Oktoberfest, Fall Fest & More

Hello neighbors!

I’m having a hard time fitting everything into one email each week! That’s a good problem to have, honestly.

I’m considering publishing a third day each week. My next idea is publishing another events-only email on Mondays. This one will feature a few categories such as 21+, Live Music, Kid-Friendly, Paid Classes, & Free Events. Each category will include a few events. Ideally, I would include all events, but I want to make sure I can follow through on my commitments to you. I know I can feature a few events for each category.

What do you think? Sound good? Hit reply and tell me what you think!

As always, thank you to today’s sponsors: Momentous and Long Angle. Interacting with their links at the top and bottom of the email is the easiest way to help us keep growing.

XoXo,
Megan

Thank you to everyone who upgraded to be paid supporters! I’d love to share your names as my first Founding Supporters, but I need you to reply to my thank-you email and give me permission to share your first name.

Thanks to the combined efforts of amazing sponsors and amazing readers, our community has now grown to 565 subscribers!

Every dollar goes directly into making this newsletter better – from covering tech, tools, and marketing to funding new features and local contributors. Your support will allow me to keep access to Heart of Hanover free for everyone – no paywalls or hidden content.

This newsletter truly runs on local love and support, and you guys make this possible!

📆 September 11–13 | 🕢 7:30 PM
📆 September 14 | 🕑 2 PM
📍 Hanover Little Theatre, 360 Blooming Grove Rd, Hanover
💵 $20 | 🎫 Buy tickets online

Happiness really is great musical theatre, and the Hanover Little Theatre is serving it up with You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

What makes this production extra special is that it’s ours. Performed by local talent, for local audiences, in the heart of Hanover.

Performances run September 5–7 and September 11–14. Tickets are available through the Hanover Little Theatre box office. With only a handful of shows on the calendar, they won’t last long.

If you’ve been meaning to plan a night out, this is the perfect excuse. After all, as Linus reminds us: “Happiness is… anything and anyone that’s loved by you.”

📆 Saturday, September 13 | 🕚 11 AM – 3 PM
📍 Downtown Hanover
💵 $30 | 🎫 Buy tickets online

Hanover’s German roots run deep, and every September, they come to life downtown in the most delicious way possible. This year’s Oktoberfest is a walking feast through local shops and eateries, each putting their own twist on German-inspired favorites.

Your $30 ticket comes with a passport for German-inspired food and non-alcoholic drink tastings at select downtown stops. Plus you get one (1) beer voucher redeemable at Dolphin & Anchor Pub, Fat Bat Brewing, or Lydian Stone Brewing Company. It’s part heritage tour, part progressive dinner, and 100% Hanover.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Local businesses are joining in with their own celebrations:

🐝 Dawg Gone Bees: Fresh-baked German honey cookies made with their own raw honey, along with seasonal samples and cozy fall vibes.

📚 Little Fox Coffee & Books: Free mini pretzel bites paired with their homemade butterbeer & pumpkin sauce.

🍺 Fat Bat Brewing: Hosting a pop-up vendor market from 1–6 PM in their fermenting room, featuring CRUMB. sourdough bakery, McCosh Makes Crafts (home décor, jewelry, bath & body), and Endless Beauties Gifts.

🍕 Blessing Restaurant & Pizzeria: A “mini slice” of hot, cheesy comfort.

🍐 Cultivated Essentials Co.: Spiced German pear compote (Birnenkompott) and numerology readings by Mindfully Balanced Wellness.

🍷 Crystal Cove at Pearl Island: German Bowle wine punch with fruit and bubbles.

🍺 Dolphin & Anchor Pub + Aldus Brewing: Roasted almonds with a sweet crunch, perfect with a brew.

🌭 Hanover Market House: Grilled bratwurst with sauerkraut and mustard, plus beer samples from Sign of the Horse.

🍫 Lydian Stone Brewing at Greer’s Burger Garage: German Chocolate Cupcakes.

🍒 The Cake Bar: Mini Black Forest Cake Cups with chocolate, cherries, and whipped cream.

⛳ The Golf Loft: Soft pretzels with beer cheese, plus Apple Strudel Bites.

👗 Wren & Bluebird Boutique: Shop while snacking on warm, chewy pretzels.

What makes Oktoberfest special isn’t just the strudel (though it’s reason enough). It’s that you’re literally walking through Hanover’s story, honoring the German immigrants who shaped this town while celebrating the creativity of today’s small businesses.

Raise a stein, grab a sweet treat, and enjoy a day where Hanover’s history and its small-town charm meet bite by bite.

September is Suicide Awareness Month, a time to remember, reflect, and recommit to building stronger connections for those who are struggling.

One local organization carrying this work forward is Building Bridges for Brianna. This York County nonprofit was founded by Matt Dorgan after he lost his 15-year-old daughter, Brianna, to suicide in 2020. Out of unimaginable grief, Matt created a team committed to raising awareness, funding prevention programs, and connecting those in need with support.

Their mission is simple but powerful: to build the bridge between people who need help and the people who can give it. As Matt often says, “It’s okay not to be okay, we just can’t stay that way.”

This month, they’re asking York County residents to light their porches purple in remembrance and solidarity. A small act, but a visible reminder that none of us are alone, and that hope and help are always worth fighting for.

💡 You can purchase a purple light here. Proceeds directly support the work of Building Bridges for Brianna.

If you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone. Dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

📆 Saturday, September 20 | 🕐 1 PM – 6 PM | Rain or Shine
📍 151 Moul Avenue, Hanover

Fall fun is back at Moul Field! The 2nd Annual Snack Town Fall Fest is set for Saturday, September 20. This event is free to the public and family-friendly.

Make sure you come hungry because there will be a mix of savory and sweet food trucks, plus both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy.

As always, there will be many amazing craft vendors, businesses, and food trucks. There’s no better time to support Hanover’s local businesses than at Snack Town Fall Fest!

There are also lots of games and family activities to check out - including the bounce houses in the Kids Zone!

Live music will be running most of the day. The stage lineup includes Six Whiskey Revival, Brenden Starr, and Sugar Hysteria.

💵 $25 per child (plus an optional $8 for pizza) | 🎫 Buy tickets online

If you have children ages K-5, I’ve got some good news for you.

Empower Martial Arts hosts events like this to give parents a well-deserved night off and the peace of mind that their kids are safe. Your kids will have an exciting evening playing with new friends. The fun includes Pokémon-themed activities and challenges, a high-energy karate session, a movie, and an optional pizza dinner.

Emerson went to a Minecraft-themed night last year with friends and had an absolute blast. It’s a win-win for families.

Parents, you can enjoy your time sans kids however you like. Go out for dinner, linger over dessert, or stay home and finally watch your show on the big TV instead of sneaking it on your phone.

Spots are limited! Sign up today before they’re gone!

💻 Work From Home Group
🕣 8:45 AM – 11:45 AM | 📍 Little Fox Coffee & Books, 125 Broadway, Hanover

Put on some pants and pretend you have co-workers at Little Fox’s weekly WFH Club. Bring your laptop, grab a coffee, and work remotely in a cozy bookstore café with reliable Wi-Fi and zero pressure to chat. Doors open at 8:45 so you can get set up; stay as long as you like.

🌱 Grassroots Living Festival
🕙 10 AM – 4 PM | 📍 Wholly Holistic, 1150 Carlisle St, Hanover

A day-long outdoor festival highlighting local businesses focused on health, wellness, and organic living. Vendors, shopping, and community connections.

🦀 Crab & Chicken Feed
🕑 2 PM – 5 PM | 📍 New Oxford Social Club Pavilion, 200 W Golden Ln, New Oxford
💵 $50 | 🎫 Tickets available behind the bar

All-you-can-eat crab and chicken feed with corn on the cob, beer, soda, and water. Small games of chance, raffles, and 50/50. Proceeds benefit NOCYFC and the NOASC Pavilion kitchen upgrade.

✏️ Art & Crafts at FourCorners Comics
🕟 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM | 📍 FourCorners Comics & Games, 34 Frederick St, Hanover

A weekly creative hangout hosted by Art (yes, that’s his name!). Bring a sketchbook, iPad, or project you’ve been putting off, and enjoy focused time alongside other artists. No instruction, no pressure — just a creative space to make the thing.

👨🏼‍🦳 Health & Wellness Workshops for Seniors
🕙 10:15 AM – 2 PM | 📍 Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Pl, Hanover

Weekly wellness programming for adults 65+. Includes a hot lunch (advance registration required at the Adult Desk or by calling 717-632-5183). Please avoid fragrances to keep the event safe for those with sensitivities.

🤝 No Hate In Our State Town Hall
🕕 6 PM – 7 PM | 📍 Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Pl, Hanover

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission hosts a town hall in Hanover as part of its No Hate In Our State initiative. This community forum creates space for residents, activists, and leaders to voice concerns, learn about their rights, and begin the work of healing and understanding together.

🛍️ Indoor Yard Sale
🕘 9 AM – 3:30 PM | 📍 Emmanuel UCC, 124 Broadway, Hanover

Shop household items and more at Emmanuel UCC’s indoor yard sale, running September 18–19. Open 9 AM–4 PM both days, with a special fill-a-bag sale on Saturday from 9 AM–1 PM. Use the accessible Courtyard entrance from Broadway.

Friday, September 12
Bob’s Beer & Soda | Gift Horse Brewing Co. Beer Sampling | 3 PM – 5 PM

Saturday, September 13
Main Street Hanover | Oktoberfest | 11 AM – 3 PM
Fat Bat Brewing | 2nd Saturday Vendor Pop-Up | 1 PM – 6 PM

Tuesday, September 16
The Avalon Ale House | Dual FX Trivia | 6 PM – 9 PM
Fat Bat Brewing | Trivia Night | 7 PM – 9 PM

Wednesday, September 17
Bair’s Den | Music Bingo | 6 PM – 9 PM

Thursday, September 18
Fat Bat Brewing | Home Brewed Comedy | 8 PM – 10 PM

Friday, September 12
Divino Pizzeria | Karaoke Night | 8 PM – 12 AM
The Avalon Ale House | Big Dogz Karaoke | 8 PM – 11 PM

Saturday, September 13
David’s Outlook | Fashion Crime/Over Our Eyes/Coffee with Lions/Heroes Unsung | 6 PM – 9 PM
Aldus Brewing Company | Lucid Ruby Duo Set | 7 PM – 10 PM
The Avalon Ale House | Sons of Man | 8 PM – 11 PM

Wednesday, September 17
The Circle | Open Mic/Jam Session | 8 PM – 11 PM

Thursday, September 18
The Avalon Ale House | Marshall Stone | 6 PM – 9 PM

Every week I’m reminded that Hanover is more than just a town — it’s a community stitched together by people who show up for each other, celebrate together, and keep finding reasons to gather. Thanks for letting me share these stories with you, and for being part of what makes this little corner of the world so special.

Thank you again to our sponsors Momentous and Long Angle for helping bring these stories to your inbox. And thank you, dear reader, for clicking those links! You’ve really been showing me your loyalty lately!

See you around town, Megan

P.S. Founding Supporters - please email me with permission to share your names! 💜