Each January, more than half a million visitors flock to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a week-long celebration of the state’s agricultural heritage. The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in the country featuring livestock competitions, iconic foods, a professional rodeo, educational exhibits, a farmers market and unique attractions such as a 1,000-pound butter sculpture, goat cuddling, a mullet competition, and more. The free-admission event covers more than one million square feet within the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center.

But the Farm Show is only the beginning of a calendar packed with large scale events. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center is one of the largest and most versatile venues in the Northeast, transforming throughout the year to host sports competitions, consumer shows, concerts, expos, and more. The GIANT Expo Hall is the largest space at the venue with 172,000 square feet of space and 30-foot ceilings. The venue houses three arenas in varying sizes. The New Holland Arena is the largest with over 7,300 seats and 28,000 square feet of space. The venue offers 3,500 parking spaces on site with another 6,000 close by, easily accessible loading docks, on-site catering and concessions, complimentary Wi-Fi, meeting space, and more to offer a seamless experience for organizers, participants, and spectators.

“The Farm Show Complex provides the ideal setting for a high-energy event that celebrates excellence, achievement, and community” said Americheer President Elizabeth Rossetti. Americheer has been hosting their Eastern Cheer & Dance Nationals at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center since 2022. “This premier event welcomes cheerleaders and dancers from across the country to compete for national honors, including trophies, medals, championship bags, and the National Champion jackets for first place teams.” Their 2026 event will be held on April 25-26.

The Great American Outdoor Show is another annual event that has found longstanding success of more than 70 years at the complex. The nine-day event utilizes the entire one million square foot venue to host the world’s largest outdoor show, featuring concerts with national acts, archery competitions, speaking events, demonstrations, celebrity appearances, and over 1,000 exhibitors. The 2026 event will be held on February 7-15.

The location of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center is also tough to beat, offering big city amenities without the big city budget. Over 40% of the U.S. population is located within 500 miles of the venue and major hubs like Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., New York City, and Pittsburgh are within a 1.5-3-hour drive. Harrisburg International Airport is located just 10 miles away with 17 non-stop destinations and one-stop connections to cities around the world. Amtrak is just over 2 miles from the venue with connections to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York. Harrisburg is the state capital, and its Capitol Building is often proclaimed as one of the most beautiful in the nation. The state’s largest amusement park, Hersheypark, and Hershey’s Chocolate World are located a short 15-minute drive from the venue. That’s right - Hershey is more than just a chocolate bar (although it offers plenty of those too)!

Event organizers are encouraged to learn more about hosting events at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center and other venues in the region by visiting the Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority website at www.hhsportsandevents.com. The Authority has a team of seasoned professionals with a proven history of forging strong relationships between event organizers, venues, hotels, media, and other local businesses to ensure a successful event.