By Hannah Beard
Fall Oyster Festival Committee
Make it a full Fall weekend in York County, capped off by one of the area’s most anticipated traditions: the York County History Center’s 52nd Annual Fall Oyster Festival, presented by White Rose Bar & Grill. From live music and local brews to pumpkin picking and historic tours, fill your weekend with York County experiences before joining us for one of York’s favorite fall traditions.
Friday, Oct. 16
Start your weekend with a little fall scenery and an evening of live music.
- Northern Central Railway: Enjoy a fall foliage train ride at 11 a.m.
- Flinchbaugh’s Orchard: Head to the pumpkin patch for pick-your-own pumpkins.
- Appell Center: Catch “Stayin’ Alive: One Night of the Bee Gees” at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17
Explore local history, meet some furry friends or sample the area’s brewing scene.
- Crispus Attucks History & Culture Center: Explore the rich history, stories, contributions, and experiences of York County’s African-American community. Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
- Historic Architecture Tour: Take a guided walk along downtown York’s West Market Street corridor at 11 a.m.
- Brewery Tours’ York City Walkabout: Explore York City’s breweries on a tour starting at noon.
- Yorktoberfest: Enjoy more than 300 craft beers and wines, local food and live music at York Memorial Park from noon to 5 p.m.
- Shear Heaven Farm: Visit the farm to meet the alpacas, a great event for all ages!
Sunday, Oct. 18
Make the 52nd Annual Fall Oyster Festival the centerpiece of your weekend! Join us from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Colonial Complex, on Pershing Avenue between Market and Philadelphia streets in historic downtown York. Admission is free, with food, beverages and merchandise available for purchase. Enjoy oysters and other festival favorites including new menu items, and shop an array of artisans and vendors. For GPS directions, use 157 W. Market St., York, behind the Colonial Court House. Proceeds benefit the York County History Center, supporting artifact care, historic site maintenance and free and low-cost programming throughout the year.
There’s even more to explore on Sunday:
- The York Art Association Open House: Visit the grand opening of the York Art Association’s new facility at 591 Linden Ave. (the Little Green Church in The Avenues). Stop by between 2 and 6 p.m. and tour the new galleries, classrooms and gathering spaces and see what’s ahead for YAA.
- The Kitsch-enette’s street event: They’re shutting down South Beaver Street to bring the weirdos downtown! From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. enjoy vegan food trucks and 40+ strange and sustainable vendors, hosted by the vegan café and vintage shop hybrid at 21 S. Beaver St.
- Sundays in the City: Grab brunch before Oyster Festival or explore downtown shops afterward. Activities include brunch with your dog at The Handsome Cab and a Sunday jam session at In Between Pages.
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Grace Manor Bed & Breakfast, a short walk from the Colonial Complex in York. Northern Central Railway: Ride the Pumpkin Patch Express at 10 a.m. where you can stop and pick your own pumpkin, or enjoy a fall foliage steam train ride at 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.
Stay for the Weekend
Make yourself at home at Grace Manor Bed & Breakfast or The Yorktowne Hotel, both within walking distance of the Oyster Festival. Enjoy a relaxed weekend of exploring, dining and shopping, then fight off the Sunday scaries with great food, local history and community fun at Oyster Festival!
Hannah Beard is the volunteer co-chair of the Fall Oyster Festival planning committee. She formerly worked for Downtown York.