Events: Family-Friendly

Thyme to Grow: A Guide to Herb Gardening

A young woman with light skin and short brown hair. She wears glasses and a purple dress with a green cardigan in front of a greenhouse.
Madison Walter

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum as we welcome August Nature Series presenter Madison Walter for “Thyme to Grow: A Guide to Herb Gardening.” Discover the wonderful world of herbs in this hands-on program. Explore various herb types, learn essential care techniques, and delve into the best practices for growing, harvesting, and preserving your herbs. Whether you are a beginner or looking to grow your green thumb, you’ll leave with practical skills and a new appreciation for our flavorful friends!

Madison Walter is the urban agriculture coordinator for the New Castle Conservation District, chair of the Delaware Urban Farm and Food Coalition, and a content developer and guest instructor for Longwood Gardens’ Continuing Education program. Leveraging her background in horticulture and Master’s Degree in Environmental Education, Madison has presented to local, national, and international audiences to build an understanding of how connections developed through farming and gardening build stronger communities. Her passion for plants and an equitable local food system are what drive her to encourage others to believe in a brighter, greener future.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Thyme to Grow” will take place on Saturday, August 23 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!

Children's Program Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

August 23, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 10-11:30am $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
Get Tickets

Music on the Lawn, feat. Denison Witmer & The Vulcans

Two photographs of musicians. The man on the left has light skin and short brown hair. He holds an acoustic guitar in front of a piano. The photo on the right is of three young men with light skin, holding various acoustic guitars in a field.
(left) Denison Witmer and (right) The Vulcans.

Music on the Lawn concludes its 2025 Season with one final fantastic concert in James Buchanan’s backyard! September’s event features headliner indie-folk artist Denison Witmer and opening band, The Vulcans.

Tickets are free for LancasterHistory Members, $10/Adult (18+) Non-Members, and free for Children 17 & Under. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Tickets are also available at-the-door with cash or card (cash preferred).

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets, foldable chairs, and picnics. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. If you require any special accommodations to attend, please notify Annie Weeks at (717) 392-4633, ext. 134 or annie.weeks@lancasterhistory.org in advance. Restrooms available onsite.

 

Many Thanks to Our 2025 Music on the Lawn Season Sponsors!

A graphic with the sponsor logos of Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities, Ville Painters, EHD, and Yurchak Printing.

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor

September 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5-7pm FREE/LancasterHistory Members | $10/Non-Member Adults (18+) | FREE/Children 17 & Under
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Research Center Book Sale

Support LancasterHistory’s Research Center at this one-in-a-generation book sale! A comprehensive review of the library resulted in the removal of many books from the collection. These books include duplicates, outdated editions, or those that are unrelated to the history of Lancaster County. This is your chance to browse and buy them! Books from the personal collections of LancasterHistory’s staff will also be on sale, so expect to find offerings from all genres, for all ages.

More information, including preferred way to pay, coming soon!

Sale Family-Friendly In-Person Event

September 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am - 4pm No Entry Fee

Capital Day Celebration

Celebrate September 27, 1777, the day when Lancaster served as the nation’s capital! Full of family fun and quirky history, there will be activities throughout the evening, and all attendees are invited to dress in a capital way for a Capital Day!

More information and tickets coming soon!

Open House Family-Friendly In-Person Event

September 27, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5:30-7:30pm To Be Determined

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
Get Tickets

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
Get Tickets

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).

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 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
Get Tickets

Candy Canes & Cocoa on Campus

A small, young girl in a puffy pink coat lifts a candy cane out of a small conifer tree.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