Your Central PA: Picklefest Fun, Hot Tech Jobs & Mother's Day Ideas!

Plus, dive into local workshops, Senators games, and the latest tech buzz from PSU, M&T, & Ben Franklin!

Author

Don Demcsak
May 08, 2025

Digizens welcome to your weekly scoop from the Digizenburg Dispatch! We're heading into what's shaping up to be a mighty fine weekend here in our neck of the woods, especially with Mother's Day just around the corner on Sunday, May 11th! If you're lookin' to treat Mom, dive into a local festival like Dillsburg's Picklefest, get your creative juices flowin' at a hands-on workshop, or simply soak up some of this beautiful spring weather we've been having, you're in the right place. We've gathered a whole passel of happenings from Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lancaster counties, from Senators games and unique high teas to outdoor adventures, ensuring there's truly somethin' for everyone to explore and make some memories.

And while you're mappin' out that weekend fun, don't you worry, we're also here to help you power up your professional journey! Later in this edition, you'll find our much-anticipated "Digizen Open Roles," brimming with fantastic local and remote job opportunities tailored for our brilliant tech and digital community. We'll also share some fresh "Regional Insights" on why our local tech job market is still humming, our latest "News Roundup" to keep you in the know, and a peek into why certain tech skills are so darn valuable right now. So, pour yourself a fresh cuppa, get comfy, and let's dive into all the goodness Central PA has to offer this week!

Third Place Events

Cumberland County

Cumberland County presents a blend of community festivals, unique workshops, local markets, and activities specifically geared towards Mother's Day weekend. The events reflect a strong connection to local heritage and the outdoors, with a noticeable trend towards experiential activities and gifts

Dillsburg Picklefest 2025

  • Date & Time: Saturday, May 10, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

  • Location: Greenbriar Lane (Harrisburg Pike to N. Baltimore St.), Dillsburg

  • Description: This quintessential small-town PA festival offers briny fun along Greenbriar Lane. Attendees can explore arts and crafts from local vendors, enjoy live music, sample unique pickle-themed foods, and participate in other family-friendly activities. The 5k Pickle Chase adds a wellness component to the community celebration. It's a free, family-friendly event showcasing small-town charm and supporting local makers.  

  • Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1109739390698218/

Mother's Day Special: Moms & Mimosas Pouring Party

  • Date & Time: Saturday, May 10, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

  • Location: Wick & Pour Studio (The Gleeful Candle Co.), 152 S. Hanover St., Carlisle

  • Description: This hands-on workshop provides an opportunity for creative relaxation. Participants can choose fragrances to craft their own custom candle. While the candle cures, light snacks and a Mimosa Bar (non-alcoholic, BYO bubbly optional) are available. It’s a lovely way to connect, create something special, and support a local business. Aimed at ages 14+, registration is required.  

  • Cost: $35

  • Link: https://www.wickandpourstudio.com/candle-pouring-1 

Dauphin County

Dauphin County offers a vibrant mix of cultural experiences and nature-based activities, particularly around Wildwood Park and Fort Hunter. This reflects a community valuing both artistic expression and environmental engagement. Traditional Mother's Day celebrations are also well-represented with several brunch options

Harrisburg Senators vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels

Wild About Dogs!

  • Date & Time: Saturday, May 10, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

  • Location: Wildwood Park, Harrisburg

  • Description: A fun event for dog lovers and their canine companions, hosted by the Friends of Wildwood. Activities include a scavenger hunt, interactions with local pet-centered vendors, treats for both humans and dogs, and opportunities to sign up for Friends of Wildwood Dog Memberships ($10 annual fee). Supports a local park friends group and local businesses.  

  • Link: Check Dauphin County Parks event listings: https://www.dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/parks-recreation/parks-and-rec-events 

Live Music: Filter

Lancaster County

Lancaster County offers a rich tapestry of events blending agricultural heritage, vibrant arts, unique local experiences, and diverse Mother's Day celebrations. The weekend showcases farm-to-table opportunities, craft markets, and distinctive community traditions.  

Mother's Day Brunch or High Tea at Strasburg Rail Road

10th Annual Open Streets Lancaster

  • Date & Time: Saturday, May 10, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

  • Location: Water Street, Lancaster

  • Description: Experience Water Street transformed into a car-free community space. Walk, bike, skate, or blade while enjoying live music, local food vendors, artists, and interactive activities promoting health, wellness, and community engagement.  

  • Link: http://www.lancasterrec.org/openstreets 

Spotlight on Mom: Mother's Day Weekend Ideas

With Mother's Day on Sunday, May 11th, the weekend presents numerous ways to celebrate across the region.

Get Creative Together: Workshops offer a chance for shared experiences and handmade gifts. Consider the Moms & Mimosas Pouring Party in Carlisle for candle making or the Bubble Terrarium Workshop at The Winery at the Long Shot Farm, also in Carlisle.  

Enjoy the Outdoors: Take a walk amidst the Art In The Wild installations at Wildwood Park in Harrisburg , try Archery for Mothers at Kings Gap near Carlisle , or relax with yoga, pizza, music, and cider at Big Hill Ciderworks in Gardners.  

Treat Her Taste Buds: The Landis Valley Herb & Garden Faire (Fri/Sat) offers food vendors alongside plants and crafts. Numerous special brunches are available Sunday, including Englewood Hershey , Eden Resort , Miller's Smorgasbord , Fireside Tavern , Hollinger House (Tea Party) , and Strasburg Rail Road. The All About Mother's Day Food Tour in Lancaster runs all weekend.  

Relaxing Outings & Gifts: Pick up locally grown flowers at the Mother's Day Bouquet Sale at Roots Cut Flower Farm in Carlisle (Saturday only). Moms get free admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story Museum on both Saturday and Sunday.  

From bustling festivals and unique workshops to serene nature walks and lively concerts, the weekend of May 9-11, 2025, is brimming with opportunities for enjoyment and connection in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lancaster counties. Whether celebrating Mother's Day with special brunches and activities, supporting local artists and farmers at markets and fairs, or exploring the region's cultural and natural attractions, residents and visitors can find events that align with community values and provide memorable experiences. Checking event links for specific times, potential costs, and any required pre-registration is always recommended. Enjoy the weekend!

Digizen Open Roles

Howzit, folks! Welcome back to your weekly dose of the Digizenburg Dispatch, where we're always lookin' out for our Central PA community. This week, we're shinin' a big ol' spotlight on some fantastic open roles for all you tech-savvy and digital-minded professionals out there. Whether you're lookin' to stay local or want the freedom of a remote gig, we've got some real gems for ya. We've been doin' our homework, checkin' out what's buzzin' in fields like cybersecurity, data analytics, and software development – areas that are really cookin' right now. So, settle in, and let's see if your next big opportunity is right here in these pages!

Local Limelight: Great Gigs Right Here in Central PA

There's somethin' special about workin' close to home, ain't there? Supporting our local businesses and institutions while still buildin' a top-notch career. And guess what? A lot of our hometown companies are gettin' with the times, offerin' hybrid schedules that give ya the best of both worlds – some days in the office, some days at home. It's like a hometown handshake, showin' they value both that good ol' team collaboration and your need for a bit of flexibility.

Here are a few standout positions right here in our neck of the woods:

  • Technical Project Manager - Integrations

    • Company: Select Medical

    • Location: Mechanicsburg, PA (Hybrid/On-site)

    • The Lowdown: Select Medical, a major name in healthcare with a big presence here, is lookin' for a sharp Technical Project Manager to handle a variety of IT integration projects from start to finish. You'll be planning, directing, and managing resources, ensuring projects align with company goals and project management best practices, especially for initiatives around Inpatient IS Integrations. Skills in Agile methodologies, vendor management, and a knack for healthcare technology will make you shine here.  

    • Get After It!

  • Cyber Security Systems Engineer

    • Company: Penn State University (Applied Research Laboratory)

    • Location: University Park, PA (Hybrid)

    • The Lowdown: Penn State's renowned Applied Research Laboratory needs a Cyber Security Systems Engineer to join their SOC and Blue team, focusing on proactive and reactive computer and network defense for ARL's systems. This role involves everything from incident response to reporting findings to leadership, requiring expertise in Windows and Linux OS, along with strong cybersecurity and networking fundamentals. It's a chance to work on critical defense systems at a leading research institution.  

    • Get After It!

  • Data Analyst Intern

    • Company: PSECU (Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union)

    • Location: Harrisburg, PA (Hybrid - 1 day/week onsite during summer, remote during school year)

    • The Lowdown: Attention students and recent grads! PSECU is offering a fantastic Data Analyst Internship where you'll get hands-on experience creating queries, extracting data, and producing dashboards and insights to support business decisions. You'll be working with tools like SQL, R, Python, and modern BI platforms like Power BI or Tableau. It’s a prime opportunity to learn from the pros at a respected local financial institution.  

    • Get After It!

Work From Your Happy Place: Top Remote Roles for PA Talent

Want the ultimate flexibility to work from your favorite spot in Central PA – maybe even with a view of the Susquehanna or the rolling hills? These remote roles are open to talented folks right here in our communities. It's pretty amazing, really; companies from all over the country are realizing the incredible talent we have right here, and they're eager to bring you on board, no movin' trucks required. The world's your oyster, as they say!

Here are a few remote opportunities that caught our eye:

  • AI Engineer

    • Company: Stride, Inc.

    • Location: Remote (United States)

    • The Lowdown: Dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence with Stride, Inc.! They're seeking an AI Engineer for the end-to-end development of AI data products, using machine learning techniques to enhance their education solutions. If you've got skills in AI engineering, cloud platforms like AWS or Azure, and Python, this could be your chance to make a big impact in EdTech from anywhere in the U.S..  

    • Get After It! 

  • Cyber Security Engineer

    • Company: VetsEZ

    • Location: Remote (United States)

    • The Lowdown: Here's a chance to support our veterans! VetsEZ is looking for a Cyber Security Engineer to lead cybersecurity efforts for the VA, ensuring top-notch compliance and security for their systems. This role is perfect for someone passionate about cybersecurity and cloud technologies who wants to contribute to a vital mission. While they have a note about South Carolina, they are open to remote talent from other states.  

    • Get After It!

Why These Roles Are Buzzin': A Peek at What's In Demand

So, why are we spotlightin' jobs like cybersecurity analysts, data wizards, and software developers? Well, lemme tell ya, these ain't just any ol' jobs; they're in hot demand, and for good reason!

Cybersecurity: In today's digital world, keepin' our information safe online is a BIG deal. Think about it – from the big corporations handlin' our financial data to our local hospitals protectin' patient records and even our schools keepin' student information secure, everyone needs sharp folks to guard against hackers and online threats. That’s why you see roles like the 'Cyber Security Systems Engineer' at Penn State poppin' up. The need for cybersecurity professionals is growin' like a weed – some reports show projected growth as high as 33% in the coming years, and there just aren't enough qualified people to fill all the spots. It’s a field where you can truly make a difference, and it offers good job security too.  

Data Analytics & AI: Y'all have heard that "data is the new oil," right? Well, it's true! Companies everywhere, including right here in Central PA like The Hershey Company and PSECU , are sittin' on mountains of information. They need skilled people – data analysts, data scientists, and the like – who can dig into that data, make sense of it all, find the hidden trends, get those "aha!" insights, and even help predict what's comin' down the pike. And now, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming a bigger and bigger player in just about every industry (think of those AI Engineer and AI Developer roles we listed! ), being able to work with data and these smart new systems is like holdin' a golden ticket.  

Software Development: Who builds all the apps on your phone, the websites you visit every day, and the complex systems that keep businesses runnin'? Software developers, that's who! They're the architects and the builders of our digital world. Whether it's workin' with specific languages like C#.NET, which you see at places like WebstaurantStore in Lititz , or other programming languages and frameworks, good developers are always in demand. They're needed to create brand new tools, keep existing software up-to-date and runnin' smooth, and solve all sorts of tricky problems with code.  

Now, what's really great for us here in Central PA is that these aren't just far-off needs. Our local manufacturers need sophisticated software for their machinery and operations. Our healthcare providers, like WellSpan and Select Medical , rely on secure data systems and specialized software. And all our local businesses, big and small, need smart digital ways to reach their customers and manage their operations. So, these skills aren't just in demand nationally; they're vital for helping our whole Central PA community thrive and innovate.  

It's also fantastic to see our local educational powerhouses, like Penn State University and York College of Pennsylvania , offering top-notch programs in Information Technology, Cybersecurity Analytics, Data Science, and Software Development. They're literally training the next generation of tech talent right in our backyard. This creates a wonderful cycle: our local companies can find the skilled people they need, and our students and residents can see clear paths to exciting, well-paying careers without necessarily having to leave the area they love. It’s a testament to the strength and forward-thinking nature of our region.

Go Forth and Conquer!

Alright folks, that's the scoop for this week's tech and digital job spotlight! We sure hope this list gives you a good starting point for your job hunt, or maybe just a little nudge of encouragement if you've been thinkin' about makin' a change.

Remember, even if none of these specific roles are the perfect fit for you right now, keep lookin' and keep networkin'! Central PA is a place full of opportunity, and your dream job might be just around the corner. Sometimes the big national job websites can feel like searchin' for a needle in a haystack , but that's why we're here – to try and bring you some of the best local and remote leads in a way that feels a bit more like a chat with a neighbor.  

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, polish up that resume, and highlight all the amazing skills you bring to the table. You got this!

The Digizenburg Dispatch is rootin' for ya, every step of the way. We're mighty proud of the talent we have right here in Central PA, and we love seein' our community members succeed.

Got a hot job tip you think we should feature, or maybe a success story you'd like to share from your own job search? Drop us a line! And be sure to check back next week for more great opportunities and local news. Until then, stay positive and keep reachin' for those stars!

Digizenburg Regional Insights

Heads up, tech fam! Even with some national tech news sounding a bit like a downer in 2024, our Central PA region is still actively seeking sharp folks like us! According to a Spring 2025 report by Abel Personnel, local businesses are busy hiring for key roles including software developers, cybersecurity specialists, data analysts, and cloud pros, especially with AI and machine learning growing. So, it’s a great time to level up your skills and make your mark, right here close to home! (Source: Abel Personnel, Spring 2025 Central PA Hiring Trends)

Digizenburg News Roundup

Here's your Local Tech News Roundup for the week, keeping you in the loop on what's happening around our vibrant Central PA tech community!

Harrisburg Kicks Off New Accelerator to Boost Small Businesses Big news for local entrepreneurs! The M&T Bank Small Business Accelerator Program officially launched its fourth cohort this Wednesday, May 7th, at Harrisburg University. This awesome seven-week program is all set to arm up to 40 small business owners with essential skills in business planning, accessing capital, and marketing, culminating in a pitch competition with grant opportunities. We love to see this kind of support nurturing the next wave of innovators in the Capital Region! Source: M&T Bank Newsroom

Penn State IST Launches New Major in IT Ethics and Compliance Get ready for some future-forward thinkers, folks! Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology announced on May 5th a brand-new Bachelor of Science major in Information Technology Ethics and Compliance, with enrollment open for Fall 2025. This program aims to equip students to tackle the complex social and ethical challenges in our rapidly evolving tech world, from AI to cybersecurity, ensuring fairness and accountability are front and center. Way to go, Penn State, for cultivating responsible tech leaders! Source: Penn State News

Spotlight on Innovation: Age Tech Big Idea Contest Finalists Revealed Let’s hear it for our local innovators! Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA recently unveiled the six finalists for their 2025 Age Tech Big Idea Contest, including bright minds from Lancaster and Centre counties. These entrepreneurs are developing inspiring solutions to improve the lives of older adults, with ideas ranging from smart communication platforms for senior living to AI-powered tools for early cognitive impairment detection. The big finale is just around the corner on May 15th – we're rooting for you all! Source: Ben Franklin Technology Partners CNP

Our exclusive Google Calendar is the ultimate roadmap for all the can’t-miss events in Central PA! Tailored specifically for the technology and digital professionals among our subscribers, this curated calendar is your gateway to staying connected, informed, and inspired. From dynamic tech meetups and industry conferences to cutting-edge webinars and innovation workshops, our calendar ensures you never miss out on opportunities to network, learn, and grow. Join the Dispatch community and unlock your all-access pass to the digital pulse of Central PA.

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