Welcome to Chambersburg!
Whether you just moved here, are considering a move, or have lived in the area for a little while and still feel “new,” this guide is designed to help your family get oriented, find the resources you need, and start discovering the places and traditions that make Chambersburg feel like home.
Moving to a new community comes with a lot of questions. Where do I register the kids for school? Which library should we use? Where are the good playgrounds? What does everyone mean by “the fountain”? Where do families go in the summer? How do we find sports, camps, storytimes, and things to do?
That’s exactly why we created this guide.
Think of it as your family-friendly introduction to Chambersburg — with links to even more local resources whenever you’re ready to dig deeper.
New Here? Start at the Fountain
If you want to start getting to know Chambersburg, Memorial Square in downtown Chambersburg is a great place to begin.
The Memorial Fountain sits at the center of town and is one of Chambersburg’s most recognizable landmarks. Around it, you’ll find local businesses, restaurants, historic buildings, community events, and plenty of reminders of the town’s past.
Take a walk around the Square, explore Main Street, visit nearby Chambers Fort Park and the Rail Trail, and see what’s happening downtown. Before long, when someone says “the fountain,” you’ll know exactly what they mean.
First Things First: Do You Actually Live in Chambersburg Borough?
Having a Chambersburg mailing address does not necessarily mean you live inside Chambersburg Borough.
Many families with Chambersburg addresses actually live in surrounding municipalities such as Greene, Guilford, or Hamilton Township.
Your municipality can affect utilities, trash and recycling, taxes, recreation programs, municipal services, and resident versus nonresident rates.
Borough of Chambersburg
100 S. Second Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Newcomer Tip: Confirm your actual municipality before setting up services or registering for recreation.
Your First-Month Chambersburg Checklist
ā Confirm your municipality
ā Set up utilities and trash service
ā Register school-age children
ā Determine your child’s assigned school
ā Get your family library cards
ā Bookmark Chambersburg Recreation
ā Find a favorite nearby playground
ā Locate urgent care and emergency healthcare
ā Explore downtown Chambersburg
ā Check the Macaroni KID Chambersburg Events Calendar
ā Subscribe to Macaroni KID Chambersburg
ā Start discovering what your family loves about your new community
š« Moving With School-Age Kids?
Families in the Chambersburg Area School District begin with the district’s centralized student-registration process.
CASD serves a large geographic area, so one of the first things you’ll want to determine is which school serves your address.
Instead of trying to duplicate every school detail here, we’ve already put it together for you.
Have Babies, Toddlers, or Preschoolers?
You don’t have to search from scratch. We have dedicated resources for child care, preschool, and early-learning options around the Chambersburg area.
š Get a Library Card
Seriously — put this near the top of your list.
Coyle Free Library
102 N. Main Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Located downtown, Coyle is the largest library in the Franklin County system and offers books, computers, Wi-Fi, and programs for all ages.
Grove Family Library
101 Ragged Edge Road South
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Grove is convenient for many families on the eastern side of the Chambersburg area and offers children’s, teen, adult, and seasonal programming.
š Parks & Playgrounds Chambersburg Families Should Know
You’ll find plenty of parks around Chambersburg, so don’t feel like you need to discover them all immediately. Start with a few family favorites.
Playground areas, sports facilities, walking space, picnic areas, and the nearby Chambersburg Aquatic Center.
A great warm-weather stop thanks to its playground and splash pad.
Playground space, walking areas, sports facilities, pavilions, and lots of room to spread out.
A large Guilford Township park with plenty of recreation space for local families.
Easy to combine with a downtown outing and a walk around Memorial Square.
Chambersburg Aquatic Center
Located at Memorial Park, the Chambersburg Aquatic Center is one of the area’s major summer family destinations.
One newcomer detail worth knowing: Borough residents and non-Borough residents may pay different recreation rates.
ā½ Looking for Activities for the Kids?
You definitely don’t need to hunt down every local organization yourself. We’ve already started doing that.
What Do We Do on a Rainy Day?
You’ll need this eventually. Our Indoor Fun Guide pulls together places to play, explore, create, and burn off some energy when the weather isn’t cooperating.
š§ļø Explore Indoor Funš©ŗ Healthcare Basics
Hopefully you won’t need this section immediately — but it’s helpful to know where things are before a child spikes a fever at the least convenient possible time.
112 N. Seventh Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
The emergency department is open 24/7. Chambersburg also has urgent-care, family-medicine, pediatric, dental, and specialty-care options through WellSpan, Keystone Health, and other local providers.
Shop Like a Local
Yes, Chambersburg has familiar grocery stores and national retailers. But getting to know a new hometown is much more fun when you discover the places locals have been visiting for years.
You’ll find farmers markets, orchards, farm stands, butcher shops, local bakeries, seasonal produce, and locally made food.
One Important Thing You’ll Learn Quickly…
Ice cream is serious business around here.
Ask five Chambersburg families where you should get ice cream and you might get five different answers.
We recommend conducting your own research. Frequently. š
š½ Hungry?
Rather than turn this guide into an enormous restaurant directory, we’ll point you toward a resource that may also save you a little money.
Why Does Chambersburg Talk So Much About 1864?
Chambersburg’s identity is closely tied to its Civil War history. In 1864, Confederate forces burned much of the town. Chambersburg rebuilt, and that story of destruction and resilience still appears in local landmarks and community traditions today.
Understanding that history also makes events such as the Burning of Chambersburg and ChambersFest make a lot more sense.
š Events That Will Make You Feel Like a Local
Downtown fills with ice sculptures and winter activities during this multi-day tradition.
A week of community activities celebrating Chambersburg’s history and resilience.
Downtown Main Street becomes a large summer street festival filled with vendors, food, and entertainment.
A historical event telling the story of the town’s Civil War destruction and rebuilding.
A major fall tradition that fills downtown with vendors, food, and visitors.
Find Your People
Moving somewhere new isn’t only about knowing where things are. Eventually, it’s about finding the people and places that make the community feel like home.
Libraries, recreation programs, youth sports, arts organizations, homeschool groups, volunteer organizations, and community events are all great places to begin.
Need a Little More Help Getting Settled?
Families sometimes need more than activities and playgrounds. Our Community Resources Guide connects families with local support organizations and community resources.
šļø Explore Community Resourcesš² Worth the Short Drive
Part of living in Chambersburg is discovering how many family outings are close by.
Hiking, picnicking, swimming, and outdoor recreation make Caledonia an easy family escape.
Professional summer theatre surprisingly close to home.
A quieter state-park option with hiking, picnicking, and fishing.
A Few Things That Make More Sense Once You’ve Lived Here
ā² “The fountain” means the Memorial Fountain downtown.
š A Chambersburg mailing address does not necessarily mean Chambersburg Borough.
ā¤ļø ChambersFest is a whole week of events — not one festival.
š„ The Burning of Chambersburg is a historical/community event. No need to panic when you see it on the calendar. š
š„ Farm markets and orchards aren’t just tourist attractions — they’re part of normal local life.
š Borough residency can matter when registering or paying for certain recreation programs.
š¦ And yes — everyone has an ice-cream opinion.
Your First Chambersburg Weekend
Saturday morning: Visit North Square Farmers Market during market season.
Late morning: Walk around Memorial Square and downtown.
Lunch: Try somewhere local.
Afternoon: Head to Memorial Park, Mike Waters Park, or the Aquatic Center during summer.
Treat: Conduct some very important local ice-cream research.
Sunday: Explore Norlo Park, Greene Township Park, or take a short drive to Caledonia.
No checklist required. The point is simply to start discovering what your family loves.
Explore More Local Family Resources
š« Schools š Parks š Libraries š§ Indoor Fun ā½ Sports š Arts š Homeschool š¤ Volunteer š„ Buy Local š½ Dining Deals
Welcome Home
Moving to a new community can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re helping kids adjust to new schools, activities, routines, and friendships at the same time.
We hope this guide makes Chambersburg feel just a little smaller and helps your family find some favorite places of your own.
Welcome to the Chambersburg area. We’re glad you’re here. ā¤ļø
š Stay Connected
Subscribe for local events, family resources, seasonal guides, and ideas delivered straight to your inbox.
š Subscribe to Macaroni KID Chambersburg
Did We Miss Something?
Are you a longtime local with a newcomer tip? Did a resource change? Are you part of a local organization that belongs in this guide?
