Memorial Day Weekend Events Showcase Hershey Harrisburg Region’s Strength as a Premier Event Destination

Memorial Day Weekend in the Hershey Harrisburg Region is an exciting time as thousands of athletes and visitors arrive for events. Hotels fill with traveling teams and families, downtown streets welcome festival goers, and local venues become gathering spaces for residents and visitors alike.

“With the return of summer operations at Hersheypark alongside major regional events, Memorial Day Weekend serves as the unofficial start of the busiest tourism season of the year in the region” said Gregg Cook, Executive Director of the Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority. “Collectively, we expect these five events to generate over $18 million in economic impact for Dauphin County.”

The annual Hershey Soccer Club Memorial Day Challenge will bring more than 530 U-8 through U-19 teams to fields throughout the region, including Penn State Harrisburg and In the Net Sports Complex, on May 22-24. Teams will travel from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Virginia, and across Pennsylvania to compete.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) will hold the Boys Singles and Doubles State Championships at Hershey Racquet Club on May 22 and 23. There will be 32 singles and 32 doubles matches between qualifying high school athletes from across the state.

Twin Ponds and Klick Lewis Arena will welcome 25 youth ice hockey teams on May 22-24 for the annual Memorial Day Madness tournament hosted by Travel Champs. Teams will travel from North Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and across Pennsylvania to compete.

More than 40,000 visitors are expected at Harrisburg International Airport on May 23-25 for the Air Dot Show Central PA. This national touring show is returning for its second year and has added an additional day due to its overwhelming success. Spectators will enjoy thrilling performances by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Viper and Osprey demos, Navy Seals Leap Frogs, and more.

The 58th annual Artsfest in Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park draws more than 40,000 visitors and over 200 vendors for a three-day celebration of the arts on May 23-25. The show recently earned national recognition ranking #53 on Sunshine Artist Magazine’s list of best art shows in the country in the Fine Art & Design category. Rankings are based solely on artists’ reported sales so the recognition shows artisans from across the country are doing some of their best business in Harrisburg.

“These events showcase the collaboration, hospitality, and infrastructure that make the Hershey Harrisburg region an ideal destination for tournaments, championships, and marquee events of all sizes,” said Sharon S. Myers, President & CEO of Visit Hershey & Harrisburg. “From iconic venues and attractions to a wide range of hotels and easily accessible East Coast location, our region continues to demonstrate why organizers choose to host and grow their events here year after year, and why families extend their stays to explore beyond the fields, courts, rinks, and arenas.”

For more information on the Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority and upcoming sports and entertainment events, visit http://www.hhsportsandevents.com.