Horn Farm Center’s Wild & Uncommon Weekend – formally the York County Pawpaw Festival – is a weekend of family-friendly events and experiences that celebrate the unique food, art, and natural landscape of York County, Pennsylvania!
The centerpiece of the weekend is the pawpaw: the largest edible fruit native to the Eastern United States, growing naturally right here in York County’s Susquehanna Riverlands! Similar in taste to tropical fruits, the pawpaw is a unique, nutritious, and ecologically-significant delicacy that ripens for a short period of time from mid-September to mid-October.
And, this year offers so much more!
Highlighted by the new Wild & Uncommon theme, you can expect to enjoy all things pawpaw along with new events, activities, and regionally-unique foods – at the Horn Farm Center and additional locations!
In partnership with local organizations and businesses, the Festival is EXPANDING to a weekend of fun activities taking place around the Susquehanna Riverlands region.
2024 Wild & Uncommon Weekend
September 27 – 29
NEW for 2024, Wild & Uncommon Weekend is a regional celebration spotlighting the diverse ecosystem of local foods, makers, and experiences that make York County so special.
See below for a sneak peak of the exciting NEW EVENTS happening around York County as part of Wild & Uncommon Weekend:
Friday,
September 27th
8AM-5PM River Discovery Boat Tours
Susquehanna National Heritage Area: 1706 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA 17368
9AM-6PM Apple Schnitz Tasting
Flinchbaugh’s Orchard & Farm Market: 110 Ducktown Rd. Hellam, PA 17406
6pm-8pm Sunset Discovery Boat Tours
Susquehanna National Heritage Area: 1706 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA 17368
Saturday,
September 28th
8AM-5PM River Discovery Boat Tours
Susquehanna National Heritage Area: 1706 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA 17368
9AM-5PM Wild & Uncommon Pawpaw Festival
Horn Farm Center: 4945 Horn Road, York, PA
*Stay tuned for parking updates!
9AM-4PM Apple Schnitz Tasting
Flinchbaugh’s Orchard & Farm Market: 110 Ducktown Rd. Hellam, PA 17406
6PM Pawpaw Desserts & Mocktails
Firefly Hollow Wellness: 200 Farm Ln, York, PA 17402
Sunday,
September 29th
8AM-5PM River Discovery Boat Tours
Susquehanna National Heritage Area: 1706 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA 17368
More Wild & Uncommon Weekend events will be announced soon!
We’ve got lots of Wild & Uncommon experiences lined up for the Weekend, including guided hikes, children’s programs, pawpaw tastings, featured speakers, and more!
Wild & Uncommon Pawpaw Festival
September 28, 9AM – 5PM
at the Horn Farm
Signature Event: Wild & Uncommon Pawpaw Festival at the Horn Farm
Originally known as the York County Pawpaw Festival, the Horn Farm Center’s Wild & Uncommon Festival is the signature event of the Weekend and boasts all of the family-fun, education, and local shopping that you have come to love about the Pawpaw Festival!
At the festival, pawpaw fruit and trees will be available for purchase, alongside other pawpaw-themed merchandise, including t-shirts, crafts, artwork, and cookbooks!
Visitors will also enjoy local and regional food trucks, artisans, plant nurseries, small businesses, and environmental organizations. The event offers free tours of the farm and pawpaw orchard led by Horn Farm Center staff and orchard manager Dick Bono, including kid-friendly farm walks. Additional educational experiences hosted by vendors and regional educators are also featured throughout the event.
*Stay tuned for updates about purchasing tickets, parking, and the event schedule!
2024 is the 20th anniversary of the Pawpaw Festival! Join us in celebrating all things Wild & Uncommon: Saturday, September 28th, 9AM – 5PM
Creative, Flavorful, & Educational
Planning an overnight visit?
Book your stay in York County using this travel link, and check out all that York has to offer by visiting Yorkpa.org!
2024 Festival Vendors
Discover the unique food, art, and natural offerings of our region at the Wild & Uncommon Festival – made here in York County!
From small farmers and unique plant nurseries to culinary crafters and skilled artisans, the vendors at the Festival embody York County’s maker spirit.
Cash & Credit Cards will be accepted dependent upon individual vendors. No ATM on site.
CASH IS RECOMMENDED to account for any unforeseen issues with our farm Wi-Fi. We appreciate your consideration!
Food & Food Trucks
- Character Coffee
- 2Delicious – Gyro Fusion & Lemonade stand
- Stoney’s Burgers and Fries
- Brotherly Love Scratch Kitchen
- Locally Seasoned
- Historic Wrightsville
- Safe and Sweet
Plant Vendors
- Ort Family Farm
- Gino’s Nursery
- Swallowtail Forest Farm
- Calyx Native Nursery
- Heartwood Nursery
- Future Forest Plants
Goods, Arts & Crafts
- Nomadic Inspirations with Hexbotanicals
- Virtue Local Art Market
- Seek The Light Creations LLC
- Heart and Hands Homemade
- Wildwood Lavender Farm
- The Gardener of the Owl Valley
- BeeBees All Natural
- Alpacas of York
- Nodding Onion/Earthbound Artisan
Food Products & Home Goods
- 4 Herb & 7 Spices Ago
- Simply Ghee
- Holla Vodka
- Kilgore Family Farm
- Burning Hell Hot Sauce
Educational & Community Vendors
- West Shore Wildlife Center
- Watershed Alliance of York
- Lancaster Conservancy
- York Audubon Society
- Penn State Extension: Native Plant Habitat Team
- York County Solid Waste Authority
- Native Roots Farm Foundation
- Pawpaw Project
- Josh Brandstadter
- Kreutz Creek Library
We Need Your Help!
We are looking for volunteers to help with many aspects of the event, including set-up/clean-up, parking, overseeing the registration table and kids’ activities, pawpaw sales, engaging visitors, and more.
Volunteers enjoy added perks like:
- FREE admission to the Wild & Uncommon Festival at Horn Farm Center.
- Free lunch.
- Priority access to purchase pawpaws before the festival opens (FULL-DAY volunteers only).
If you are able to spare some time to help Wild & Uncommon Weekend thrive, sign up below!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
*Current FAQ answers apply to 2023 Pawpaw Festival. Please note that details may change as planning continues for the 2024 event.
What is your ticket refund policy?
No refunds will be provided; all ticket sales are final. The Pawpaw Festival is a fundraiser for the Horn Farm Center, a 501c3 non-profit organization. All ticket proceeds support regenerative land stewardship and educational programs at the Horn Farm Center.
What if the event is canceled?
The event will be held rain or shine. Only under severe circumstances will the event be cancelled. These include severe weather conditions, emergency situations, or catastrophic events. In the event of a cancelation, attendees will be notified by email and public announcements on Horn Farm Center’s website and social media.
Will pawpaw fruit be available for purchase?
All pawpaw fruits, trees, produce, and vendor products will be available the day of the event while supplies last. In order to ensure that all attendees can enjoy the pawpaw fruit that we have available, pawpaw fruit purchases may be limited. Also due to the natural limitations of pawpaw supplies, fruit availability for purchase is likely but not guaranteed. Thank you for your understanding.
Is this a family-friendly event?
Yes! Children under the age of 12 can attend for free. The event includes a children’s activity corner, with coloring, face-painting, and activities, as well as guided youth tours.
Are dogs allowed at the festival?
No. For safety, we do not permit dogs at the festival. We appreciate your consideration!
Is the event wheelchair accessible?
The Horn Farm is a working farm with variable accessibility. Accessible parking will be available at the event. However, many surfaces on site are grass, gravel, unpaved, uneven, and can present difficulty to those with limited mobility. Please plan accordingly.
What are the restroom facilities?
There are no indoor restroom facilities available. Portable toilets with hand sanitizer units will be stationed near the festival entrance.
Can I bring my own food and drink?
No outside food or drinks – refillable water bottles are permitted. We hope you enjoy the diverse offerings of our community vendors.
What is your alcohol policy?
The consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal substances is not permitted at the event. The Pawpaw Festival is a family-friendly event. Anyone consuming alcohol or illegal substances will be asked to leave the premises immediately with no ticket refund.
Our Sponsors
The 2024 Pawpaw Festival is supported by local businesses who believe in our mission to foster learning through ecological land stewardship, experiential education, and community partnership. We thank the following sponsors for supporting regenerative agriculture and education at the Horn Farm Center:
We also thank the following businesses for supporting the Horn Farm Center:
- Locally Seasoned
- The Gardener of the Owl Valley