Harrisburg

If you’re looking to live like a Cabarrus County local while on vacation, look no further than a trip to Harrisburg. This community-focused town is known for its social gatherings and celebrations throughout the year — and great food and drink, too.

Harrisburg Park

At more than 33 acres, Harrisburg Park offers plenty of room to have a picnic, work up a sweat on the mountain biking and walking trails or simply enjoy the warm Carolina sunshine.

The ADA-accessible park, open dusk to dawn, has a playground with a splash pad and slide for the kids. Feeling competitive? Check out the horseshoe pits and cornhole courts as well as the 9-hole disc golf course that winds around the wooded trails. You can rent a disc here, too.

Harrisburg Park is also home to a 2,200-square-foot amphitheater where the town shows free movies and hosts the annual Rockin’ the Burg Summer Concert Series on the large, inviting lawn.

The main event at the park each summer is Harrisburg’s 4th of July Celebration, which features amusement rides, food and live music along with one of the largest parades in the region. While you wait for the sun to set, take in a cotton candy-colored sky from atop the Ferris wheel. Then, watch in wonder as fireworks light up the night.

More Outdoor Fun

Stallings Road Park, Pharr Mill Park and Harris Depot Park each offer a different outdoor experience. On Mondays from May to October, you can chat with local farmers and find the freshest produce, eggs, meat and more with the Harrisburg Farmers Market at Harris Depot Park. The market also features local vendors, crafts and ready-to-eat snacks.

Food and Drink

Take a tour of Harrisburg’s burgeoning dining community. Start the morning with a cup of joe at Rocky River Coffee Co. and a flaky croissant from Sunflour Baking Company. If you fancy a pint, check out Percent Tap House, a small-batch brewery that offers beer, wine, cider and cold brew coffee alongside the occasional food truck parked outside.

Casual eateries like Bubba’s Bunkhouse,, Vortex Bottle Shop, La Unica Mexican Restaurant and Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar are just a few celebrated spots for a meal out on the town.

Stay a While

Make your trip to Harrisburg — and to the rest of Cabarrus County — a vacation worth remembering. Our guide to places to stay gives you everything you need to know to make it a special memory.