Harrisburg's Kipona Festival includes art show, food, boat races, fireworks display

Display location:Harrisburg
City:Harrisburg
State:PA
Date:8:35 p.m Sep 6

Details: The annual Harrisburg Kipona Festival, named after a Delaware Indian term meaning bright, sparkling water, actually rolls several festivals into one. There is no shortage of activities. Catch all the fun Saturday through Monday along the banks of the Susquehanna River with these events.

Arts festival

The PSECU Artfest is a slightly smaller version of the summer-opening Patriot-News Artsfest and features artists both familiar and new. Admission to the artist area, which ranges from Market Street to the historic Shipoke neighborhood, is $3, or $5 for a three-day pass. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, noon-7 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday.

Native American Pow-Wow

The 13th annual Gathering of the People, Native American Indian Pow-Wow, will be held Saturday to Monday near the miniature golf course on City Island. Sample traditional Indian American foods including elk and bison hamburgers and chili along with fry bread/tacos, elk jerky and sassafras tea. See tribal dances and participate in tribal arts and crafts.

An American Indian flute and hoop dance performance will take place at 11 a.m. and noon Saturday at the Comcast Market Street Stage. For the first time, the powwow will include an Indian American procession. The first one will honor Mayor Stephen R. Reed and start at about noon on Saturday at Swenson Plaza on Walnut Street and wind its way to the festival encampment on City Island. Later in the day a second procession will honor Peggy Grove, a former city councilwoman.

Chili cookoff

The 31st annual Pennsylvania State Chili Cookoff, better known as Chili Bowl XXXI, is sponsored by Giant Food Stores. It starts with setup at 7 a.m. Saturday in Riverfront Park. The official lighting of the stoves is at 10 a.m. and the fun doesn't wind down until 4 p.m. with the wild and wacky awards ceremony. Serious cooks -- all members of the International Chili Society -- compete for top honors in red and verde (green) chili and the chance to qualify to compete in October at the World's Championship Chili Cookoff in Charleston, W.Va.

Walk around and sample chili for 25 cents a pop and help pick the People's Choice Chili winner. Otherwise, cooks compete for the Belly Burner trophy for the hottest chili, the Pride of the Susquehanna trophy for best local chili and top honors in the Members 1st salsa competition. Brave souls are welcome to compete in three different eating contests -- jalapeno eating, hands-free chili eating and wing eating.

Cool off with beer and free 1800 Silver Tequila margarita tastings at Second and State streets with proceeds benefiting River Rescue.

Dick Reese Kipona Canoe Races

Part serious and part fun, the canoe races are a Kipona institution. Anyone from novice to expert can join in the fun participating in several divisions as long as you pay the $5 registration fee. The first race begins on the Susquehanna River at 10 a.m. Monday. The races start and finish at the Concert Barge in Riverfront Park near Locust and Front streets.

Participants can win awards, cash prizes or a tandem canoe. Proceeds support local volunteer canoe and kayak instruction through the Canoe Club of Greater Harrisburg.

Youth street soccer

State Street will be converted into a one-of-a-kind soccer field on Monday. Players ages 7 to 18 are invited to play in this street soccer competition. It kicks off at noon. Kids will be paired randomly and according to age, and trophies awarded at a 3:30 p.m. ceremony.

Drinks on the Pride

For the first time during Kipona you can step into the Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat at the East Shore dock off of Front Street and relax with a cocktail, beer or wine. In between cruises the boat will be open to the public.

Gourmet burgers

Take a break at Karen's at the Civic Club, 612 N. Front St. and order jumbo gourmet burgers. Proceeds will benefit the Middletown Area Arts Collective. Sit in the garden and watch the talent perform on the Giant Liberty Cove Stage. Open 10 a.m. -10 p.m. Saturday and Monday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday.

For the kids

The Belco Children's Village will be humming all weekend long. The Puppen Meister Productions, direct from South Williamsport, and its cast of homemade marionettes will take the stage in the Country Kids Jamboree complete with a barn stage. If you miss them, you might catch the Popcorn Hat Players version of Aesop's Fables and Rapunzel or the antics of the husband-and-wife clown duo Buttons & Bows from Harrisburg.

The fireworks

Last but not least, don't forget the gala fireworks display. It will light up the sky 8:35 p.m. Sunday, with a rain date set for the same time on Monday.

Parking

Some downtown Harrisburg meters may be reserved for festival parking, but all others are free during festival hours. A fee is charged to park in City Island parking lots, and special rates are available in select high-rise city garages. Visit HarrisburgParking.org for information on fees and operation times. Harrisburg will detour North Front Street traffic for Kipona.