☀️ Small-Town Summer

The school year’s over, the pools are open, and warm weather has officially settled in. For students, it’s the start of summer break. For the rest of us, it’s a chance to exhale, even just a little.

June also means Pride Month, a time to celebrate identity, visibility, and love in all its forms. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or you’re an ally, showing up matters. Especially here. Especially now. In a town where some voices are still met with resistance, visibility becomes an act of courage. So does kindness.

Father’s Day is right around the corner, and with it comes a swirl of emotions. Gratitude, grief, pride, longing... sometimes all at once. However you’re holding this day, we see you.

Heart of Hanover exists to spread more light, more connection, and more love, even when hate tries to take up space. This little newsletter is one way we remind each other that care still matters. Community still matters. Hope still matters.

Thanks for being here. Let’s make this summer one to be proud of.

Always,
Megan

Saturday, June 7 | 11 AM to 1 PM
📍 Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Place, Hanover

Let your imagination loose on the sidewalk. As part of the library’s Color Our World summer reading program, artists of all ages (6 to adult) are invited to transform blank pavement into bold, joyful art.

Chalk is provided, and the top entries in each age group will win a $50 prize.

💵 Free to enter. Sign up at the main desk.
🌧️ Rain date: June 14

Saturday, June 7 | 11 AM to 2 PM
📍 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1214 Broadway, Hanover

Enjoy fresh strawberries served over ice cream or shortcake, then stick around for a hearty meal from the full menu.

On the table: chicken corn soup, beef noodle soup, BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, coffee, soft drinks, and a bake sale full of homemade goodies

Come hungry, leave happy.

💵 Prices vary by item. All proceeds support the church’s community outreach.

Saturday, June 7 | 10:30 AM to 11 PM
📍 3003 Baltimore Pike, Hanover

The Hanover Area Jaycees are turning up the volume with Rock on the Hill — a full day of live music featuring 18 bands across two stages. Headliner Red Jumpsuit Apparatus leads the lineup for this one-day-only rock fest. Local vendors will be onsite. Parking is free.

🎟️ Tickets: $30 — available online. Cash and card accepted at the gate.

Sunday, June 8 | 4 to 6 PM
📍 Cultivated Essentials Co., 28 Frederick St, Hanover

Join neighbors for a relaxed, come-and-go gathering where you can write postcards to elected officials and make your voice heard. Choose from a selection of designs, enjoy free snacks and drinks, and use on-site resources to help you find the right words.

All materials (including postcards, pens, and stamps) are provided — just bring yourself and your perspective.

💵 Free to attend. Open house style — stop by anytime.

Saturday and Sunday, June 7 to 8 | 11 AM to 5 PM
📍 Codorus State Park – Main Boat Launch

ECO weekend is a family-friendly event that includes kayaking, fossil digging, archery, disc golf, rock climbing, nature exhibits, food trucks, live music, and local makers. AKA the best of Codorus.

Kids can cool off in the splash zone or race through the obstacle course while adults enjoy shaded walks and skill-building demos.

🎟️ Tickets available online or at the gate

Saturday, June 14 | 11 AM to 5 PM
📍 Downtown Hanover

Walk, taste, sip, and explore at Hanover’s Second Saturday celebration. Expect barbecue samples, craft beer tastings, live music, pop-up vendors, and a lineup of classic cars lining the streets.

VIP tickets get you early access and extra perks. Discounted options are available for designated drivers.

🎟️ Tickets available from Main Street Hanover

Whether you’re a classic vanilla-in-a-cone person or the kind who loads up frozen yogurt with gummy bears and crushed Oreos, Hanover has no shortage of spots to satisfy a summertime craving.

Here are some local favorites within five miles of the borough where you can find a little scoop of joy:

🍨 Half Pint Creamery (McSherrystown Location)

📍 5705 Hanover Road, Hanover

If you like your cones creamy, dreamy, and a little addictive, this is your spot. Half Pint isn’t just an ice cream shop — it’s a whole vibe. With cheerful decor, locally-sourced ingredients, and waffle cones that deserve their own fan club, it’s the kind of place that practically insists you stay awhile.

Owner Trish built Half Pint with a simple goal: to create a fun, welcoming hangout where community comes first (and dessert is a very close second). From seasonal scoops to a take-home freezer stocked with ice cream cakes and dog-friendly puptreats, Half Pint knows how to do dessert right.

📍 414 Broadway, Hanover, PA

Whether you know it as The Big Chill or still call it “The Crab Shack” like half of Hanover, this spot is a summer essential. It’s got hand-dipped Hershey’s ice cream, soft-serve cones roughly the size of a toddler’s head, and Hawaiian shaved ice with more flavors than you thought existed.

Pro tip: Don’t let the flavor board send you into a panic. Ask the staff what’s popular, or better yet, see if you can snag a sample. (Rumor has it Tiger’s Blood is a sleeper hit.)

📍 2 S. 6th Street, McSherrystown

Ripleigh’s isn’t your average scoop shop — it’s more like an ice cream adventure park. Flavors are split into “zones” based on how bold you’re feeling: Safety Zone, We Dare You, We Double Dog Dare You, and Seasonal. (Yes, those are real categories. Yes, they’re amazing.)

Sure, you could play it safe… or you could be the person who proudly orders Hot Wings ice cream and discovers that spicy-sweet magic is your new personality.

Warning: You might leave with sticky hands and a new favorite flavor you never saw coming.

📍 881 York Street, Hanover, PA

A Hanover classic for over 30 years, York Street Treat is more than just a place to grab dessert. It’s a rite of passage. They serve up soft serve, sundaes, flurries, milkshakes, and some seriously underrated food.

Their raspberry soft serve is a fan favorite, and yes, you can get your cone dipped in chocolate (and you definitely should). Whether you're stopping by after a day at Codorus or just craving something sweet on your lunch break, York Street Treat always hits the spot.

Pro tip: don’t skip the fried broccoli & cheese bites.

📍 2279 Carlisle Pike, Hanover

If you’re looking for dinner and dessert, this is your spot. Known affectionately as The Treat, this go-to spot has been serving soft-serve and Fat Boys since 1953. It’s car-hop style, so you park, press the button, and your order shows up on a tray. Prefer fresh air? Grab a picnic table or settle in at the pavilion.

The soft-serve menu is simple and solid — cones, sundaes, and floats. Weekly flavor specials rotate all season. You can get orange swirl until this Saturday, June 7. Recent hits included peanut butter, strawberry, and orange pineapple. Check their Facebook page all summer long for new flavors!

Fun Fact: I’m especially fond of The Treat. I don’t want to brag or anything, but I’m a proud sibling of the Fat Boy. When I was born, the owners welcomed me into the world with a sign that read: “A Fat Girl Has Arrived! Megan was born at 9lbs. 8oz.” I still don’t know what’s in that magical pink sauce... and honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever find out.

📍 1035 George Street, Hanover

Bruster’s may be a chain, but the ice cream is anything but generic. Each scoop is made fresh on-site using small-batch, slow-kettle processing that gives it that rich, homemade taste.

With 24 rotating flavors daily and over 150 in their recipe vault, there’s always something new to try. The waffle cones are handmade, the milkshakes are thick, and the sundaes don’t mess around.

And the best part? They have a drive-thru.

📍 110 Hickory Lane, Hanover

You’re not imagining it — Hanover does have a Rita's. It’s just hiding in plain sight inside Hickory Falls Family Entertainment Center, our local mecca for laser tag, go-karts, mini golf, and air hockey showdowns that get oddly competitive.

Once you’ve worked up a sweat (or a solid arcade ticket haul), head to Rita’s for a classic cool-down. Italian ice, frozen custard, and the cult-favorite Gelati are all on deck.

If you’re out that way with the kids, this is a two-birds, one-cone situation. Play hard, snack harder.

📍 141 Wilson Avenue, Ste D, Hanover

If you’ve ever stood in front of a toppings bar and thought, “Yes, I will put Sour Patch Kids on this,” then Sweet Frog is your spiritual home. This build-your-own froyo shop is a choose-your-own-adventure in dessert form.

With dozens of rotating flavors and a seemingly endless lineup of toppings, you can go as healthy or as unhinged as you please. The buffet-style setup makes it a crowd-pleaser for families, picky eaters, and even first dates. Some might call it ordering dessert. I call it a personality test in a cup.

It’s worth noting that June is National Frozen Yogurt Month, which means you have a completely valid excuse to eat froyo for dinner. Call it celebrating. Call it self-care. Either way, no one here is judging.

Not sure how froyo stacks up against soft serve or frozen custard? Think of it like this:

The takeaway? Hanover has range. Whether you’re a froyo maximalist, a custard purist, or a soft-serve traditionalist, there’s plenty of room here for every kind of sweet tooth.

📚 Library Adventures
The Guthrie Memorial Library's summer reading program is in full swing. Stop in to sign up, grab a reading log, or join one of their kid-friendly events. (Pro tip: the children's area is air-conditioned and magical.)

🎨 Host a Backyard Art Show
Hang up a clothesline, hand the kids sidewalk chalk, markers, or paint, and let them create their own “gallery.” Invite the neighbors for popsicles and praise.

🎥 Backyard Movie Night
Drape a sheet, borrow a projector, or just bring a laptop outside. Serve popcorn in paper lunch bags and call it magic.

🍦 Go on an Ice Cream Crawl
Let each family member pick one local ice cream shop to visit over the next few weeks. Bonus points for rating them on flavor, texture, and “brain freeze factor.”

🧺 Have a Lazy Park Picnic
Don’t overthink it—picnics are just lunch with a breeze.

📦 Build a Cardboard Kingdom
Save those delivery boxes, grab some markers and tape, and let the kids go wild. Add in paper crowns, tin foil shields, and stuffed animal villagers.

🧠 Create a Weekly “Bored Jar”
Write down fun ideas (like make a bird feeder, bake cookies, learn a TikTok dance together), and let the kids draw one when the “I’m bored” chorus starts.

📹 Record a Summer Vlog (Just for You)
Give the kids a phone or camera and let them document summer through their eyes. You don’t have to post it anywhere—sometimes the best stories are the ones you keep. Years from now, you'll be glad you captured the messy, silly, beautiful details.

Father’s Day is June 15, and what better way to celebrate than by embracing the most groan-worthy form of humor known to humankind: the dad joke. Whether your dad delivers them proudly or you’ve become the one who can’t help it, here are a few classics that deserve an eye roll and a laugh:

1. What do you call a factory that makes okay products?

2. Why don’t eggs tell jokes?

3. Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon?

4. Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long?

5. I only know 25 letters of the alphabet.

6. What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?

7. I asked my dog, “What’s two minus two?”

8. Why don’t skeletons fight each other?

9. How does a penguin build its house?

10. What does a lemon say when it answers the phone?

Dad jokes might make us groan, but they also remind us not to take life too seriously. Whether your dad is around or not, whether you tell the jokes or just endure them, may this season bring you a smile you didn’t see coming.

And here’s something worth remembering: dad jokes aren’t just for dads.

Father’s Day isn’t a joyful celebration for everyone. It can bring up all kinds of emotions—grief, gratitude, anger, love, confusion, or even nothing at all. That’s okay. Feel what you need to feel.

And if you’re up for it, maybe share a dad joke or two—not because it fixes anything, but because it might help you show up for yourself the way you’ve always wanted someone else to. Present. Loving. Goofy.

Like the father figure you needed most.

Answers: 1) A satisfactory, 2) Because they’d crack each other up, 3) Great food, no atmosphere, 4) Because then it would be a foot, 5) I don’t know y, 6) Nacho cheese, 7) He said nothing, 8) They don’t have the guts, 9) Igloos it together, 10) Yellow!

The Serpent’s Key is hands down one of the most community-focused businesses in downtown Hanover. They are always hosting or participating in events that benefit Hanover. Their newest addition being a local crop swap. And it’s as grassroots as it gets.

Every Saturday, a table will sit outside The Serpent’s Key on Carlisle Street. No vendors. No sales pitch. Just a humble invitation: take what you need, leave what you can.

Got too many cucumbers? Extra eggs? A garden gone rogue with basil? Drop them off. Or better yet, swap them for something new. Tomatoes for mint. Squash for rosemary. Plant cuttings for a friendly conversation.

No money changes hands. Ever. This isn’t a market. It’s a movement.

With grocery prices climbing and dinner tables feeling the strain, The Serpent’s Key decided to do something radical: trust the community to take care of itself. And it’s magical.

You don’t need to bring anything to show up. Just bring your humanity. Bring your hunger for something real.

You’ll find the table at 28 Carlisle Street, every Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Grow a little extra. Give a little extra. That’s how we build a town worth living in.

This week’s shoutout comes from reader Ashley Miller, who nominated someone many of us know and appreciate: Kiki, the heart and soul behind Little Fox Coffee & Books on Broadway.

“Kiki goes above and beyond for this community to make sure people feel safe and welcome,” Ashley wrote. “She truly spreads herself beyond thin to create a constant safe space. She’s really the best. And I know she gets overwhelmed with the hate directed at her sometimes. She needs to know the people see her doing an incredible job.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Creating a space where everyone feels like they belong takes courage. Especially in a town where standing up for others can draw criticism. But Kiki keeps showing up. Every single day.

If you’ve ever found comfort inside Little Fox, this is your sign to say thank you. Leave a kind note. Buy a coffee. Let her know you see her.

Hanover is better because of her.

Know someone who goes the extra mile for their neighbors? I’m looking for kind souls to feature in future issues — hit reply and tell me about them.

I saw this post on Facebook and it really hit home.

As a society, we put a lot of emphasis on grades, medals, and standing out. But not every student’s “best” looks like a certificate or a sash. Some kids are climbing mountains just to pass a class. Some are managing anxiety, family struggles, learning differences, or plain old exhaustion, and still showing up.

We need to celebrate that, too.

Not everyone makes honor roll. Not everyone gets a scholarship. That doesn't make them any less worthy of a shoutout or a proud moment.

Do your best, but don’t expect your best to look like everyone else’s. And don’t expect it to look the same every day. It shifts and grows with you.

All that matters is that you showed up and tried. If no one else tells you this today, I’m proud of you. Really proud.

Thank you to Mandi Hamm for sharing.

Sunday, June 8 | 1 to 2:30 PM
📍 South Hanover Lanes, 1767 Baltimore Pike, Hanover

LGBTQIA+ youth (ages 13–19) and their allies are invited to roll into a safe space of friendship, fun, and free bowling. Shoe rental is covered too — just bring money if you’d like snacks.

This event is hosted by the YWCA Hanover and offers a welcoming, affirming environment to be fully and freely yourself.

Questions? Contact Deb Smith at 717-637-2125 or [email protected]

💵 Free, but registration is required.

Sunday, June 8 | Doors at 11 AM, Show at 12 PM
📍 David’s Outlook, 228 E Chestnut St, Hanover (entrance in back)

Drag queens, brunch, and bottomless fun? Yes, please. Join host Erica St. Michaels and a fabulous cast — including Skarlet Overkill, Sara Casm, Kali Coutour, Candy Apple Razorblade, and Regina Holiday — for a high-energy Pride celebration like no other.

Your $25 ticket includes an all-you-can-eat buffet and drinks (BYOB if you want to spice it up). Kids 5 and under eat free.

🎟️ $25 in advance, $30 at the door

Saturday, June 14 | 5 to 6 PM
📍 Begins at The Serpent’s Key, 28 Carlisle St
📍 Ends at Little Fox Coffee & Books, 125 Broadway

Join us for a quiet evening of remembrance and community connection. The walk begins with a candlelight vigil at The Serpent’s Key to honor LGBTQIA+ lives lost and those who came before us.

Guests are invited to bring a small item in memory of a loved one (you’ll receive it back before you leave). After the vigil, we’ll walk together down Broadway in a shared moment of reflection and unity. (Route length: 0.25 miles)

💵 Free to attend. All are welcome.

Saturday, June 14 | 6 to 8 PM
📍 Little Fox Coffee & Books, 125 Broadway, Hanover

Out Loud is an evening of LGBTQIA+ voices, shared stories, and community connection. Bring a poem, a personal essay, a song—or just your presence. Whether you’re telling your truth or holding space for others, this is a celebration of queer expression in all its forms.

From joy to grief to beautifully awkward honesty, all stories are welcome. First-timers, seasoned writers, and quiet listeners alike—come as you are. Speak if you want to.

💵 Free to attend. All are welcome.

Saturday, June 21 | 12 PM to 3 PM | Indoor Event (Rain or Shine)
📍YWCA Hanover, 23 W Chestnut Street, Hanover

Join YWCA Hanover and Rainbow Rose Center for an afternoon of celebration, connection, and community pride. This family-friendly event features local vendors, games and activities for all ages, free snacks, and meaningful ways to support and celebrate LGBTQIA+ neighbors.

Featuring groups like Free Mom Hugs, Autism at Face Value, PFLAG, NAMI, Girls Loving Life, and more.

💵 Free to attend - no registration required

Saturday, June 28 | 10:30 to 11:15 AM
📍 Little Fox Coffee & Books, 125 Broadway, Hanover

Join Miss Deb from the YWCA for a joyful Pride Month storytime filled with books, songs, and a simple craft for little ones. It’s a welcoming, family-friendly event where kids can celebrate love, inclusion, and creativity.

Come early to grab a coffee and a cozy spot.

💵 Free to attend. All families welcome.

Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or you’re just a supportive ally, these events and resources in York are worth the drive.

Thursday, June 12 | Starts at 5:30 PM
📍 Mudhook Brewing Co., 34 N Cherry Ln, York

York’s Gayest Happy Hour is throwing open the doors and inviting everyone to join in for a special Pride Celebration. Expect great drinks, good company, and plenty of joy as the community gathers to toast LGBTQIA+ pride in all its fabulous forms.

Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, come raise a glass and feel the love.

💵 No cover. Food and drinks available for purchase.

Friday, June 13 | 4 to 6 PM
📍Royal Square District, 101 S Duke St, York, PA 17401, US

Sip, snack, and shop your way through nine vibrant Royal Square District businesses before the Pride Pop-Off Party begins. This self-guided crawl offers early access to exclusive deals, creative spaces, and good vibes all around.

💵 Free to attend. Pre-registration suggested, not required.

Friday, June 13 | 6 to 9 PM
📍 Royal Square District, Mural Park, 101 S Duke St, York

Queens. Chaos. Queer joy. The block party everyone was talking about last June is back and bigger than ever. Expect drag performances, dancing, a dunk tank, vendors, food trucks, and a whole lot of sparkle.

The celebration continues throughout the Royal Square District, with pop-up events and an afterparty at Granfalloons.

Bring your friends, your best outfit, and your dancing shoes. It’s Pride season in York City, and it’s about to pop off.

💵 Free to attend. All are welcome.

Saturday, June 14 | Starts at 5 PM
📍 100 Block of N George St, York (Street will be closed to traffic)

The celebration doesn't stop when the sun sets. Join the after party in downtown York for a night of music, drinks, drag, and dancing.

8 PM – Indoor Drag Show at The Handsome Cab (limited seating)
🎟️ Tickets: $15 - Reserve your spot

10 PM – DJ Dance Party inside The Handsome Cab
🎶 No cover, just vibes.

💵 Outdoor festivities are free to attend. Drag show requires ticket purchase.

Saturday, June 14 | 11 AM to 5 PM
📍 York Fairgrounds, All Trans Memorial Hall, 334 Carlisle Avenue, York

York County Pride, hosted by the Rainbow Rose Center, is the signature LGBTQIA+ celebration in the region. This free, family-friendly festival brings together the community to honor diversity and inclusion.

Expect a full day of inspiring speakers, community resources, live entertainment, vendors, food trucks, and activities for all ages. Come as you are and join the celebration of love, identity, and unity.

💵 Free admission. All are welcome.

Before you call it a day, come home to Hanover. Join us at 5 PM for the Pride In-Memoriam Walk—a quiet, powerful moment of reflection and visibility in a town that still desperately needs both.

Now is the time to show up. Not just online. Not just when it’s easy.

But here, in person. Where it matters most.

When I asked about Pride events in a local Facebook group, I was met, unsurprisingly, with a wave of mean-spirited comments. It stung, but not in the way you might think. I’m bisexual, but I’m married to a man. That relationship protects me from a lot of the hate others in our community face every day.

Still, in those moments when the cruelty shows up, I catch a small glimpse of what my LGBTQ+ peers are navigating just to exist in public. And I want to say this clearly. Now is not the time for silence, safe distances, or performative allyship.

If you have the privilege of being safe in certain spaces, use it. If you are welcomed in rooms where others are not, speak up. Show up. Make space.

Hanover is our town too. And it becomes more beautiful every time we choose to live that truth.

Thank you for reading, caring, and being part of this small but mighty movement.

Come back next week for a local summer bucket list, more great events, and another dose of heart and hope.

Until then, stay kind, stay curious, and keep showing up.