# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey: the parent guide

> Lancaster, Harrisburg and Hershey sit within about 45 minutes of each other, with Hershey in the middle.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 5 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/llms.txt

## Indoor play and rainy days

### Dauphin County Library System (Harrisburg and Hummelstown)

- Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes at East Shore, Alexander Family and other branches.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free weekday morning.
- Skip if: you need Sunday.
- Website: https://dcls.libcal.com/calendar

## Parks and outdoor play

### Hershey Gardens (Hershey, 170 Hotel Road)

- Theme gardens with a Children’s Garden and an indoor Butterfly Atrium.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Daily 9am–5pm
- Good for: A stroller morning near Hersheypark.
- Skip if: it’s pouring; most of it is outdoors.
- Website: https://www.hersheygardens.org/visit/

## Museums, zoos and big outings

### Hands-on House, Children’s Museum of Lancaster (Lancaster, 721 Landis Valley Road)

- A children’s museum built for kids 2 to 10.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 2–10 $12; adults $10.50
- Hours: Tue–Sun 9am–4pm
- Good for: Toddlers and preschoolers on a cold day.
- Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://handsonhouse.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- Website: https://handsonhouse.org/visit/

### Lancaster Science Factory (Lancaster, 454 New Holland Ave.)

- Hands-on science exhibits; timed tickets online.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 3 and up $13; 2 and under
- Hours: Tue–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm
- Good for: Kids 3 and up.
- Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://lancastersciencefactory.org/plan-your-visit/admission-pricing/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- Website: https://lancastersciencefactory.org/plan-your-visit/admission-pricing/

### Whitaker Center Science Center (Downtown Harrisburg, 222 Market St.)

- The science center inside Harrisburg’s arts and science building.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Fri–Mon 10am–5pm
- Good for: A rainy weekend in Harrisburg.
- Skip if: it’s midweek; it opens Friday to Monday.
- Website: https://www.whitakercenter.org/

## Free things to do

- Dauphin County Library System

## Best for under 3s

- **Hershey Gardens**: Stroller paths and a Children’s Garden.
- **Hands-on House, Children’s Museum of Lancaster**: Built for small kids.

## Things to do with a baby or a 1-year-old

### Baby and lap-sit storytimes

- **Baby Storytime (Lancaster)** (Library System of Lancaster County): Tuesdays at 10:30am and 1pm · Lancaster City Branch. A half hour for babies up to 11 months. Walk-ins welcome. https://calendar.lancasterlibraries.org/event/baby-storytime-185561
- **Born to Read (East Shore)** (Dauphin County Library System): Tuesdays at 9:30am · East Shore Area Library. Songs and stories for babies and caregivers. https://dcls.libcal.com/event/17208474
- **Born to Read (Hummelstown)** (Dauphin County Library System): Wednesdays at 10:15am · Alexander Family Library. Baby storytime near Hershey. https://dcls.libcal.com/event/17216130

### Babies get in free

- **Lancaster Science Factory**: 2 and under. https://lancastersciencefactory.org/plan-your-visit/admission-pricing/

## Library storytimes

- **Lancaster Public Library**: Tuesday baby storytimes and more. Free baby and family storytimes, some bilingual. https://calendar.lancasterlibraries.org/
- **Dauphin County Library System**: Weekday mornings. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. https://dcls.libcal.com/calendar


## Happening this week

- **Hersheypark Halloween** (Fri–Sun 5–10pm) at Hersheypark. Park ticket required. https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/#e-hersheypark_halloween
- **Dramatic Play Friday** (Fri 12pm) at Manheim Township Public Library, Lapp Story Silo. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/#e-dramatic_play_friday
- **Crafterday!** (Sat 9am–12pm) at Manheim Township Public Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/#e-crafterday

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is the Lancaster-Harrisburg area good for toddlers?
Yes. Hands-on House is built for kids 2 to 10, and library storytimes run most weekdays.

### What’s free for little kids here?
Library storytimes in Lancaster, Harrisburg and Hummelstown.

### What can we do in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: Dauphin County Library System. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.

### What can we do with a baby, 1-year-old or 2-year-old in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey?
Hershey Gardens: Stroller paths and a Children’s Garden. Hands-on House, Children’s Museum of Lancaster: Built for small kids. Free for the littlest: Lancaster Science Factory (2 and under). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/guide/#under3).

### Where are the free storytimes in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey?
Lancaster Public Library: Tuesday baby storytimes and more. Dauphin County Library System: Weekday mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Central PA weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/lancaster-harrisburg/).

### How do you choose the places in the Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey guide?
Every one of the 5 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 2 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 30, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).

### How much is Hands-on House, Children’s Museum of Lancaster for a toddler?
Kids 2–10: $12; adults: $10.50. We checked this on [its official site](https://handsonhouse.org/visit/) on Oct 30, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.