Events: Performance

October First Friday

On Friday, October 3, join LancasterHistory and Evita Colon at the Stevens & Smith Center for “The Truth About Us: A Speak to My Soul Exhibition.” For over a decade, Evita Colon has been a leader in Lancaster’s creative community, writing, performing, and cultivating the talent of Black artists working in diverse media from painting and poetry to music and dance. “The Truth About Us” will spotlight these artists and their work through an artist marketplace, fine art exhibition, and live performances. The historic home of Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith–and the future home of the Stevens & Smith Center– offers a backdrop for “Speak to My Soul’s” exploration of freedom and Black culture in America.

Schedule for the Evening

  • 5pm: Marketplace Opens, featuring Artist Merchandise and Henna by Keisha Finnie
  • 6pm: Live Painting Demonstration by artist King Prolifik
  • 6:15pm: Remarks by Dr. Amber Sessoms
  • 6:30pm: Live Music and Poetry Performances
  • 7:15pm: Closing Remarks by Evita Colon

October First Friday at the Stevens & Smith Center is free and open to the public; no registration or reservations are required. The event takes place from 5-7:30pm at the Stevens & Smith Center, 13-15 East Vine Street in Lancaster.

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Performance Program

October 3, 2025 The Stevens & Smith Center, 13-15 E. Vine Str., Lancaster 5-7:30pm FREE

Domestic Help Wanted

LancasterHistory Volunteers & Staff portray domestic workers who were employed at Wheatland in a reenactment in 2019.

Step back in time to Wheatland in 1867 and meet the retired president and his housekeeper, Miss Hetty Parker, as they hire new staff to manage daily life around the mansion. Rosanna and Thomas Gordon resigned in April, leaving Wheatland short-staffed. Miss Hetty is looking for help maintaining a home along with managing her personal responsibilities.

Domestic Help Wanted, a living history tour of Wheatland, will be held on Saturday, October 4. Tours will be available on the hour, beginning at 10am and continuing until the last tour at 3pm. Please Note: These tours are not our regular General Admission tours and will not be Buchanan-focused. Living History Tours are an immersive and interactive experience that can incorporate historical tools, activities, and dress to give observers or participants a sense of stepping back in time. 

Tickets are available for purchase online or over the phone by calling (717) 392-4633. When booking online, be sure to first select the date of October 4, followed by the time of your choice. Advance reservations are highly recommended as tours may sell out and walk-in tickets may not be available. Members receive complimentary admission, but must reserve their tickets in advance.

In-Person Event Living History Performance Tour

October 4, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA Tours 10am - 3pm FREE/Members | $17/Adults (18+) | $15/Seniors (65+) | $10 (11-College ID)
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