen Winter Paint Night
Date: December 29th
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Ages: 11yrs-18yrs
Location: Carroll Valley Library, Fairfield
Description: Join Rob Ross for a chilly winter themed paint night.
Registration: Online registration required
FAMILIES
Fun with Chess
Dates: Mondays
Time: 6:00pm-7:45pm
Ages: All ages and skill levels
Details: Drop-in chess games for all skill levels
Where: Littlestown Library
Knot Another Stitch
Dates: Tuesdays
Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Ages: All Ages
Location: New Oxford Library
Details: Drop in to do needle crafts with friends. No registration needed. All skill levels welcome
Harry Potter & Hot Cocoa Bar
Dates: December 1st
Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm
Ages: Everyone
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Enjoy the movie that started it all & a cup of hot cocoa
Registration: Online registration recommended
First Friday Tunes
Dates: December 5th
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Ages: Everyone
Location: Gettysburg Library
Details: Enjoy a night of music
Video Game Palooza
Date: December 4th & December 18th
Time: 6:15pm-7:15pm
Ages: Ages 10yrs & up
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Details: Enjoy an evening learning new games & honing your skills
Polar Express
Date: December 8th
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Location: Calvary Methodist Church, 203 Mumper Lane, Dillsburg (Sponsored by the Dillsburg Library)
Description: Join Beth Rebert as she tells the story of the Polar Express. Light refreshments & music by the Dillsburg Brass. Make your own bell to take home.
Introduction to Diamond Painting
Date: December 11th & December 13th
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Ages: 7yrs & up
Location: Carroll Valley Library, Fairfield
Details: Learn how to diamond paint & make a small project
Registration: Online registration required
Craft Your Own Cocoa
Date: December 13th
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Ages: Everyone
Location: Littlestown Library
Details: Drop-in & create your own hot chocolate mix. Supplies provided.
Holiday Open House
Date: December 13th
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: Amelia Given Memorial Library, Mt Holly Springs
Description: Enjoy an afternoon of toy train displays, children’s crafts, cookies & hot chocolate.
Family Holiday Movie
Date: December 13th
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Location: Harbaugh Thomas Memorial Library, Biglerville
Description: Enjoy a holiday movie, crafts & snacks. Contact the library for movie title
Saturday Matinee
Date: December 20th
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Location: New Oxford Library
Details: Monthly screening of a classic film. Contact library for title
Christmas at Fort Hunter
Fort Hunter has a month of various Christmas activities and displays for all ages including toy train exhibit, mansion tours, Festival of Trees, Santa & hearth cooking programs. The mansion is located at 5300 N. Front Street, Harrisburg and information can be found at www.forthunter.org
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) provides many free programs and events for the entire family. These events include bird walks, wildflower walks, orienteering programs, and forestry/natural resource programs. Many parks also offer Pa history programs and have summer youth camps/programs. More information can be found at the DCNR Calendar of Events at https://events.dcnr.pa.gov.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
Knot Another Stitch: Knit & Needle Crafts
Dates: Mondays (not on December 29th)
Ages: Everyone
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Details: Learn how to knit and do needle crafts via Zoom. Sponsored by Adams County Library
Registration: Online registration or call New Oxford Library
Tiny Art
Date: December 20th
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Ages: Teens & Adults
Description: Enjoy a paint night at home with winter stag theme.
Registration: Online registration required. Contact Adams County libraries to arrange for supply box pick up at Littlestown Library or have sent to your home library. Supplies are limited
Other Programs:
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve Homeschool Days:
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve naturalists will be offer homeschool days integrating art, science & literature. Programs are aligned with STEEL standards. Register at www.strawberryhillnaturepreserve.com
Oakes Museum- Homeschool Science Classes & Labs
Details: Numerous Homeschool science classes and labs for all ages of students. Curator Club offers Saturday morning science classes for 3rd-5th graders. CC2 provides labs on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons for 6th-8th graders. Check Oakes Museum website at www.messiah.edu.