101 Fun Things To Do In Lancaster County - 2024

LANCASTER COUNTY

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

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The unusual and picturesque outcropping known as the White Cliffs of Conoy, on the edge of the Susquehanna River in Conoy Township, has its origins in a 19th-century limestone quarry business. The limestone here also had a healthy mix of dolomite, which was used by steel factories to take out impurities in metal. The cliffs are believed to be the waste material from the processing of limestone-dolomite that was dumped over many years along the edge of the river. The cliffs are about 125 yards wide and 90 yards deep, leaving plenty of room for lounging.

2

Pedal your way through the county’s scenic farmland and covered bridges during the Lancaster Bicycle Club’s Lancaster Covered Bridge Classic held every August. Choose routes ranging from 35 to 100 miles, with proceeds benefiting Lancaster Bicycle Club’s grant program, which has donated over $545,000 to covered bridge restoration and bike-related initiatives since 1999.

3

Get a bird’s-eye view of Lancaster County on a hot air balloon ride. Lancaster Balloon Rides, operated by the U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team, offers daily rides starting from Bird-in-Hand and a balloon festival in September featuring the mass launch of dozens of balloons.

MILK • DRINKS • ICE CREAM • EGGS

Family owned and operated since 1935, Kreider Farms is a fourth-generation farm that is dedicated to local agriculture and land preservation practices.

See our farm in action for yourself! Experience the sights, smells and sounds of a real dairy farm on the Kreider Farms Farm Tour, where fun meets farming in an unforgettable adventure!

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In an area rich with historical landmarks, some of the oldest and most significant artifacts involve a little more effort to experience. Adventure seekers can check out — with the aid of a reliable watercraft, and perhaps a knowledgeable guide — ancient Native American petroglyphs located on rocks in the middle of the Susquehanna River near Safe Harbor. The symbols are thought to have been carved into the stones by Shenks Ferry Native Americans sometime between 500-1,000 years ago. Scholars have declared these carvings to be the best examples of Native American rock art in North America. The waters surrounding the petroglyphs can be a bit tricky to navigate, so guided paddling tours are a good idea.

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Paddle down the scenic Conestoga River or Susquehanna River in a canoe or kayak. The Class I Conestoga River runs for 60 miles and empties into the Susquehanna, the longest river on the East Coast and one of the oldest rivers in the world. If you need a little help, kayakLanCo can provide the gear and the route for a self-guided adventure.

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Take a picnic and check out the view high above the Susquehanna River, at the Chickies Rock County Park overlook in Columbia. From this massive outcropping of quartzite rock 100 feet above the river, you can see York County, Marietta Borough and northwestern Lancaster County farmland.

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Wind your way through a corn maze in the fall and take a hayride to pick pumpkins at several county farms, including Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks, Oregon Dairy in Lititz and The Country Barn in Lancaster.

8

Stop and smell the flowers at Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve, along the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River in Conestoga. The 84-acre preserve has over 70 wildflower species and 50 species of birds, along with fox, deer and eastern box turtles. A downloadable brochure can help you identify the most common wildflowers you’ll find at the preserve.

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Wildflower fans can also visit the 4-acre Wildflower Lookout at Pleasant Paradise Farm in Ronks. For the price of admission, you can stroll through a field of blooms, relax on a quiet bench or bring a picnic lunch. Field rentals are also available for private photo shoots.

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Join the Lancaster County Bird Club and help to observe birds in the area’s many diverse habitats and preserve native bird life.

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Ride a rail trail. Lancaster city is becoming more and more bike-friendly, but nothing beats a ride on one of the counties many rail trails. The area’s rich ties to the railroad industry might be history, but the old trails are still being put to good use. Some to trails to check out include the Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail, Northwest Lancaster County River Trail between Columbia and Bainbridge, the Enola Low Grade Trail from Turkey Hill to the Chester County line, and Conewago Recreational Trail from Elizabethtown to the Lebanon County line.

Experien ce th e Farm

Noah and Mary Kreider established Kreider Farms in 1935, on the Manheim homestead that had been in Mary’s family since the 1700s

What started with 102 acres of land, a dozen dairy cows and 200 chickens is now a fourthgeneration, 3,000-acre diverse family farming business and the only full-scale egg and dairy farm in the United States.

You can get a peek at how it all works when you take a Kreider Farms Farm Tour.

From standard and cage-free egg varieties to ice cream to milk products and fruit drinks, today’s Kreider Farms supplies retail and wholesale customers throughout the northeastern U.S. The Kreider Farms Farm Tour gives visitors a chance to explore the inner workings of a real dairy farm and to see how their favorite farm-fresh milk and ice cream is produced.

Start things off with an introductory video at the Kreider Farms Welcome Center, then hop aboard a bus to tour this true farm-to-fork operation

Highlights of the 90-minute tour include the bunker silos or Cow Pantry, the main barn or Cow Palace, the Perfume Factory, where solid manure is recycled

into to fluffy cow bedding, and the Moo Lagoon, where liquid manure is converted to bioavailable fertilizer. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a calf being born on the drive through the Moo-ternity Barn. You’ll also get an up-close look at the Milking Cow-rousel, where the farm milks its 1,700-cow dairy herd, producing over 12,000 gallons of milk each day.

Afterward, get your own sample of Kreider Farms chocolate milk for a boost of energy before climbing the 100-foot Silo Observation Tower, where you’ll have a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the Kreider farm as well as the surrounding Lancaster County farmland.

The tour concludes with a drive past the farm’s newest addition, Kreider Valley Ranch, home to a herd of longhorn cattle

Tours are offered year-round with advanced reservations. For reservations call 717-665-5039, email farmtour@kreiderfarms.com or book online at www kreiderfarms.com/farm-tour We hope to see you soon!

p Native American petroglyphs on Little Indian Rock in the Susquehanna River.

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Take a hike around a 100acre lake, go birding, explore the diverse woods, play disc golf or check out the night sky at a stateof-the-art observatory, all on a visit to Muddy Run Recreation Park near Holtwood.

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Grab a tube at Sickman’s Mill and take a relaxing 2-mile float down the Pequea Creek, where you’ll pass the remains of an old magnetic ore mine and maybe catch a glimpse of an eagle, hawk, heron or deer. While you’re there, tour the 19th-century flour and grist roller mill.

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Take the ultimate fitness test and enjoy the scenery along the way with the KTA Trail Challenge, a daunting 25K that takes trail runners and hikers from Pequea up to Pinnacle Overlook and down into Kelly’s Run before crossing the finish line at Susquehannock State Park.

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Visit the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, a favorite migration stop for snow geese and tundra swans on their way to the summer Arctic breeding grounds. As many as 200,000 snow geese and thousands of tundra swans have visited the spot each year, typically in February and March.

EAT AND DRINK

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Treat your taste buds to raspberry soft-serve ice cream from the House of Pizza in Willow Street. This seasonal favorite has a fan club all its own.

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Any serious discussion of the best chicken barbecue in Lancaster County has to include Spooky Nook Produce & Greenhouse in East Hempfield Township. Every Saturday from April through October, the smell of marinating chicken wafts down the lane of the Stoltzfus family’s 66-acre farm at Landisville and Spooky Nook roads. The produce stand and greenhouse is open Monday through Saturday and sells what the family makes and grows: seasonal fruits including melons, berries and peaches; seasonal vegetables; homemade beverages including root beer, mint tea and lemonade; garden and landscaping plants, as well as flowers and planters; an array of birdhouses; baked goods on Fridays and Saturdays; and occasionally ice cream.

Lancaster, PA (LNS)

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Visit the nation’s first pretzel bakery, right here in Lancaster County. In 1861, Julius Sturgis purchased the 18-century stone building on East Main Street in Lititz (and presumably some dough). Today, in that same building, people are still twisting dough into that familiar shape. The Sturgis Pretzel House is a delicious piece of history where you can tour the building and roll your own pretzel. Or you can purchase pretzels right out of the oven at Lancaster’s Hammond Pretzel Bakery, the oldest continuously family-operated handmade pretzel bakery in America.

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Stuff your face with Pennsylvania Dutch cooking at Shady Maple Smorgasbord’s 200-foot buffet in East Earl. Visit on your birthday and eat for free. Hint: Wear an elastic waistband.

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Have a pint in a true English-style pub experience without having to cross the pond. Among its many accolades, Bulls Head Public House in Lititz has been named “Best Beer Bar in the U.S.”

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Raise a glass as you visit the 37 wineries, breweries, distilleries and vineyards on the Craft & Cork Trail. Sample wine from Nissley Vineyards in Bainbridge to Britain Hill Venue & Vineyard in Little Britain Township, craft beer from Bespoke Brewing in Strasburg to MooDuck in Elizabethtown, spirits from Thistle Finch Distillery in Lancaster to Stoll & Wolfe in Lititz, and more. There are prizes, too.

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Enjoy a heaping helping of chicken pot pie, Lancaster County’s classic comfort food, and help a good cause at the same time. Fire companies in Bird-in-Hand, Bareville, Gap and more hold fundraising dinners every year.

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Join the Lancaster Liederkranz — Lancaster’s German cultural club — for some traditional German songs, dances and culinary delights. The club also hosts several public outdoor festivals throughout the year. Prost!

Year of th e Arts

Love it Like a Local in the Lebanon Valley

The Lebanon Valley may be known for Lebanon Bologna but there’s no baloney when it comes to the arts in Lebanon County In fact, for the entirety of 2024, the Valley is celebrating its Year of the Arts to honor the county’s prolific arts community So, join the applause as the arts take center stage at these Lebanon Valley events…

Art Show & Film Festival in Gretna

The Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show is one of the top art shows in the country and will be celebrating its 50th show this summer! Held along the iconic cottage-lined paths of Gretna on the weekend of Aug. 17 and 18, the show will feature over 200 exhibitors, 10 “emerging artists” and, new this year, the Mount Gretna International Film Festival, a film competition to honor and support both emerging and established filmmakers (mtgretnaarts.com).

Music & Theater at the Playhouse

Originally built in 1892, the Gretna Playhouse is America’s oldest summer stock theater and the home of Gretna Music and Gretna Theatre. At a Gretna Theatre performance, take in Broadway-caliber shows such as “Every Brilliant Thing”

Enjoy a farm-to-cone treat at one of these county spots: Fox Meadows Creamery, Ephrata: Choose from 24 flavors made on-site with milk from the family’s dairy farm. Stop at the right time and you can watch it being made. The Milkhouse at Oregon Dairy, Lititz: Try one of their 25 hand-dipped flavors, then visit the deer, goats and Patches the pig. Lapp Valley Farm, New Holland: Butterfat from their Jersey cows makes this small-batch ice cream possible. After your treat, view the cows and pet the calves. Pine View Dairy, Lancaster: Pick up some homemade ice cream and farm-fresh milk and pet the calves.

or “Chess,” both of which will be featured this summer (gretnatheatre.org).

During Gretna Music’s 2024 summer season, catch internationally acclaimed puppeteer Milo the Magnificent, Grammy Award-winning baroque orchestra Apollo’s Fire and much more (gretnamusic.org).

Concerts & Flow Arts in the Park

Coleman Memorial Park comes alive each Sunday in the summer with its free Music in the Park concert series. Relax under the trees as you listen to local bands and musicians gracing the park’s amphitheater stage (musicinthepark. net). Then on Saturday, June 8, head to the park for the 10th Annual Spinstock Flow Arts Festival. Flow arts is a combination of movement and artistic expression that creates an experience that’s almost equally as fun to watch as it is to perform. At Spinstock, a few of the flow arts performances and activities include juggling, dancing, hula hooping and “super bubbles” (spinstock.org).

Visit Lebanon Valley

The Lebanon Valley may be the road less traveled, but sometimes that’s just what you’re looking for. Explore miles of hiking trails, delight in outdoor dining and discover historic sites that tell stories of years past. Learn more: VisitLebanonValley.com.

p Try your hand at twisting your own pretzel at Sturgis Pretzel House.

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If java’s more your thing, check out some or all of the more than 20 quaint and cozy stops on Discover Lancaster’s Coffee Trail.

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Buy vegetables, pumpkins, pies or other baked goods at a roadside stand

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Taste a Wilbur Bud. From the 1930s until 2016, the sweet smell of Wilbur Buds produced at the Wilbur Chocolate Co. factory would infuse the air of Lititz. The factory has shut down, but Wilbur Buds are still for sale at the retail store across the street from the factory building and they’re as good as ever.

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Sample some pepper jam and shoofly pie at Kitchen Kettle Village. What started as a simple family jelly business has expanded into a village-sized shopping experience located in Intercourse featuring more than 40 shops, lodging, restaurants and special seasonal events.

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With Lancaster County’s reputation for high-quality produce, it’s no surprise that celebrity chef and “Good Eats” host Alton Brown discovered the “world’s best salad” right here in the city. Go to LUCA and taste a Little Gem Lettuces salad for yourself.

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Want to enjoy your food and drink with a view?

Then try one of downtown Lancaster’s rooftop bars, all with a bird’s-eye view and a slightly different vibe – and height. Some possibilities: The Exchange at The Marriott at Penn Square; Altana Rooftop Lounge and Tellus360 on East King Street, and Little Mykonos on Orange Street.

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Drink in a little history at Lancaster County’s oldest continuously operating tavern. Back when James Madison was president and the U.S. was deep in the War of 1812, a tavern opened its doors on the corner of Waterford and Front streets in Marietta. Over 200 years and a few name changes later, Shank’s Tavern is still serving up food and drinks in a friendly neighborhood atmosphere.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

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Stolen apples, whip-like cracks and strange howling in the night. Mankind has always tried to explain the unexplainable. The Pacific Northwest has the Sasquatch, South America has the Chupacabra and Lancaster County has the Albatwitch. According to cryptozoologists, the creature covered with reddishbrown or gray fur, which stands around 3 to 5 feet tall, haunts the hills around Chickies Rock and along the shores of the Susquehanna. Some sources report that images of the elusive Albatwitch have occurred as far back as 500 years ago. In the 1800s, the local legend grew as picnickers reported incidents of Albatwitches stealing their apples and pegging them with the cores. In honor of the creature, Columbia hosts the Albatwitch Festival each fall, featuring apple treats, music and lectures.

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Mark the burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge during the Civil War in June 1863 with the two-day RiverFest, featuring the Bridge Burner Run and Paddle Challenge, trolley tours and more.

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Attend one of the county’s 20-plus mud sales, so named because of the condition of the ground during the spring thaw. These fire company benefit sales offer everything from furniture and quilts to antiques and tools. There’s plenty of homemade food, too. Hint: Wear boots.

35

Attend the Manheim Farm Show parade in October, a roughly hour-long procession of trucks, tractors, marching bands, youth sports teams, organizations, EMS and more. Visit the food court beforehand or afterward for just-made treats, including French fries and funnel cakes.

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The Sausage King and Queen of the Shire enjoy Oktoberfest at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.

Immerse yourself in the long-ago days of merry olde England at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, complete with jousting knights, kings and queens, and a colorful array of villagers, from magicians to mud beggars. Hint: Satisfy your appetite with a giant turkey leg.

37

Explore the river town of Marietta during Marietta Day. The annual late-spring festival features street food, locally made arts and crafts, games and live music.

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Take a break from the midwinter doldrums and head to Lititz for the 10-day Fire & Ice Festival, which features wow-worthy ice sculptures and live ice carving along with a chance to warm up while sampling entries in the annual chili cookoff. There’s also a maker’s market, food trucks, live music, a scavenger hunt and more.

39

Celebrate flight at Community Days, the free biennial air show that takes off at Lancaster Airport. The event features a variety of aircraft on display and available for rides, a parade of planes, food and more.

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Sink your teeth into a sweet and juicy home-grown tomato sandwich at the annual Washington Boro Tomato Festival held in Pennsylvania’s unofficial tomato capital: Washington Boro. Enjoy chicken corn soup, live music and family activities, too. Hint: Grab lots of napkins.

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Lots of towns have their own community festivals and the tiny borough of Terre Hill is no exception. Terre Hill Days in July is a four-day small-town celebration with food, games, rides, magic shows, music, a tug of war, fireworks and airplanes dropping buckets of candy and prizes. It all wraps up with a community church service and picnic.

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Try a toasted cheeseburger at the Ephrata Fair. Then check out the rides, games, animals, agricultural exhibits, contests and more. Billed as Pennsylvania’s biggest street fair, it’s been an Ephrata tradition since 1919.

Magic & Wonder

With its familyfriendly variety shows featuring a colorful mix of music, magic, circus arts, comedy and more, The Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater is a mustsee while visiting Lancaster.

This year, the 320-seat theater debuts a new and improved dinner menu for the regular season as well as a Christmas feast during the holiday shows

“We want to take the hassle out of planning as much as possible,” owner and performer Brett Myers says. “Folks already have enough to worry about just packing to go on vacation. So if we can give people an incredible dining option combined with top-notch entertainment, we’re doing just a little bit more to help our guests relax and truly escape during their stay with us.”

Brett, a master illusionist, stars in The Magic & Wonder Show, which is currently going into its ninth season. He was recently honored by the International Magicians Society, the world’s largest magic organization, with its prestigious Merlin Award (often referred to as the “Oscar of Magic”) for having the Best Magic & Variety Show. Previous recipients include David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Penn & Teller, and Cris Angel

This year, the theater is hosting two exciting shows The first, a brand-new magic show called “IMAGINARIUM,” transports audiences to a larger-than-life circus, the whimsy of Wonka, the glamour of Hollywood and the curiosities of a Steampunk era.

The second is their hit music variety show, “Jukebox Jive,” featuring the greatest hits from the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. This high-energy show blended with circus arts is sure to wow the crowds.

“Every year, we reinvent the magic show,” Brett says. “We work to give guests a true escape from reality. From the moment they enter the building, they are transported to a world of wonder where anything is possible.”

Offering amazing entertainment and performances, Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater adds to Lancaster’s special blend of traditional and innovative experiences for all ages to enjoy.

“Lancaster is a wonderful destination with such a rich heritage of Amish farmland,” Brett says “It is a great place to come and get away for people looking for somewhere with a slower pace, but it still has unique attractions that you are not going to find anywhere else in the country.”

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The Falmouth Goat Races began as a joke more than 40 years ago, and they’re now an institution. Come as a spectator and watch handlers and their animals compete. Or bring your own goat and join the race yourself. Don’t have one? No worries. You might be able to rent one at the event, which takes place every September at Governor Stables Park.

44

Find inspiration for your own backyard at one of several garden tours held in communities throughout Lancaster County. Marietta, Strasburg and Columbia all host self-guided tours of mostly private gardens in June. The Columbia tour also incorporates plein air artists at each garden stop.

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From May to December, downtown Lancaster is alive with the sound of music every third Friday from 5-8 p.m. Music Fridays feature live performances at over a dozen locations throughout the city.

THE ARTS

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See a show at the Fulton Theatre, Lancaster’s own regional theater, a National Historic Landmark and the oldest continuously operating theater in the United States.

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See a movie at Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, a downtown Lancaster venue showing independent, foreign and documentary films. Hint: Arrive early to secure one of the comfy couches.

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Stroll Gallery Row, the hub of Lancaster’s flourishing art scene and what many view as the catalyst for the downtown’s revival. The stretch of art galleries spans the first and second blocks of North Prince Street. Extra points if you visit during a First Friday celebration.

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Attend one of the free Sunday outdoor concerts held June through August at Long’s Park. The summer series has been hosting top musical acts for more than a half-century.

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Take in everything from a touring Broadway show to a rock legend to a comedy act at the American Music Theatre. And don’t miss their original Christmas show.

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Watch epic Bible stories come to life with music, elaborate sets, trained animals and state-of-the-art special effects at Sight & Sound Theatres just outside Strasburg.

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Enjoy a buffet or served meal and a matinee or evening performance of a classic musical or a contemporary show at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre.

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Catch a first-run blockbuster movie or a live opera performance from the Met from the comfort of reclining seats or hop in your car and enjoy a classic film on a giant drive-in screen — all at Penn Cinema in Manheim Township.

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Grab a drink at the bar and a comfy seat at Prima Theatre, an intimate, boutique venue offering everything from concerts to contemporary theater in the city’s west side.

LEARNING EXPERIENCES

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Meet the Speedwell wolves on a tour of the Wolf Sanctuary of PA, an 80-acre natural refuge north of Lititz. Guided tours include stops to see some of the packs and hear their stories, as well as learn about wolf biology and conservation.

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Make some time to visit North America’s largest collection of watches, clocks and timekeeping instruments at Columbia’s National Watch and Clock Museum.

p Grab your goat and your running shoes and head to the Falmouth Goat Races in September.

p Free Sunday concerts are a summer tradition at Long’s Park.

p Meet the Speedwell wolves at the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.

57

Travel back in time to the North Museum in Lancaster and see fossils and bones of ancient animals such as Sphodrosaurus pennsylvanicus, a Triassic reptile that resided in what would later become Lancaster County over 200 million years ago.

58

Take a relaxing walk in a hidden gem located just outside of Lancaster. The Tanger Arboretum features a large variety of plant life including a dwarf conifer garden. It’s open seven days a week from dawn to dusk – and it’s free to tour.

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Lancaster County is filled with treasures found in the most unlikely places, such as the glass mosaic window that greets all who come to exercise in the downtown YMCA. Known simply as the Lancaster YMCA stained glass window, this museum-worthy masterpiece holds 1,000 pieces of colored glass gems and weighs almost 1,000 pounds. 60

More than a dozen Ephrata businesses use the name “Cloister,” but there is only one Ephrata Cloister, a historical treasure every Lancaster County resident must explore. These 275-year-old buildings, the very foundation of the town of Ephrata, hold stories of the spiritual journeys of some of Lancaster County’s earliest residents, complete with amazing Germanic architecture, unique music and art, and an intriguing backstory.

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Gain an appreciation for how work was done back in the day by attending the Thresherman’s Reunion on the grounds of the Rough & Tumble Engineers Association in Kinzers. The annual event features old-fashioned steam traction engines and hit-and-miss gas engines, antique tractors, an operating sawmill, a working blacksmith shop and more.

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Discover the history of northeastern Lancaster County with a visit to the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley’s Theodore Sprecher Museum. Housed in the Connell Mansion, a Victorian home built in 1869 on the corner of Oak and Main streets in Ephrata, the museum includes three floors of displays and period rooms, all free and open to the public.

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Tour Wheatland — the 22acre Federal-style mansion where James Buchanan — the 15th president of the United States – lived for two decades.

64

Pay respects to Lancaster painter Charles Demuth and Gen. John Reynolds — the highest ranking officer to die at Gettysburg — both buried in Lancaster Cemetery.

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Tour the stone house just south of Quarryville that is the birthplace of famed steamboat inventor and Lancaster County native Robert Fulton.

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Check out the collection of more than 100 historic locomotives and railroad cars and learn about the area’s rich railroad history at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg.

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Take a Historic Lancaster Walking Tour and follow a costumed guide to over 50 locations spanning more than 250 years of Lancaster city history.

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Learn about early Pennsylvania German life at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, a living history museum that includes an 1800s hotel, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and more, along with the largest collection of Pennsylvania German artifacts in the country.

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Visit the 1719 Herr House, the oldest Mennonite meetinghouse still standing in the Western Hemisphere. The Herr House is part of the 1719 Museum, an 11acre site that also includes a full-size reproduction of a Native longhouse along with other buildings and exhibits tracing the formation of Lancaster County.

Discovernew events

Experience 1800s living history at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum.

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FOR KIDS

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Feed the ducks that swim in the spring-fed stone waterway at Lititz Springs Park. There are two playgrounds to enjoy too.

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Let the good times roll while skating to your favorite tunes at Castle Roller Rink.

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Discover your inner ninja warrior on the indoor obstacle courses at recRoc in Lititz and Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim. These venues also offer bouldering and/or rock-climbing opportunities for beginner and advanced climbers.

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Learn and have fun at the same time at The Lancaster Science Factory, an interactive learning center housed in a reclaimed factory building featuring classes, exhibits and workstations where children can experiment and learn about science, technology, engineering and math.

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See your favorite trains in toy form dating back to the mid-1800s, including meticulously maintained model train layouts, at the National Toy Train Museum in Ronks.

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Check out the 1,700-squarefoot miniature model train layout at The Choo Choo Barn. Hint: Be sure to pick up the free scavenger hunt sheet at the desk.

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Learn how ice cream is made, taste unlimited samples, milk a mechanical cow and develop your very own ice cream flavor in the Taste Lab at Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia.

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Fun, interactive learning awaits kids ages 2-10 at Hands-On House Children’s Museum, where you’ll find exhibits like Amazing Airways, Little Valley Farm, Mason’s Active Adventure Garden and Construction Zone.

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Chug into Strasburg for a day devoted to trains big and small. The historic Strasburg Rail Road, founded in 1832, was initially used for freight hauling and transportation. These days it’s best known for family fun. Experience a murder mystery aboard the train or take your children to see Thomas the Tank Engine when he pulls into the station.

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Enjoy more than 30 rides and attractions, along with Duke’s Lagoon water play area, live entertainment and more at Dutch Wonderland, a theme park that’s been entertaining families for more than 60 years.

Meet Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends when they visit Strasburg Rail Road. u

SUBSCRIPTIONS

PLATINUM $145 | 5 SHOWS RESERVED PREMIUM SEATS

GOLD $130 | 5 SHOWS RESERVED STANDARD SEATS

SILVER $100 | 3 SHOWS RESERVED STANDARD SEATS

SINGLE TICKETS STARTING AT $39

& ME OPENING JUNE 20 CHESS: IN CONCERT OPENING JULY 11

BALLS OF FIRE OPENING AUGUST 22

HOLIDAY

81

Head downtown to Penn Square on the Friday after Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season with the Mayor’s Tree Lighting and Tuba Christmas. Cap off the evening by visiting Santa.

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Experience the true meaning of Christmas at the National Christmas Center at Stone Gable Estate in Elizabethtown, where you’ll find over 1,200 Nativities, storefronts decked out in 1950s Christmas themes, nostalgic decor, a doll emporium and a toy store featuring 5,000 hand-painted toy soldiers.

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Check out some impressive holiday light displays. Messick’s Farm Equipment in Mount Joy hosts a free, drive-up light show set to music featuring a display of tractors and 70,000 lights. Or visit the Christmas Spirit Light Show at Clipper Magazine Stadium, where you can drive through a one-mile track lined with thousands of lights that dance along to your favorite Christmas classics.

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Get in the Christmas spirit by touring local homes dolled up for the holidays. Strasburg, Manheim and Marietta all host tours of private homes and public buildings decked out in their holiday finest.

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Take a guided candlelight tour of the 1792 Johannes Mueller House in Lititz and learn how the early Moravian community celebrated Christmas centuries ago.

p Clipper Magazine Stadium trades baseball for Christmas cheer when it hosts a drive-thru light show during the holidays.

Spend a day at Roots Market in Manheim or Green Dragon in Ephrata. If you can’t find it at one of these markets, there’s a good chance it doesn’t exist. From cheeses and crafts to computer games and collectibles, the local farmers markets and auctions literally have something for everyone.

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Shop Lancaster Central Market, the oldest continuously running public farmers market in the country since 1730. More than 60 vendors offer local produce, meat, poultry and more.

LITITZ recCENTER

Summer camps, swimming, and sports and fitness for all ages in our state of the art facilities near beautiful downtown Lititz. Memberships and day passes available. 301 W. Maple St., Lititz. 717-626-5096.

[SPONSORED]

p Get a taste of all Lancaster County has to offer at Lancaster Central Market, the oldest continuously running public farmer’s market in the country.

88 Win a road apple. Lancaster County runners typically attempt to avoid “road apples” — the colloquialism referring to, let’s say, the emissions of a horse-drawn buggy. However, for some dedicated runners the Road Apple is

89

Watch the sport of kings on a Sunday afternoon at Forney Field in Rothsville, courtesy of the Lancaster Polo Club. Gates open at 1 and play starts at 2:30 p.m. Tailgating is expected, so bring your lawn chairs, snacks and, of course, your favorite beverage! The season runs from June to October.

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Watch the mud fly during some high-octane competition at Buck Motorsports Park south of Lancaster, where you’ll find tractor pulls, monster truck showdowns, demolition derbies and more every weekend, April through September.

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Take yourself out to a ballgame at Clipper Magazine Stadium, home of the Stormers, Lancaster’s very own professional Atlantic League baseball team.

the goal. The Road Apple Award is given to athletes that complete the Garden Spot Marathon in the spring and the Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon in September. And yes, there’s a sanitized, purified and petrified road apple right on the award.

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Have a scary good time at haunted attractions such as Jason’s Woods and Field of Screams. (Halloween seems to last for nearly two months in Lancaster.)

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Learn about Lancaster County Amish culture and customs with a trip to the Amish Farm & House. Take a guided tour of the historic farmhouse and one-room school, then enjoy a self-guided visit to the 15-acre farm. Need to relax? Take a yoga class with some cuddly goats.

TOUR LANCASTER’S FIRST OPERATING DISTILLERY SINCE STILLERY PROHIBITION, HOUSED IN A HISTORICAL TOBACCO WAREHOUSE HISTORI TOBA AND THEN SAMPLE OUR CURRENT LINE UP. INCLUDING RYE, SAMPL LIN . BOURBON, GIN, VODKA, RUM AND MORE! IN,

RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON OUR WEBSITE FOR A TOUR SITE THE TOUR AND TASTING TYPICALLY LAST ONE HOUR. CALL COCKTAILS AND FOOD ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BAR AND GUEST ARE WELCOME TO ARRIVE EARLY.

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You’ve seen Lancaster County’s scenic countryside from a car and maybe even a bike, but how about a horse and buggy? Check out the back roads from an Amish perspective with a tour from Aaron and Jessica’s Buggy Rides. Tours range from 20 minutes to two hours, with some stops along the way.

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Ever wonder how handcrafted furniture is made? Take a guided tour of the George’s Furniture woodshop and showroom in Marietta and see the step-by-step furniture-making process, from the drying and cutting of wood to the application of finishes.

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Hop aboard a bus for a tour of Kreider Farms in Manheim, where you can watch cows getting milked on the milking merry-go-round, climb a 100foot silo observation tower and drive down the middle of the maternity barn. If you’re lucky, you might see a newborn calf.