Even though the winter gloom is upon us, don’t laze January away. Resolve to get out and make new discoveries!
Lancaster City Scavenger Hunt
Select Dates in January
Downtown Lancaster
This interactive scavenger hunt is brought to you by Unique Lancaster Experiences. Visit 18+ local shops and historical sites, where each location will host a fun and engaging hands-on activity perfect for all ages. All you need to do is follow the prompts in the scavenger hunt app to find each activity in this race against the clock. The more missions you complete, the more treats and goodies you will collect from local vendors! Of course, you will learn some Lancaster history along the way! Dates/times vary. Note: the tour is held year-round. Information: experiencelancasterpa.com
We the People First Fridays
January 3
Ware Center
Millersville University hosts a community-centered event each First Friday that is designed to showcase Lancaster’s diversity from an artistic and cultural perspective. Each First Friday features an art exhibit in the Regitz Gallery and a performance in Steinman Hall. This month, Joseph Strider, a Texas-born Native American singer/songwriter who has produced four albums of original music and performed throughout the U.S. and Canada, plus has been nominated for numerous awards, will take the stage. Expect an evening of eclectic and original acoustic music with accompaniment by violinist and Millersville alum, Liz Mallin. The Regitz Gallery will host Stolen Views II – New Lancaster Scenes, an exhibit of plein air paintings by a group of artists who gather each week to paint. (The exhibit will be on view through January 31.) 6 p.m. 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster. Information: Artsmu.com/ware-center
Winter Hike in the Woods
January 4
Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve
A wintertime walk in the woods delivers a magic all its own. The Lancaster Conservancy-led hike will take participants through the oak forest of Welsh Mountain, whose overlook offers spectacular views of the countryside. You can also expect to see sightings of wildlife, including deer, fox and birds. This is a 3-mile loop hike on a rocky trail with mostly flat terrain. Recommended for ages 10+; participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Bring water and a snack if desired. 1 p.m. 835 Gault Rd., New Holland. Registration required. Information: Lancasterconservancy.org
Pennsylvania Farm Show
January 4-11
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
Now in its 109th year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show celebrates the state’s agriculture industry through showcasing nearly 4,000 animals, over 12,000 competitive events and exhibits, 245 commercial exhibits and hundreds of educational and entertaining events. The 2025 Farm Show will feature such fan favorites as the 1,000-pound butter sculpture, the famous Farm Show Food Court, youth showmanship, sheep-shearing competitions and cooking demonstrations at the PA Preferred® Culinary Connection. Visitors can explore the more than 1 million
square feet of hands-on agricultural education opportunities and engage with the people who power Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry.
This year’s theme, Powering Pennsylvania, was announced in September by Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding during an appearance at Oregon Dairy. “Agriculture powers Pennsylvania,” said Secretary Redding. “We hope you’ll join us in January to kick off your 2025 with people like Oregon Dairy’s Hurst and Forry families, who power our families with nutritious food every day. Thousands of farm families join them in powering our economy, supporting 593,000 jobs and pouring more than $132.5 billion into our communities every year, and increasingly producing green energy that literally keeps lights on and businesses running. The Shapiro Administration is proud to support Pennsylvania agriculture and the innovative Pennsylvanians who power our daily lives and make us a national leader.”
The setting for the announcement was a Lancaster County success story. Since 1952, Oregon Dairy has grown from a mom-and-pop dairy farm to an innovative dairy destination that includes a full-service supermarket, bakery and restaurant. It also provides community education and entertainment programs and is a tourism hub that fosters an understanding of sustainable food production. It’s also a modern-day working farm that is powered by solar panels, recycling and a manure digester that turns waste into energy.
Admission to the Farm Show is free, but parking at the complex is $15. Regular hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily (closing January 11 at 5 p.m.). In addition, the Food Court will be open January 3, 12-9 p.m. 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. Information: Farmshow.pa.gov
Cabin Fever Hike
January 5
Lancaster County Central Park
Naturalist Rachael Albright will introduce participants to the beauty of nature that defines the cold-weather months. Dress for the weather and bring a warm beverage along. Appropriate for all ages. 11 a.m. Meet at the Environmental Center, 3 Nature’s Way, Lancaster. Information: Co.lancaster.pa.us
Suburban Pennsylvania Home Show
January 11 & 12
Lancaster County Convention Center
It’s time to start thinking about spring and those home remodeling projects you’d like to tackle. This home show will inspire you with ideas, products and feedback from the industry professionals you’ll meet. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster. Information: Lancasterhomeshow.com
Full Moon Walk
January 13
Lancaster County Central Park
The Wolf Moon is upon us. Senior naturalist, Lisa J. Sanchez, will lead a walk in the meadow, along the creek and through the woods with the full moon leading the way. Learn about and listen closely to what is howling and hooting at the moon. 6:30 p.m. Meet at Ballfield #1 parking lot, 539 Golf Rd., Lancaster. Registration required. Information: Co.lancaster.pa.us
Pretty Woman: The Musical
January 14-19
Hershey Theatre
Based on one of Hollywood’s most popular rom-coms of all time, the musical version of Pretty Woman is the work of a creative team led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde). It also features an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (Summer of ’69 and Heaven) and a book by the movie’s legendary director, Garry Marshall, and screenwriter, J. F. Lawton. Of course, Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s hit song, Oh, Pretty Woman, is featured. Pretty Woman the film, which starred Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, which was released in 1990, went on to become an international sensation. Times vary. 15 E. Caracas Blvd., Hershey. Information: Hersheyentertainment.com
Strings of Passion
January 17-18
Gardner Theatre
The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra will present a passionate program that will feature violinist, Juliette Kang, and the symphony’s incredible strings. The concert’s diverse line-up will include Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte, Marjan Mozetich’s Affairs of the Heart, Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3, and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. 725 Hamilton Rd., Lancaster. Information: Lancastersymphony.org.
Polar Bear 5K Trail Run/Hike
January 18
Lancaster County Central Park
Now in its 14th year, the event is the Sierra Club-Lancaster Group’s largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds are used to support local efforts to ease climate change, notably through the group’s “green project” program that awards monetary grants to organizations seeking to make positive environmental changes (95 such organizations have benefited over the past nine years.) Proceeds also assist the club in providing outdoor activities and educational programs that are free to the public. The Lancaster branch of the Sierra Club is one of 10 in the Pennsylvania Chapter and has 1,500 members. Leashed dogs are welcome to participate. Awards will be presented, as will special door and dog-participant prizes. Registration/check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Event begins at 10 a.m. Pavilion 22 (Kiwanis Lodge) in the park. 1050 Rockford Rd., Lancaster. Information: Lancastersierraclub.org
Dancing With the Stars Live!
January 19
American Music Theatre
TV’s hottest dance competition show is on tour across America this winter and it’s making a stop in Lancaster, providing fans with the opportunity to see the best ballroom dancers in the business perform live. This all-new production showcases ballroom and contemporary dances from ABC’s hit show Dancing With the Stars, including sizzling group numbers, intricate duets and over-the-top original pieces. Packages offer an array of perks including preferred seating and photo ops with the cast. 3 p.m. 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster. Information: Amtshows.com
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
January 20
Millersville University
Acclaimed author and activist, Ijeoma Oluo, will headline the 37th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast and share her thoughts on Dr. King’s enduring impact and the continued fight for equity and justice. Oluo is a Seattle-based writer, speaker and social media commentator whose first book, So You Want to Talk About Race, was published in 2018 and earned #1 on The New York Times bestseller list. She has been published in major newspapers and magazines and has appeared on network and cable news shows. This year’s theme, Unity in Diversity: Our Single Garment of Destiny, draws inspiration from Dr. King’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech. The event will also feature vibrant performances, inspiring writing from local students and the presentation of the Essence of Humanity, Ruby Payne Cook and Crispus Attucks Legacy awards.
Tickets are $75 for in-person and $25 for livestream. To make the event accessible to all, there is also a pay-what-you-will, in-person ticket option. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Breakfast buffet will be available from 7:30-8:15 a.m., at which time the program will begin. Millersville University Student Memorial Center, 113 Shenks Lane. Information: Caplanc.org/MLK
Lititz Martial Arts Showcase
January 19
Mickey’s Black Box
Are you interested in finding a new workout regimen and are curious about martial arts? Here’s your chance to see it in action. Lititz Martial Arts, which is owned and operated by Brennan Ganteaume, who has been a member of the World Tang Soo Do Association since 2003, specializes in the instruction of Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art. Lititz Martial Arts offers classes for all ages (4 to adult) taught by certified and experienced instructors. 2 p.m. 101 Rock Lititz Blvd. Information: Lititzmartialarts.com. Tickets: Mickeysblackbox.com
Lancaster Archery Classic
January 23-26
Spooky Nook Sports
Regarded as the largest indoor tournament of its kind on the East Coast, the Lancaster Archery Classic offers one of the most exciting archery tournament formats in the world, with a 60-arrow qualification round, followed by head-to-head matches that culminate in a shoot-your-way-to-the-top grand finale that offers every finalist the chance to take home the top prize in their division. Competitors include youngsters, collegians, adults and Olympians. Times vary. 75 Champ Blvd., Manheim. Information: Lancasterarcheryclassic.com
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