HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — The annual Kipona Festival returned to Harrisburg this Labor Day weekend, bringing food, live music, family activities and cultural celebrations to the Susquehanna Riverfront.
The 110th Kipona Festival is giving families and visitors a chance to enjoy the holiday weekend while taking in live performances, local vendors and food from across the area.
For Isabella, there is one thing that keeps bringing her back to the festival.
“The food. I just want the food,” she said. “We always come for the food trucks, so we check all the time.”
The festival started in 1916 as a celebration of Harrisburg’s deep connection to the Susquehanna River.
For one family from New jersey, that history was part of what brought them back to this year’s event, despite rising gas prices.
“You’ve got to budget a little better to meet your priorities and what you’ve got to spend money on, but it definitely affects where we drive to,” Brandon said.
The 110th Kipona Fest in downtown Harrisburg on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (WHP)
Along with food and music, the festival featured cultural celebrations and vendors showcasing their work.
Karen has been making wind chimes out of wine bottles with her daughter for more than eight years.
She said creating each piece involves several steps and can take a couple of days to complete.
“It’s 25 different steps, and it takes a couple days because if you’re painting it, it has to dry,” she said. “And then you put an acrylic finish on it so that it could be used outside,” Karen said.
This year marks Karen’s 10th year at the festival. She said the event gives her an opportunity to showcase her work while meeting people from different backgrounds.
“Even though they weren’t buying anything, they just took the time out of their walk all the way down through here to visit with us. So, I love people,” Karen said.
The Kipona Festival continues through Monday, with fireworks scheduled for Sunday night as part of the celebration.
