Events: Outdoor

Music on the Lawn, feat. The Jordan Rast Trio

A black and white photo of three young men with various string guitar instruments.
The Jordan Rast Trio

Music on the Lawn returns this summer with more fantastic local bands in James Buchanan’s backyard! This family- (and dog-) friendly event welcomes attendees to relax and enjoy an evening outdoors with live music. August’s concert features The Jordan Rast Trio playing bluegrass, country, and Americana music.

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

August 23, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5-7pm FREE/LancasterHistory Members | $10/Non-Member Adults (18+) | FREE/Children 17 & Under
Get Tickets

Wine & Cheese and A Walk in the Trees

The Louise Arnold Tanger ArboretumJoin the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum for a delightful late-summer social on Friday, September 5 at LancasterHistory! Enjoy refreshing drinks and light bites, while taking a leisurely stroll through the many stately trees in the Arboretum. Plus, join us for a “State of the Arboretum” address and election of new Board Members for 2025-2026. (Must be an active member to vote.)

Wine & Cheese and A Walk in the Trees is free for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members. Tickets for non-members are $25/person. Ticket purchase includes access to event, program, beverages, and appetizers. Non-alcoholic options will be available.

A reminder to Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members at the Contributor ($100) level and above — Did you know you get two extra tickets to the Wine & Cheese as a benefit of your advanced membership? If purchasing online, make sure you are signed in to your account before adding all four tickets to your cart. The discount should activate automatically at check out. If you are interested in this benefit, you can become a member or call (717) 392-4633 to upgrade over the phone.

To RSVP, please click the button below to purchase or register online. You may also call Emily Miller at (717) 392-4633, ext. 133 to register over the phone. RSVPs are open through August 30.

RSVP to the Wine & Cheese

The event will take place at the Carriage House at LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster, on Friday, September 5 from 5-7pm. The event is rain or shine.

Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Board of Trustees Election

The Board of Trustees hereby nominate the following candidates for election to the Board of Trustees for the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum:

  • Nominated for a Second Three-Year Term: Kevin Ramer
  • Nominated for a First Three-Year Term: Seymour Khalilov, Judith Milliken, Lorri Schmick, Nancy Schott, and Rick Shoup

Active Tanger Arboretum Members may vote in the election on September 5 at the Wine & Cheese.

Member Event - Arboretum Outdoor Tour Reception

September 5, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 5-7pm FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum | $25/Non-Members
Get Tickets

September First Friday

Photo of a group of people sitting in a parking space that has been transformed into a mini green space.
Park(ing) Day in Minneapolis.

On Friday, September 5, join LancasterHistory and Strong Towns Lancaster for Park(ing) Day at the Stevens & Smith Center! Park(ing) Day is a global, public, participatory project where people from across the world temporarily repurpose curbside parking spaces into communal spaces for parks, artwork, conversation, and more. With LancasterHistory’s expansion into Lancaster City, we’re excited to be a bigger part of the downtown community both inside and outside the building that was once Thaddeus Stevens’ home and law office!

On First Friday, LancasterHistory staff will be outside on South Queen Street talking about the Stevens & Smith Center and giving you a preview of the new programs we’re developing for the new site. Visitors will get hands on with history as they try on costumes from LancasterHistory’s education collection and recite key speeches that explore the meaning of freedom in America. It’s an evening designed for community connection, historical reflection, and creative expression as we transform a simple parking space into a place for meaningful dialogue about our past, present, and future.

September First Friday is a free event and open to the public. No registration required. The Stevens & Smith Center will not be open that evening for public visitation. All activities will take place outdoors.

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Off-Site Event Outdoor

September 5, 2025 45 S. Queen Street, Lancaster | Outside the Stevens & Smith Center 4-8pm FREE

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
Get Tickets

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

Fall Seasonal Gathering Tour

The Black Maple starting to change colors in October 2022.
The Black Maple starting to change colors in October 2022.

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum for their Fall Seasonal Gathering Tour on Saturday, October 25 at 10am. Tanger Arboretum Board Members will lead attendees on a walking tour through the Arboretum to take in the changing of the seasons through vibrant fall colors, ornamental trees, and the pollinator gardens in the Tanger Arboretum.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Fall Seasonal Gathering Tour,” will take place on Saturday, October 25 at 10am at LancasterHistory. Tickets are $10/Adult (18+) and $5/Child. 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 the program has limited capacity. The tour will last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. If you would like to attend but have questions or concerns about the accessibility of the walking route, please contact Emily Miller at (717) 392-4633, ext. 133 or emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org for more information.

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.

In-Person Event Outdoor Tour

October 25, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am $10/Adults (18+) | $5/Children | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
Get Tickets

Holiday Greens Sale

Get in the festive spirit and pick up some fresh greens at the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum’s Holiday Greens Sale! Peruse a selection of fresh greenery on Saturday, December 6 from 11am to 3pm or until sold out. Cash only accepted.

Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary of  LancasterHistory dedicated to the care and conservation of the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. Click here to learn more about the Tanger Arboretum.

Sale Fundraiser Holiday In-Person Event Outdoor

December 6, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster, PA 11am - 3pm or Until Sold Out!

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