Discover New Cumberland: Park, History, and Apple Festival

New Cumberland offers several distinct themes for a stay: activities at New Cumberland Borough Park, local history, culture, and the annual Apple Festival. Route length, tour duration, and event date provide different points of reference.

Park, Water, and Nature

New Cumberland Borough Park covers 38 acres and has five baseball fields. The park also features a marked one-mile fitness trail. This offers a choice of different activities: baseball fields and a clearly marked fitness loop.

The Yellow Breeches Water Trail has an access point in the park for takeout only; fishing and boating are possible at the takeout point with a boat launch. There is an ADA parking space at the boat launch. The access restriction is important for your planning: access to the Water Trail in the park is for takeout only.

Peiffer Memorial Nature Preserve Inc. in New Cumberland is an arboretum and wildlife preserve. The Evelyn Sharp Mountain Bike Trail runs for one mile as a loop through the arboretum along I-83N. Together with the fitness loop in Borough Park, this offers a specific comparison: both trails are one mile long, but one is designated as a mountain bike trail and the other as a fitness loop.

Local History and Archives

The walking tour of the historic downtown includes 48 sites within the original 1831 borough boundaries and is designed as a loop of approximately 90 minutes. The tour is described by its approximate duration, while the two one-mile loops are described by their distance. These different measures can help you fit the options into your schedule.

The New Cumberland Community Archives contains unique photographs, records, maps, newspapers, and other materials documenting the history of New Cumberland and the surrounding area. Access is by appointment or upon request. Keep this requirement in mind when planning a visit to the archives.

The William Black Spring House was originally built by William Black in 1776 and reconstructed in 2013. The two dates mark different phases in the building’s history: its original construction and its later reconstruction. This adds a specific construction-related reference to the historic sites on the walking tour.

Theater and Apple Festival

In the heart of New Cumberland is the West Shore Theatre, an intimate theater with 200 seats. It presents films, live entertainment, educational programs, and special events. If a theater visit is the main reason for your trip, include the specific event date in your plans.

The New Cumberland Apple Festival takes place annually on the last Saturday in September at New Cumberland Borough Park. A trolley takes visitors to the festival from several stops along Bridge Street. The festival features more than 70 food vendors and 200 arts and crafts vendors. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the specific event date for your travel year.

Discover more destinations: Carlisle, Shippensburg, Boiling Springs, Wormleysburg, Mechanicsburg, Enola, Camp Hill

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