Welcome to the shortest week of the year. The grocery stores are chaotic, the out-of-town plates are starting to appear on I-83, and everyone is ready to trade their spreadsheets for pumpkin pie.

Travel predictions show heavy traffic for the Turnpike ( Link to PA Turnpike Travel Advisory ) The PA Turnpike Commission expects peak travel times starting Tuesday afternoon. If you are heading out of the 717 to visit in-laws, plan your departure time carefully to avoid the gridlock.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is officially in full swing ( Link to Hersheypark Events ) The lights are up and the hot chocolate is flowing over in Chocolatetown. It is a good reminder that while the tourists flock here, locals know the best time to go is a random Tuesday night.

Harrisburg announces trash pickup schedule changes ( Link to City of Harrisburg Public Works ) With Thanksgiving on Thursday, most municipalities are sliding their pickup schedules by one day. Check your borough or city website so you aren't the only neighbor with bins on the curb a day early.

🟪 Upcoming Events

Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights Mon–Wed, Nov 24–26 | 6:00 PM | Rocky Ridge Park, York Walk through a half-mile trail of 600,000 lights at one of York County’s best parks. It is a perfect way to walk off the pre-holiday stress before the big meal. ( Link to York County Parks )

Thanksgiving Eve with The Badlees Wed, Nov 26 | 8:00 PM | XL Live, Harrisburg The biggest bar night of the year gets a local soundtrack. Catch the legendary Pennsylvania rockers at the region’s premier live venue for a night of nostalgia and loud music. ( Link to XL Live Calendar )

Harrisburg Area YMCA Turkey Trot Thu, Nov 27 | 8:00 AM | City Island, Harrisburg Earn your second slice of pie early. Join thousands of runners and walkers on City Island for this annual tradition that supports local YMCA programs. ( Link to Harrisburg Area YMCA )

🩵 Neighbor Spotlight

The Volunteers of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

While many of us are stressing over whether the turkey will thaw in time, a massive team of volunteers in Harrisburg and Williamsport is ensuring thousands of families have a meal on the table this Thursday.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, headquartered on N. Cameron Street, works with a network of over 1,000 local partners. This week is their Super Bowl. From packing ElderShare boxes to sorting fresh produce donations from local farms, these neighbors are the engine behind the region's generosity. They don't do it for the recognition. They do it because in the 717, we make sure everyone gets fed.

If you have a few hours this holiday season, they are always looking for hands to pack boxes. It beats arguing about politics on the couch.

( Link to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Volunteer Page )

Downtown parking rules usually relax for the holiday. In Harrisburg, metered street parking is free on Thanksgiving Day. However, always double-check the "ParkMobile" app or the sticker on the pole before you walk away. The PPA in Philly might be famous for tickets, but our local enforcement officers are pretty efficient too.

We have to settle this before Thursday. The turkey is standard, but the side dishes are where the battles are fought.

What is the one side dish that MUST be on a 717 Thanksgiving table?

Reply to this email with your pick. We will share the winner in next week’s newsletter.

Thanks for reading Our Local 717.

If you are a local business owner, venue manager, or community organizer in the Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, or Lebanon area and want to feature an event, write to us at [email protected].

See you on the trail, The Our Local 717 Team