By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey
If there’s one thing that gets kids as excited (well, almost as excited) as opening holiday gifts, it’s giving gifts they have chosen all by themselves to the people they love. On Saturdays and Sundays until December 20 at
Harrisburg’s
Fort Hunter Mansion, Santa’s helpers are on hand to help children under 12 pick and purchase just the right presents. At the “Kids Only” Holiday Shop, all of the gift items cost no more than $10.00 to fit little ones’ limited budgets (they must bring their own money). Gift-wrapping is free.
While you’re visiting Fort Hunter, check out the 13th Annual Festival of Trees, seven holiday trees elaborately decorated with handmade ornaments by local garden clubs. Each tree represents a particular theme, which, this year, ranges from angels to reindeer. One is even beach-themed. The decorated trees will be raffled off December 21. Raffle tickets are $2.
And don’t miss the Toy Train Exhibit, an 8-by-28-foot display of horn-tooting, smoke-spewing HO-scale trains traveling through cheerily lit local towns. And, of course, there’s an amusement park, complete with turning Ferris wheel.
All of these activities are free. Hours are 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.