Events: Reception

The 2026 Annual Dinner of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum

The Annual Dinner of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. Wednesday, April 8, 2026.Celebrate and gather with friends for the Annual Dinner of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum! Join us on Wednesday, April 8 from 6-9pm at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Lancaster for an evening of fellowship and fun, benefitting the care and conservation of the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum at LancasterHistory.

The Annual Dinner begins at 6pm with cocktails, followed by a plated dinner at 6:30pm and a program and raffle drawings around 7:30pm. We’re excited to welcome Andrew Conboy (@andrew_the_arborist), a passionate urban forester and native plant enthusiast from Philadelphia, PA, whose creative, educational videos have earned him a devoted following on social media.

RSVP INFORMATION & DINING OPTIONS

Tickets to attend the Annual Dinner for the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum are $70 per person. Ticket purchase includes access to the event, a plated dinner (salad, sides, main entree, and dessert), and the main presentation by Andrew Conboy. Raffle tickets may be purchased during the cocktail reception at 6pm with cash. Proceeds from the dinner and raffle benefit the care and conservation of the Tanger Arboretum.

Dinner includes: Salad with sun-dried cranberries, garden vegetables, & balsamic vinaigrette, sides of wild rice and seasonal roasted vegetables, a main entree (choose one: Caprese chicken with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil; New England style baked haddock with blistered tomatoes and sauteed spinach, or grilled vegetables and pecorino cheese ravioli), and cheesecake with fresh berries for dessert. There will be a cash bar.

The RSVP deadline has passed. Thank you for your interest!

If you are unable to attend the Annual Dinner and would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, please click here.

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

A young man with light skin and a reddish beard wearing a baseball cap and a olive colored sweatshirt.
Andrew Conboy

“Exploring the Remarkable Trees of Tanger Arboretum”

The Tanger Arboretum is a living library of remarkable trees, each with a story to tell and a history of times gone by. For the 2026 Annual Dinner of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, we are thrilled to welcome Andrew Conboy, urban forester, arborist, and social media content creator, who will speak on and explore the fascinating variety of trees, from the lesser-known to Champion Trees, that call the Tanger Arboretum home. From maples to magnolias, silverbells to sweetgums, discover which trees support the most wildlife, how trees from across the globe found their way to Lancaster, and the challenges faced by our native species.

Andrew Conboy is an urban forester and ISA-certified arborist in the Philadelphia area who believes everyone needs more trees, native plants, and nature in their lives! His user-friendly content on social media platforms (@andrew_the_arborist) aims to educate and inspire people to reconnect with the living world. He founded an ecological restoration non-profit called Community Canopy Project, which empowers his community to participate in land stewardship. Through his work, he hopes to encourage a deeper integration of nature into the spaces where we all live, work, and play. Get to know Andrew by checking out two of his videos on restoration work and risk assessment.

 


Thank You to Our Annual Dinner Sponsor, Bartlett Tree Experts!

Bartlett Tree Experts logo

Fundraiser In-Person Event Off-Site Event Program Reception

April 8, 2026 DoubleTree Resort, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, PA 6-9pm $70/person

Grand Opening Weekend of the Stevens & Smith Center

Graphic advertising the Grand Opening Weekend of May 1-2, 2026 for the Stevens & Smith Center.It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the Grand Opening of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy!

Join LancasterHistory for a weekend celebration, including a ribbon cutting, Grand Opening Gala, and a family-friendly community block party!

Check out each event and register today!

Dedication/Memorial Family-Friendly In-Person Event Opening Reception

May 1, 2026 The Stevens & Smith Center, 13-15 E. Vine Str., Lancaster

Thrill Ride: Hersheypark & Its Transformation in the 1970s

Image of an older man with light skin. He had a bad head, wears glasses, and is wearing a gray suit with a red striped tie.
Dr. John Haddad

Today, Hersheypark is famous for coasters and candy-themed fun, but it wasn’t always. When it was founded in 1906, it was central to Milton Hershey’s larger vision of paternalistic capitalism. It was only in the 1970s that it transformed from an old-fashioned amusement park into a modern entertainment complex that followed the model of Disneyland. When and how did the park discover its magic formula of thrill rides and chocolate theming? The answer is sure to surprise you, so join LancasterHistory and Dr. John Haddad of Penn State University to find out!

Dr. John R. Haddad is Professor of American Studies and Popular Culture at Penn State University in Harrisburg. He is the author of Thrill Ride: The Transformation of Hershey Park (2025) as well as three books that explore America’s historical relationship with China. He lives in Lancaster with his family. 

Information & Registration

The lecture, “Thrill Ride: Hersheypark & Its Transformation in the 1970s,” will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster. A reception will precede the lecture at 5pm, followed by the main event at 5:30pm. The lecture will be available via livestream, but will not be available publicly after the event concludes.

This event is free and open to the public, but requires registration to guarantee a seat. Select your registration option below, or call 717.392.4633 to register over the phone. An email is required to receive the link to the livestream on Zoom.

ATTEND IN PERSON

ATTEND ONLINE

Online/Virtual Event In-Person Event Lecture Reception

May 28, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Lecture FREE | Registration Required