The Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show - THE show for sportsmen and the largest of its kind in North America - comes to Harrisburg this weekend for a nine-day expo sure to lure in any outdoor sports buff.

Fishing and hunting experts, celebrity anglers and hunters and a host of outfitters, vendors and suppliers will be spread throughout the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg with demonstrations like fly casting demos, jig fishing, dog training, Backpacking 101 on the Appalachian Trail, “Secret Recipes for Cooking That Trout,” concealed permit firearms class, bowhunting clinics, and so much more.

The show hosts daily contests, including the Capital City Bassmasters Casting Kids Contest, a Celebrity Casting Contest, Youth Turkey Calling, Owl Hooting, turkey calling contests of varying levels and an Elk Calling Contest.

For a full list of events, visit the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show website.

Saturday, Feb. 11 is Kids’ Day at the show, featuring plenty of family friendly activities to help get youth involved in the great outdoor sports of hunting, fishing and wildlife preservation.

Events include an “arial style” bow demonstration from the Outdoor Channel’s Fear No Evil! host Chris Brackett, an up close and personal encounter with southeastern reptiles at The Reptile Wagon, Laser tag, fly fishing and casting demonstrations - plus an up close look at the world of raptors!

The Eastern Sports & Outdoors Show runs from Feb. 4-12.

If a were a betting woman, you couldn’t dare me to place a wager on the amount of wine being produced in Pennsylvania. With more than 140 wineries and 11 wine trails, our great Commonwealth is making a name for itself in wine. And, in the Hershey-Harrisburg area, there are plenty of these wineries to visit, sip and enjoy!

Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery in Halifax is one of the area’s newest wineries. They offer five white and five red varieties, ranging from sweet to dry, so there’s a little something for everyone. They also make a series of fruit wines, with flavors like apple, cherry, peach, blackberry and more. Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery also hosts live music on its patio on Friday nights.

Hunters Valley Winery in Liverpool produces about 3,500 gallons or 18,000 bottles of wine yearly in nearly 20 varieties. Their winery offers a breathtaking view of the Susquehanna River. The vineyards are on-site, just a short walking distance from the building, where the wine is fermented bottled and sold. Tours and tastings are free. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy with their wine.

West Hanover Winery has been a staple of the area for more than 22 years. They create award-winning wines and host events - from weddings to summer concerts - at their Harrisburg location. From dessert wines to dry wines, they offer 38 varieties. West Hanover Winery implements the latest fermenting technology to create a faster, quality wine to impress the most discriminating tastes.

The Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail represents 10 area vineyards, including Benigna’s Creek Winery, Hunters Valley Wintery, Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars, Brookmere Winery, Shade Mountain Winery, Spyglass Ridge Winery, Red Shale Ridge Vineyards and the soon-to-open Fero Vineyards and Happy Valley.

Cassel Vineyards of Hershey is set to reopen this June with a brand new tasting room. Plus, coming soon -- two new local wineries. The Vineyard at Hershey opens this winter; Buddy Boy Winery is expected to open in Duncannon in November.

For more information VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org

The Hershey-Harrisburg Visitors Bureau is pleased to welcome new partners for 2012. All of these great local businesses add flavor and interest to the Hershey-Harrisburg area. Be sure to check them out on your next stay!

Stay
1805 Cameron Estate Inn & Restaurant in Mount Joy is an historic, romantic getaway in Lancaster County.
The Olde Square Inn is a bed and breakfast in Mount Joy offering a pool, pet friendly lodging, and handicap accessibility.

Where to eat
Fire Alley Restaurant in Hershey is based off of the famous FireHouse Restaurant in downtown Harrisburg. It’s cozy bar and spacious dining room make it a great stop for a date, girls’ night or a family dinner.
Panera Bread Catering -- Your favorite coffee and pastry shop also caters large events!
Waynes Restaurant & Catering provides delicious, affordable food in Millersburg.
The Wooden Nickel is a restaurant, bar and grill located on the square in Millersburg, specializing in seafood, steaks and pasta.
Shanks at Lykens Valley Golf Course offers fine dining - not just for golfers!

Pennsylvania’s Wine Trail
Be sure to add these two new vineyards to your wine trail tour: Cassel Vineyards of Hershey and The Vineyard at Hershey, both opening soon for spring tours and tastings!

Shopping in Hershey-Harrisburg
All Union Signs provides all your signage needs, located in Harrisburg.
Johnson’s Jewelry & Gifts is a gift shop and jewelry store located in Millersburg.
Burrell Florist is a full service flower shop in Millersburg.
Also in Millersburg, The Furniture Center sells more than just beds and armoires. Find gifts, seasonal decor and more.
“Wooth” stands for “With our own two hands” and features hand-crafted jewelry and gifts of art. Located in Millersburg.
The Gallery On The Square is the home to the Millersburg Art Association.
Coming soon! Stay tuned to Swatara Plaza at The Concourse.

Fun/Activites
Millersburg’s Market Street Spa offers all of your pampering needs.
Hit the links at Lykens Valley Golf Course.
Sail the Susquehanna aboard the Millersburg Ferry Boat.

For more information VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org

Farm show week is always a big deal in Harrisburg. Whether you’re partial to the rodeo, the sheep to shawl competition, meeting the animals - or just pop in for the amazing milkshakes and tasty baked potatoes, the Pennsylvania Farm Show is a popular annual tradition for locals and tourists alike.

Some of my favorite sights at the include the PA Preferred Culinary Connection, which brings together celebrity chefs (including Bricco’s Jason Viscount, the Hilton Harrisburg’s John Reis and more), Pennsylvania producers and more for an event-filled week. You’ll find cooking demonstrations, taste-testing, cooking challenges and more.

There also are opportunities to sample wines from Pennsylvania’s many vineyards and wineries.

The prized food court of course has incredible Pennsylvania produced food and beverages for sale. From the famous milkshakes to the smoked trout chowder, there is something for everyone in the Food Court. Try the honey ice cream or potato donuts for something sweet. Perhaps some deep fried fresh mozzarella cubes with marinara sauce or beef brisket sandwich is more up your alley. Go hungry - there is so much to choose from, you’ll want more than one thing.

The Farm Show runs through Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.

Preserving Pennsylvania Tradition
A new exhibit opens at The Hershey Story this Saturday. From Field to Feast: Pennsylvania German Food will examine 18th- and 19th-century Pennsylvania German (or Pennsylvania “Dutch” as we call it - the word for German, “Deutsch” came to be known as “Dutch”) food and culture.

The exhibit, which explores traditional Pennsylvania German harvesting, animal husbandry, food preparation and preservation features artifacts, even some purchased by Milton Hershey. Visitors also can learn about open-hearth cooking, butter making and Pennsylvania German social gatherings. A hands-on section will let children “pick” vegetables, assemble a grain puzzle, smell fresh herbs and spices and other games.

Access to the exhibit is free with Museum Experience admission.

For more information VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org

It’s a pretty mild winter so far, but fortunately temperatures have dipped enough lately to make snow at Roundtop Mountain Resort!

Did you know you can track the snowmaking progress via Roundtop’s live web cameras? Plus, learn how snowmaking works! They’re open this week for skiing and snowboarding, but snow tubing is closed until there is a bit more cold and snow.

Roundtop offers loads of different packages, including beginner lessons for the winter sport newb. Weekly offers for men, women, college students and home school students began this week and last through the season. You can find more information on the Events page of Roundtop’s website.

For more outdoor fun, you may know that guests of the Hershey Resorts have access to the all-weather skating rink at The Hotel Hershey.

Starting this season, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday, guests from local communities are invited to skate there, too. The all-weather skating rink at The Hotel Hershey is made from a synthetic material, which makes is accessible all year long -- and extra safe for beginner skaters. Skating is $5 per skater, including skate rental.

For more information VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org

We at the Hershey-Harrisburg Visitors Bureau wish you and yours a wonderful, and of course, very merry Christmas. This will be the last post for 2011, and we look forward to seeing you again in the new year.

Be sure to check out our recent posts to discover the magic that is Christmas in Hershey, the fun happening throughout the Harrisburg region, suggestions on entertaining your out of town guests - plus a holiday gift guide for those of you looking for some last minute presents.

We hope your New Year’s celebration is sparkling and fun. While finding party to ring in 2012 is simple enough for adults, we have two really neat family friendly New Year’s Eve events for you:

The Popcorn Hat Players will host their 19th annual Countdown to NOON party at the Sunoco Performance Theatre at Whitaker Center in downtown Harrisburg. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for an 11 a.m. performance of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Then, you’ll count down to noon (instead of midnight), with noisemakers, party hats and even a balloon drop. Even better for your kids: high fives instead of kisses at noon! Tickets are $12, and it is highly recommended to reserve these in advance. Call (717) 238-4111 (leave a message if no one answers).

Alternatively, ring in the new year in Hershey with the Hershey’s Chocolate World Family New Year’s Eve Party. Starting at 7:30 p.m., enjoy dinner and dessert buffets, a family dance party, entertainment - plus access to all the Hershey’s Chocolate World attractions. The official countdown to 2012 begins at 10:30 p.m. Call 1-800-HERSHEY for reservations.

For more information VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org

My husband and I are going to have a full house this Christmas. My sister is staying with us over the holiday weekend, and as she departs, my in-laws are joining us for a few days.

We’ll have plenty of ways to entertain our guests. The first order of business is some easy relaxation. My sister and I are planning some quality girl time with our mom getting manicures at Laguna Pointe Salon & Day Resort followed by a movie. Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts IMAX has some great family friendly films, like Happy Feet Two or Santa vs. the Snowman 3-D - plus the next in the blockbuster Mission Impossible franchise starts there this weekend!

More entertainment ideas
This weekend, catch the classic holiday film, White Christmas, at Midtown Cinema. With special showings on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18 only, grab your sweetheart and a cup of hot cocoa and get yourselves in the holiday spirit.

The Hershey Theatre plays host to Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet this weekend with their presentation of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Showtimes are 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25-$48.

As my sister is out the door, my in-laws will arrive. Since we’re missing the actual holiday with them, we wanted to do something special and extra Christmas-y. I’ve arranged for us to visit the Hershey Lodge for “A Holiday Dinner Musical,” which I’m certain will be a great way to keep us in the spirit. The evening begins with caroling, punch and light hors d’oeuvres. Mayor Herschel Sugarman will guide us through the multi-course celebration showcasing Christmas traditions through song and dance while enjoying a delicious dinner. Showtimes run through Dec. 28 - be sure to check online before you book. Tickets are $55.95 for adults, children ages 3-12 are $29.95. Call 717-508-2697 to book.

For more information VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org

If you love the Hershey-Harrisburg area, be sure to share its best parts with the people on your list this year. Shopping locally is important to every community, and the best gifts are those with a story. Here are some great gift ideas for the folks on your list (and maybe a few to add to your own Wish List, too)!

Roundtop Mountain Resort offers such a wide range of activities it’s almost hard to keep track. We’re on our way towards snow season, so perhaps a beginner snowboarding or skiing package is just right for your active teenager. Or, snag a gift card for Mountain View Food and Spirits, so seasoned skiers can kick back after an afternoon of hitting the slopes. There also are tubing packages - or many of the warm-weather activities, like paintball or the OGO Ball - that might be a perfect fit for someone on your list.

If you’re shopping for a craft brew lover, you’ve got to hit up Troegs Brewing Company at their new location. The Mad Elf gift set is the natural pick -- or select from their range of cool gear, from tees and other apparel to glassware.

Sports lover will be pleasantly surprised by box tickets or family packs to check out the Harrisburg Senators or the Hershey Bears.

Wine lovers can be sated with a selection of wines from the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail. If she’s on the “nice” list, consider a gift card for any of the amazing treatments at Laguna Pointe Salon & Day Resort or The Chocolate Spa at The Hotel Hershey.

Harrisburg locals can always find something at Midtown Scholar Bookstore or Midtown Cinema. A gift card to each will make someone very happy on Christmas morning.

Yoga lovers will find balance at Yoga on Chocolate, where they practice bikram, or hot yoga. Plus, the Boutique is filled with great gear for your yogi - right on Chocolate Ave in downtown Hershey.

For more great ideas, check out the gift shop at the State Museum, or Hershey’s new online gift shop, Shop.HersheyPA.com. Finally, if you’re traveling by plane this season and in the need for last-minute gifts, stop into the Perfectly Pennsylvania Gift Store at Harrisburg International Airport, for Pennsylvania products.

For more information VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org

With Thanksgiving now just a foggy, bloated memory, the holidays are officially before us. My husband and I kicked off our first married holiday with some Black Friday shopping for colored lights to outline our home and a pre-lit “faux” Christmas tree.

We capped off the evening with the opening night of “The Santaland Diaries” at Open Stage Harrisburg. The one-man show, adapted from the David Sedaris essay of the same name, is a laugh-inducing 90-minute narrative regaling Sedaris’ experience as Crumpet the Elf at a New York City Macy’s.

Open Stage is an intimate venue located below the Walnut Street Garage in the bottom of Strawberry Square. This is great addition to date night, holiday style. Grab dinner downtown first, or do like we did, and grab a drink afterwards. This one is for adults only, however.

For family friendly events in the city, you’re already in the right vicinity. Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts has a host of holiday activities to carry you through the new year.

The Science Center is home to a Holiday Trains and Tree display - this is free with your Science Center admission.

Catch a showing of Happy Feet 2 in IMAX 3D for a sure kid-pleaser.

Also in IMAX 3D - and long on my “to do” list - is Santa vs. the Snowman 3D. This is a holiday tradition that returns annually to the Whitaker Center. Running time is approximately 35 minutes.

For more information, tickets and showtimes, visit whitakercenter.org.

For more information VisitHersheyHarrisburg.org