The businesses of downtown Chambersburg present Christmas on Main, December 6, from 5 PM to 8 PM. Celebrate the beauty of the season and the holiday spirit with the Cocoa Crawl, Kinder Christmas Market, and the final evening of Festival of Trees.
Cocoa Crawl
Cocoa Crawl is a chance to taste special hot cocoa recipes served by downtown businesses and organizations. At 5:45 PM, Cocoa Crawl mugs go on sale on the square in front of F&M Bank. Participants can sip, stroll, shop, and enjoy the beautifully decorated Main Street of Chambersburg. At the end of the evening after tasting all the cocoas, vote for favorite your favorite.
Kinder Christmas Market
Kinder Christmas Market is a special Christmas Market. It gives young artisans a chance to showcase their talent and try their hand at entrepreneurship. These wares are extra-special gifts to share original art with friends and family, plus support young talent and build their confidence.
Festival of Trees at the 11/30 Visitors Center
Be sure to visit Festival of Trees at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, located next door to Central Presbyterian Church. Enjoy the beauty of more than 30 trees and wreaths, decorated by county-wide businesses, organizations, and groups. Vote for your favorite or bid on one to take home. Children can color a Ben Franklin holiday page or make a candy cane or wreath ornament. At 6:30 PM in the lobby of the 11/30 Visitors Center, enjoy the 2019 A Cappella & Unplugged winners—For F4ith—as they sing selections from their holiday cd—A Faith-Filled Christmas. (The cd will be on sale for $10.) At 7 PM, Marla Hart, a 2019 A Cappella & Unplugged finalist, will perform holiday favorites, including fun, jingle bell songs and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Plus, Santa will be downtown from 5 PM to 6:30 PM. Holiday music along Main Street will be proviced by Rick Summers and James Buchanan Alumi Chorus,
Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites the public to view the semi-finalists of A Cappella & Unplugged 2019 on Facebook.com/FCVBen. Seven performers–Big Toe, Evan Crider, For F4ith, Kylie Young, Maple Taco, Marla Hart, and Robert Twine—are vying to be the 2019 A Cappella & Unplugged champion. Take a minute to view and like the most appealing performance. The three videos with the most likes are invited to perform in the 2019 A Cappella & Unplugged Finals on July 20 at 7 PM as part of the 1864 Weekend.
1864 Weekend, July 19 and July 20, remembers the Civil War history of Chambersburg, PA—which was ransomed by Confederate General John McCausland for $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in Yankee greenbacks. When the town could not pay the ransom, Chambersburg was burned. More than eleven blocks, a total of 550 structures, burned. Over 2000 residents were left homeless. Yet, the residents did not give up. They gathered themselves and rebuilt the town. Today, Chambersburg remains a prosperous community. Without such spirit and perseverance, Chambersburg would have passed into obscurity. A Cappella & Unplugged commemorates the spirit of these past residents.
A Cappella & Unplugged 2019 celebrates five years of amazing talent. Past winners of A Cappella & Unplugged are: 2015: “A World Apart” with Taylor Piper and Kristopher Potter of Mercersburg; 2016: Kate & Isaac, a duo from Waynesboro; 2017: Elly Cooke of Gettysburg; 2018: Alexus Lawson of Chambersburg. Join the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 7 PM on July 20 in downtown Chambersburg to see who will be the 2019 A Cappella & Unplugged winner.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites the public to enjoy the talent of the 2019 A Cappella & Unplugged Semi-finalists. Seven performers—Big Toe, Evan Crider, For F4ith, Kylie Young, Maple Taco, Marla Hart, and Robert Twine–moved out of the 2019 A Cappella & Unplugged Round One at the Capitol Theatre on Saturday, June 22. Judges Heather McEndree of Cumberland Valley School of Music, Jon Meyer of the Capitol Theatre, and Marina Addlesberger of the Chambersburg Ballet Theatre School selected the semi-finalists, based on musical ability, stage presence, creativity, and originality. All can view and like their favorite performance on Facebook.com/FCVBen.
A Cappella & Unplugged 2019 is the fifth annual event, which started in 2015 as part of the 1864 Commemoration. In 1864, during the Civil War, Chambersburg was ransomed for $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in Yankee dollars. The town could not pay the ransom, and it was burned. Yet, today it is a thriving community. A Cappella & Unplugged celebrates the spirit and energy of the people, who rebuilt the community.
From the seven semi-final performances, the three that are most liked will move onto the A Cappella & Unplugged Finals, held on the steps of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center at 7 PM, just before the 1864 Chambersburg Comes To Life, re-enacting the ransoming, burning and rebirth of the town with lights and atmospheric effects. The crowd at the event and online selects the A Cappella & Unplugged winner, who will receive $500.
The videos of the performances are available on Facebook.com/FCVBen through noon on July 17.
