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History Happy Hour: A Capital Day Celebration

Celebrate and learn about the one day in 1777 that Lancaster was the capital of the United States! Join LancasterHistory for a special History Happy Hour focused on Capital Day. There will be cozy firepits, a signature Capital Day cocktail, and a healthy dose of quirky history!

This family-friendly event encourages all to dress in a “capital way,” whether donning a tricorn hat that’s been collecting dust in the closet, sporting red, white, and blue, or borrowing your neighbor’s powdered wig! Dress up encouraged in a fun and fancy way! Kids can enjoy an activity station and everyone can snack on s’mores around the campfires. Discover the (brief) history of Capital Day with Stephanie Townrow, and test your Lancaster knowledge with Lancaster Quiztory!

Events Schedule

5:30pm: Light bites, featuring a special Capital Day cocktail and apple butterscotch dessert by County Founding Cake contest winner, Jessica Zielinski
6pm: The History (Happy Hour) of Capital Day by LancasterHistory’s Stephanie Townrow and surprise special guests.
Special performance of “Capital Day” song by Alexander Gawn, guitarist and vocalist for Big Fat Meanies, voted “Best Rock Band” in Central Pennsylvania!
6:45pm: Lancaster Quiztory, a Lancaster County-themed game of trivia. (Register for trivia at the event.)

Tickets are $35/Adults (18+) and $10 for Children (17 & Under). Advance tickets are strongly recommended as tickets may not be available at the door. Purchase tickets online or by calling 717.392.4633. Attendees must be 21 and older to consume alcoholic beverages. Non-alcoholic options will be available.

(Looking for something to do earlier in the day, check out our first ever Capital Day Pet Parade!)

We hope to see you on September 27 to celebrate Lancaster’s claim to the nation’s capital fame!

Thank You to Our Capital Day Celebration Sponsors!

Open House Family-Friendly In-Person Event

September 27, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5:30-7:30pm $35/Adults (18+) | $10/Children (17 & Under)

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Capital Day Pet Parade

On Saturday, September 27, at 10am, join LancasterHistory in honoring Lancaster’s day as the nation’s capital with a parade of pets! Owners and furry friends alike are encouraged to dress up in colonial, revolutionary, or patriotic attire, and get ready to strut their fluff!

Parade participants will gather outside the museum before the parade begins, learning brief, bark-sized facts on the history of Capital Day along the way as we journey through history.

While this event is free and open to the public, there is a suggested donation of $10 for parade participants, which can be made on-site or in the cart during checkout. A pet bandana is included with registration, along with free sniffs and water for all.

To register, please click here to register online or call (717) 392-4633 to register over the phone. Registration is required for both pets and people. Those without pets but wish to partake in the fun are also welcome to register to attend.

We want to make the Pet Parade fun for everyone, including our 4-legged (or more!) friends! All pets and children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. All pets should also be appropriately leashed and contained at all times and under control of the owner. They also should be up to date on all required veterinary immunizations and be friendly with crowds, children, and other animals. Failure to meet any of these requirements may result in owners being asked to leave the event with their animals.

(Looking for something to do later in the day? Check out our History Happy Hour: A Capital Day Celebration!)

Thank You to Our Capital Day Celebration Sponsors!

And Our Pet Parade Partner!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor

September 27, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 10-11am FREE | Registration Required

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Past, Present, Pumpkins!

A table with a bright yellow table cloth, covered in crafting supplies and pumpkins in various stages of being decorated with eyes, stickers, and puff balls. — *Pumpkins in the midst of decoration!*

Learn about the autumnal icon, the pumpkin, at this fun, family-friendly event on Saturday, October 11 at 10am! Discover the historical origins of the pumpkin and why we decorate our front porches each year with a vegetable we probably won’t eat. Plus, embark on an exciting pumpkin hunt across the grounds before creating your very own decorated gourd masterpiece to take home!

Perfect for families and children 12 and under. Tickets are $5/Child and free for Adults. (Ticket price goes towards the purchase of supplies.) Advance registration is required to guarantee supplies for everyone. LancasterHistory requests the presence of one (1) adult per household. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633.

Children's Program Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor

October 11, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 10-11am $5/Child for Supplies

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Pitcher Plants: Carnivores of the Bog

A man with light skin leans on a railing outdoors. He wears a life-vest, a hat, and sunglasses. — *Jeff Lapp*

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum for the ‘spooky’ Nature Series program, “Pitcher Plants: Carnivores of the Bog.” Pitcher plants are silent but deadly hunters, utilizing pitfall traps to secure their prey. Learn about pitcher plant habitats, the types of pitcher plants, and how you can grow your own ‘carnivorous crew’ in your garden!

Jeff Lapp is a Senior Science Policy Advisor at the National Association of Wetlands Managers (NAWM). Before joining NAWM he spent over 32 years with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), primarily in the wetlands program. An avid botanist and horticulturalist, Jeff designed and constructed the EPA’s Philadelphia Flower Show exhibit for 29 years, earning several awards including Best in Show, gold and silver medals, the Buckley Medal, American Horticultural Society award, and the Chicago Horticultural Society award. At his home in Lancaster, Jeff raises a multitude of plants, including Sarracenia, Rhododendrons, Hosta, and a host of other rare and unusual species in his greenhouse and shade houses. Jeff currently serves on the Boards of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum and LancasterHistory.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Pitcher Plants: Carnivores of the Bog” will take place on Saturday, October 18 at 10am at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

October 18, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members

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Campus of History Cheer

Get in the holiday spirit with Campus of History Cheer, a festive event filled with fun for the whole family! From tours of Wheatland to live music, kids’ activities, and a cookie station, there’s something merry and bright for everyone.

More information and tickets coming in November!

Family-Friendly Holiday In-Person Event Tour

December 6, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA

Owls of Lancaster County

A woman wearing a green t-shirt and hat stands in the forest. — *Lisa Sanchez*

On Saturday, December 13, get to know our local owls with the help of Lancaster County Park Senior Naturalist Lisa Sanchez for our final Nature Series program of 2025! Learn about the unique features of owls, their life cycle, and the various sounds they make. After the presentation, we’ll go outside for an ‘owl prowl’ to look and listen for the owls that may live in and around the Tanger Arboretum.

Lisa J. Sanchez has been a naturalist at the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation Environmental Center for 30 years. Teaching students of all ages to explore and value the wonders of nature is her passion. She enjoys helping people reconnect with the earth through education and observation. Lisa can often be found in her garden or kayaking on the river.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Owls of Lancaster County” will take place on Saturday, December 13 at 6:30pm at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Since the program is both indoors and outdoors, registrants should dress appropriately for the weather, wear close-toed shoes, and bring a flashlight (if available).

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Outdoor Program

December 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 6:30 - 7:30pm $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members

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Candy Canes & Cocoa on Campus

Help us on our hunt for candy canes across the Campus of History! Children will listen to a story read aloud, complete a holiday craft to take home, and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa.

Tickets are $5 per child, which goes towards the cost of crafting supplies. At least one adult (18+) must attend per household. Story, craft, and candy cane activity best suited for children 12 years and under, but all ages welcome!

Tickets open in November. Please check back later!

Children's Program Family-Friendly Holiday In-Person Event Outdoor

December 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster, PA 10-11am $5/Child for Supplies

History Happy Hour: A Capital Day Celebration

Capital Day Pet Parade

Past, Present, Pumpkins!

Pitcher Plants: Carnivores of the Bog

Campus of History Cheer

Owls of Lancaster County

Candy Canes & Cocoa on Campus

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