Pennsylvania has so many popular attractions that it is hard to single out only a few. From theme parks and casinos to places of vast natural beauty, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Goschenhoppen Folk Festival in Montgomery County may occur annually, but it is on this list of things to do in 2025 because it has elements that make it stand out from many other festivals.
Parx Casino
Parx Casino is the largest brick-and-mortar casino in Pennsylvania and is located about 15 miles from Philadelphia. You have access to over 3,300 slot machines and many table games. A 48-table poker room is available for high-stakes games and tournaments. Parx also has a PA online casino for playing casino games or placing sports bets.
Enjoy upscale dining at Parxgrill or go to the Liberty Bell Gastropub for some fresh farm-to-fork dishes. Eat Asian cuisine at the Bambu Noodle House or Italian food at Olivetto. Grab a cocktail or craft beer at The X Lounge before you head to the gaming floor.
The sports bar has an HD video wall that can display 36 games at a time. Catch some world-class entertainment in the evenings at the Xcite Center. At the end of May, you can see country singer Ashley McBride. In June, you can see Theresa Caputo, known as the Long Island Medium. The TV personality and best-selling author has a gift for communicating with those who have passed on.
Hersheypark
Hersheypark has been open since April and will be open through January on select dates. Season Pass holders to Hersheypark are in for an exciting time when the Twizzlers Twisted Gravity ride joins the other rides at the large amusement park. When it opens in the summer, it will be the tallest Screamin’ Swing in the world. Several of the rides celebrate milestone anniversaries this year, such as 50 years of the Kissing Tower and Twin Turnpike.
New food items will be available throughout the summer season. Enjoy king-size milkshakes and sundaes. Discover new flavors and savory eats. You can stop by Yianni’s Gyros Truck, located outside the main entrance to The Boardwalk, for some Mediterranean eats like baklava and chicken souvlaki.
The Hersheypark Stadium will host concerts throughout the summer. At the end of May, you can see Post Malone and Jelly Roll. Avril Lavigne, Luke Bryan, and Shania Twain are some of the performers you can see in June and July.
Goschenhoppen Folk Festival
Now that you can work from anywhere, you can fit in with a visit to the annual Goschenhoppen Folk Festival in Montgomery County in August. This is different from many other festivals as it gives you an authentic look into the daily lives of Pennsylvania’s Germans in the 18th and 19th centuries. You won’t see row upon row of vendors peddling their wares at this festival.
What you will see is many volunteers wearing period clothing and using authentic tools to showcase traditional crafts. These volunteers bring a level of depth and passion to their activities that you don’t often see elsewhere. You will see them doing woodwork, baking pies in iron wood-fired stoves, and much more.
Ride on a horse-drawn wagon and taste traditional refreshments like shoofly pie and homemade root beer. Listen to entertaining stage programs, such as a daily band concert. You can also tour Henry Antes House, a national historic landmark.
Allegheny National Forest
Visit the Allegheny National Forest and the reservoir it surrounds. It’s a place of quiet beauty where you can enjoy a lengthy list of outdoor activities. Spend a day on the water and traverse the rocks and trails while taking in the beautiful views of the lake from every angle.
Take a look at some packing light ideas when making the trip, and check out the various types of campgrounds established by the U.S. Forest Service for a place to sleep.
Most of the sites and trails are aimed at making the natural beauty as accessible as possible. One trail was selected as the U.S. Trail of the Year in 2024. The forest offers longer and more secluded trails, like sections of the North Country Trail. It gives you access to some of the true wilderness of Pennsylvania.
