'Tis The Season

MINIMALIS TS ?

For History Buffs

Take a themed train tour at Strasburg Railroad, 301 Gap Road , Ronks.

Explore local histor y exhibits at Ephrata Cloister, 632 W. Main St., Ephrata.

Discover how pretzels are made at Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, 219 E. Main St., Lititz.

Experience Amish culture at The Amish Farm & House, 2395 Covered Bridge Drive, Lancaster.

For Creative Minds

Join a plant workshop at Ken’s Gardens, 2467 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster.

Blow glass at Lancaster Creative Factor y, 580 S. Prince St., Rear, Lancaster.

Take a cooking class at Zest !, 1180 Erbs Q uarry Road , Lititz.

Make your own pottery at Jen’s Potter y Den, 711 Olde Hickory Road , Lancaster.

Give the gift of preserving memories with My Digital Conversion, 100 W. Market St., Marietta.

For Adventure Seekers

Give ice skating a tr y at Lancaster Ice Rink, 371 Carerra Drive, Lanca ster

Test your rock climbing skills at Spooky Nook Sports, 75 Champ Blvd ., Manheim.

Zipline throug h the forest at Refreshing Mountain Retreat & Adventure Center, 455 Camp Road, Stevens

Get a birds-eye-view at Smoketown Helicopter Tours, 311 Airport Drive, Smoketown.

For Kids and Kids-at-Heart

By Katina Kauffman

inding the perf ec t gift fo r everyone on yo ur lis t can be difficult, particularly when yo u’re shopping fo r people who fa ll in to the ca te gory of minimalis ts. These are ty pically yo ur friends and fa mily member s who say they don’t need or wa nt an y more “st uff ” clut te ring up their homes. If yo u have people like this on yo ur shopping lis t, yo u migh t fe el tha t giving no gift at all fe els scrooge-ish, especially if yo u’re someone who does enjoy giving and re ce iving gifts. So how do yo u show yo u care, while re spec ting the wishes of those yo u love? Giving an ex perienc e, ins te ad of a ph ys ical objec t, co uld be the answe r yo u’ve been searching fo r. In addition to solving this co mmon holiday dilemma, ex perienc e gifts have man y added benefits fo r bo th the giver and re cipien t. Fo r the gift giver, ex perienc e gifts can be grea t in a pinch when yo u’re short on time . In to day’s e-c ommerce en vironmen t, man y businesses sell e-gift cards online , which means yo u co uld finaliz e yo ur ex perienc e gift jus t hour s bef ore giving it. Fo r the re cipien t, ex perienc e gifts crea te a las ting memory to re flec t on fo r ye ar s to co me If yo u think an ex perienc e co uld be perf ec t fo r someone on yo ur lis t, there are plen ty of options in Lancas te r Co un ty Here are some ideas to help yo u find the perf ec t gift this holiday season!

Enjoy bowling , arcade games and billiards at Round 1 Bowling & Amusement, 142 Park City Center, Lancaster.

Solve puzzles at Escape Room Lancaster, 1018 N. Christian St., Lancaster.

Take your little train engineer to a sleepover at the Red Caboose Motel, 312 Paradise Ln., Ronks.

Climb the ropes course at Go ‘N Bananas Family Fun Center, 1170 Garfield Ave., Lancaster.

Bounce the day away at Sky Zone Trampoline Park, 1701 Hempstead Road , #102, Lancaster.

Photo by Chris Pollock

LNP/LOL Staff Photo

Photo courtesy of Spooky Nook Sports

Photo courtesy of Zest!

HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

By Alexis Witgenstein Photo by Maggie Noon

Grinch Cocktail

This one’s a cinch for when you’re in a pinch!

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz of Midori liqueur 1 oz of clear rum 5 oz of lemon lime soda 1 maraschino cherry

Directions:

The holiday season is upon us, which means it’s time to start thinking about what to serve at this year ’s festivities ! One of the best parts of the holiday season is planning and creating themed cocktails and mocktails to let your creativity shine, while simultaneously feeling rela xed. These visually appealing drinks are perfect for eithe staying cozy by the fire, or for serving your friends and family at your next party. Our top cocktail recipes will keep you warm and filled with the holiday spirit(s)!

Dreidel Cocktail

This may make your head spin!

Ingredients: 2 oz of plum brandy 2 oz. of apple juice ½ oz lemon juice

½ oz cherry flavored liqueur ½ oz egg whites (will thicken when shaken) 1 dash of Angostura bitters

Directions: Fill a cocktail shaker with 2/3 of ice, and add the brandy, apple juice, lemon juice, and cherry liqueur Shake hard for 30 seconds to be sure the egg whites thicken. Then strain into a wine glass, and top with a dash of Angostura bitters.

Holly Jolly Citrus Cocktail

Fill a low-ball glass with ice, then add Midori liqueur and rum. Top with lemon lime soda and a maraschino cherry.

Whit Christmas Martini

We’ve been dreaming of a White Christmas…martini.

Ingredients: 4 oz of rum chata 4 oz vanilla vodka 2 oz sweetened condensed milk

Corn syrup Gold sugar

Directions:

Dip your martini glass rim in corn syrup, then dip again in the gold sugar for garnish. Fill a cocktail mixing glass with all ingredients, plus ice. Stir until combined, then strain into the garnished martini glass.

Candy Cane Martini Mocktail

This mocktail will have you hooked

Ingredients:

12 oz. of cream soda 1 cup of half & half 4 tsp simple syrup

2-4 drops of peppermint oil

1 candy cane, finely crushed

Directions: Coat the rim of a martini glass in simple syrup and dip into the crushed candy cane In a small pitcher, stir together the half & half, cream soda, simple syrup, and peppermint oil. Pour into the martini glass.

en Christmas morning gives you oranges, make a cocktail

Ingredients: 2 oz vodka ½ oz elderflower liqueur 1/3 cup of blood orange juice Ginger beer

Pomegranate arils 1 sprig of fresh thyme or mint

Directions:

Fill a cocktail glass with ice, then add the vodka, elderflower liqueur, and blood orange juice. Top with ginger beer, add the pomegranate arils, and garnish with a sprig of thyme or mint.

LITITZ ART ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Downtown Lititz Saturday, November 26 from 9 a.m. 6 p.m. Support small businesses in our communit y and grab some amazing deals along th y. Lititz is home to over 70 locally owned retailers and restaurants, so it’s the perfect place to shop small.

Lititz Church of the Brethren | Friday, November 11 at 3 p.m. & Saturday, November 12 at 9 a.m. Visit this art show for artisan, locally handmade gifts this holiday season. Find ever ything from watercolor to jewelr y and pottery to painting s. For more information, visit LititzArtAssociation.com

along the way.

LAUREL AVENUE LIGHTS

659 Laurel Avenue, Lititz | Opening night is Saturday, November 26 at dusk Visit this massive light display that is synchronized to holiday music. There are two different shows on alternating nights that last about 30 minutes each The display also has interactive buttons and moving parts, but if it’s a particularly chilly evening , you can listen to the show’s soundtrack in your car on 88.3 FM.

SANT CLAUS COMING TO BOMBERGER’S

SANTA IS Saturday,

Bomberger ’s | Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. 1 p.m. Stop and visit Santa at the hardware store. While you’re there, your kids can take a spin on the barrel train with Mrs. Claus, Buddy the Elf and their reindeer helpers Last year there was even complimentar y popcorn and hot cocoa available for anyone on Santa’s nice list

PUTZ AT LITITZ MORAVIAN CHURCH

Lititz Moravian Church | Saturdays in December from noon 2 p.m. (except 12/24), December 17, 18, & 24 at 6:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., December 26-30 at 7 p.m.

The annual Christmas Putz features carved figures of the Holy Family created and hand painted by local church members. Enjoy thirteen lighted scenes featuring live moss, tree limbs, driftwood, and rocks, and a canopy of stars depicting the northern December sky. The soundtrack for the Putz uses verses from the Bible to tell the Christmas Stor y, and most of the musical selections are sung by the Moravian Church choir. The show is about 18 minutes long .

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK

Lititz Springs Park | Friday, December 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy the official lighting of the communit y Christmas Tree, including a festive dance performance, carol sing , and special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

AL CHRIS S NDLELIGHT

ANNUAL CHRISTMA CANDLELIGHT TOUR

Lititz Historical Foundation | Friday, December 9 from 5 p.m. 9 p.

His rical Foundation Frida from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Learn d in the 1700s

Learn how Christmas was celebrate 1700s during this candlelig ht tour of the Johannes Mueller House.

For more information, visit LititzHistoricalFoundation.com.

SECOND FRIDAY HOLIDAY EDITION

Downtown Lititz | Friday, December 9 from 5 p.m. 9 p.m. Visit Lititz on the second Friday of each month for fun, food, music, artisans, and shopping ! Many stores often have special offering s and entertainment on this night.

KIDS ONLY SHOPPING PARTY

Bunyaad Marketplace | Friday, December 9 at 3 p.m. until Saturday, December 10 at 9 p.m. Enter Bunyaad throug h a child sized door to shop for your adults Friendly helpers will guide little ones as they purchase gifts, using their adult-given budgets, and will even wrap ever ything up when they are finished. On Saturday after dusk, from 6:30 8 p.m., shopping will focus on gift giving for Hanukkah. This inclusive event is fun for ever y little one!

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SING

Lititz Moravian Church Square | Thursday, December 8 from 7 p.m. 9 p.m.

Join the Lititz Historical Foundation and the Lititz Moravian Archives for the annual Communit y Christmas Carol Sing Song sheets will be handed out so you can join along in sing ing family holiday classics For more information, visit LititzHistoricalFoundation.com.

SHOP IN YOUR JAMMIES

PARTY

Bunyaad Marketplace | Wednesday, December 21 from 3 p.m. 9 p.m. Celebrate the winter solstice by shopping in your jammies. This holiday part y encourag es you to put on your slippers and matching pjs and join in on the fun. Get your last-minute shopping done while sipping an adult beverag e or hot cocoa for kids.

SANTA VISITS THE LIBRARY

Lititz Library | Saturday, December 10 & 17 from 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Bring your letter to Santa and listen to him tell a story at the library. While you’re there, grab a take-and-make craft kit (until 2 pm) and visit the model train (until 3 pm). Don’t forg et to bring canned food for the Warwick Communit y chest, leave mittens, socks, hats, and gloves for local families in need this holiday season, or purchase a book for the library throug h their gift-a-book program.

By Maggie Noon | Illustrations by Bailey Watro

By Sally Reynolds | Photo by Vinny Tennis

hen Scott Kneisley was growing up, Christmas was “a huge deal” for his mom. But Christmas was not just a time of joy for his family, it was also a time to share joy with other families. Ever y year, his mother would round up donations from local businesses to help make Christmas special for people who might be struggling financially.

Kneisley’s mother “had no shame” about asking local businesses for donations and they responded generously She and a neig hbor, who was connected to local charitable organizations, found families who needed the donations to make the holidays special. Kneisley, ag e 32, has continued this tradition into his adulthood along with his fiancé, Jordan Flemming , ag e 28. Ever y Christmas, Kneisley and Flemming adopt a local family

“Not that we live completely minimalist, but we really do have ever ything we need,” Kneisley says “For Christmas, instead of buying for each other, it feels better to buy for others.”

The percentage of people living in poverty varies across Lancaster Count y, from roug hly 5.5% in Manheim Township to 20.5% in Lancaster City Poverty has a disproportionally harsh impact on children, negatively affecting health, school performance and future well-being . You can read more about poverty in Lancaster Count y at lanc. news/poverty and at lancasterindicators. com. While adopting a family for Christmas may not solve poverty, it can make a positive impact in a child’s life.

FO R THE HOLIDAY S

Last year, Kneisley and Flemming , who live in Lancaster, shopped for a family with four children. They boug ht toys, books and clothes for the kids and gift cards for the parents. They wrapped each child’s presents in a different color wrapping paper, then dropped them off at the family’s home with blank cards.

Flemming and Kneisley provide the blank cards so that the parents can label the gifts and put them under the tree. This helps the gifts feel like a partnership instead of a handout.

“It’s not about shoving what I do in people’s faces,” Kneisley says “It’s about helping these folks have a Christmas they wouldn’t have otherwise. Plus, I get to have so much fun shopping for the toys!”

Kneisley says that he has mostly found families to adopt throug h word of mouth, but this year he plans to contact Tabor Communit y Services to ask if they know anyone who needs a little Christmas help, particularly an immigrant family.

To find a family to adopt for the holidays, Kneisley sug gests that people speak to their church leaders or contact Clare House, Milagro House, Water Street Rescue Mission, Good Samaritan Services, Church World Services or similar organizations.

“Adopting a family for Christmas is a great thing to do for people whose kids have grown up, and for people of my generation who aren’t having kids,” Kneisley says. “There’s so much we waste money on. Why buy thing s for ourselves that we don’t need ?”

Scott Kneisley, left, and Jordan Flemming, right.