Events

ExtraGive: What Do You Love About Lancaster’s History?

November 20, 2026
The Stevens & Smith Center, 13-15 East Vine Street
5pm-8pm
Free

What do you love about Lancaster’s history? The people? The places? The stories that shaped our community? This ExtraGive, we’re celebrating all of it and we want you to be part of the fun! Drop in downtown between 5–8 PM for a special evening of Pay-What-You-Can admission at the Stevens & Smith Center! Explore our newest museum, discover a pop-up display featuring fascinating pieces of Lancaster’s history (some familiar favorites and others that might surprise you) and enjoy a special flash talk at 5:30 PM with Stephanie Townrow, LancasterHistory’s Director of Interpretation & Exhibitions. Throughout the evening, hear from familiar community voices in a rotating video sharing what they love most about Lancaster’s history, and add your own through a fun, interactive display. Giving stations will be available for anyone inspired to support LancasterHistory during Lancaster County’s biggest day of giving! LancasterHistory members are also invited to enjoy an exclusive reception on the second floor, a special thank-you for being part of our community.

Whether you stop by for a few minutes or stay for the evening, we hope you’ll join us to celebrate the stories that connect us, the history that makes Lancaster special, and the future we’re building together.

Featured Event Pay What You Wish In-Person Event

A Tuber of Many Tales: The Sunchoke

A young man wearing a thick outdoor jacket presents a sunchoke tuber. — *Presenter Andrew Leahy*

The sunchoke is a lesser-known member of the sunflower family, but it is beginning to bloom out of obscurity and into the spotlight. Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum on Saturday, November 7, at 10am for “A Tuber of Many Tales: The Sunchoke,” to discover this prolific producer of edible tubers. A staple of Indigenous diets across the east, sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus) quickly captured the attention of European colonists, soon making their way into Old World cuisine. However, due to changes in the American landscape and diet, the once-beloved sunchoke went the way of many native plants: relegated to the fringes of our culture and landscapes. At our final Nature Series program of 2026, presenter Andrew Leahy, Education & Outreach Specialist at the Horn Farm Center, will unbury the curious history and evolving reputation of the sunchoke. Together, attendees will gain a deeper appreciation for this hardy and reliable winter food, exploring its ecological value, cultural significance, and versatility in the kitchen.

Growing up in a rural town called Sweet Valley, just south of Ricketts Glen, Andrew Leahy spent his life fostering a love for the PA wilds. He attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown and majored in English Literature and Music Composition while exploring regional ecology, slow food, composting, gardening, and foraging in the spaces between. This eventually led him to the staff of the Horn Farm Center, where, as the Education & Outreach Specialist, he leads and coordinates classes, engages volunteers, and oversees communications and outreach.

HOW TO REGISTER
The program, “A Tuber of Many Tales: The Sunchoke” will take place on Saturday, November 7 from 10-11am in the Carriage House at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults (18+) and Free for Children 17 and Under (must be accompanied by an adult). 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 2026 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Pine Brook Farm, Inc. and Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care.
Their support enables us to offer these programs for the community and free tickets for children! Thank you for your generosity!

In-Person Event Nature Series Program

November 7, 2026 The Carriage House at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults (18+) | FREE for Children | FREE for Tanger Members

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Becoming the Family Archivist

Have you found yourself with all the family research, records, photographs, and heirlooms? Congratulations—you’ve become the family archivist! Led by Heather Tennies, Director of Archives and Manuscript Groups at LancasterHistory, this workshop introduces family historians to the methods and supplies needed to preserve treasured papers and photographs for generations to come.

“Becoming the Family Archivist” will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10am-12pm at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. Tickets are $20 for LancasterHistory Members and $25 for Non-Members. Advance registration is encouraged as the class has limited capacity. To register, click here to register online or call 717.392.4633 to register by phone.

No previous genealogy experience is required to take this class. Please bring note-taking materials to class, such as a laptop or notebook.

Class In-Person Event Workshop

November 14, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am-12pm $20/LancasterHistory Members | $25/Non-Members

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C. Emlen Urban & The Chocolate King

An older man with light skin and brown/gray hair and bear wearing a tan blazer and clear glasses. — *Gregg Scott*

One built an empire with a Kiss and the other designed it. This is the untold story of Milton S. Hershey and his architect C. Emlen Urban. What drove these two men to achieve goals and fame beyond their wildest dreams? Why is one an American icon and the other unknown beyond his hometown? Drawn from his new book, Urban and the Chocolate King, architect and historian Gregg Scott joins LancasterHistory on Thursday, November 19 to tell the tale of two men who met as young boys in the small town of Lancaster, PA and began a journey of design and construction that endured for fifty years.

Gregg Scott is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a partner emeritus and co-founder of RLPS Architects, a monthly columnist for LNP, and twice recipient of the Journalist and Educators Award presented by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County. Most recently, the author of Urban Legend, Urban Alphabet, and the 2026 fall release of Urban and the Chocolate King.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event is expected to take place in person at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center on Thursday, November 19, 2026. Doors open and a light reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be streamed to Zoom at 5:30pm for those who wish to join us virtually.

Before and after the lecture, Gregg Scott will be available to sign copies of his books. Urban and the Chocolate King will be available for purchase while supplies last from LancasterHistory’s Museum Store. LancasterHistory Members save 10%!

This program is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets may not be available at the door. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling 717.392.4633. The online version of this program will also be recorded and uploaded to LancasterHistory’s YouTube channel after the event.

Please Note: Your Zoom information will be sent to you in your confirmation email upon registering for the online option. If you do not receive this email and it is not in your junk and spam folders, please contact support@lancasterhistory.org.

Online/Virtual Event In-Person Event Lecture Reception

November 19, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Lecture FREE | Registration Required

Holiday Greens & Bake 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 and homemade baked goods on Saturday, December 5 from 11am – 2pm or until sold out. Cash and card accepted.

Proceeds benefit the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum, an 11-acre arboretum on the grounds of LancasterHistory’s Museum & Research Center. The sale is facilitated by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary of LancasterHistory dedicated to the care and conservation of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. Your purchases help us to maintain the Arboretum, install new plants, care for aging trees, and more! Click here to learn more about the Tanger Arboretum.

Fundraiser Holiday In-Person Event Outdoor Sale

December 5, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 11am - 2pm

Campus of History Cheer

Enjoy a jolly day of festive activities for all ages at LancasterHistory on Saturday, December 3! From a kids program and holiday music to Yuletide tours and winter greens sales, there’s a little bit of merriment for everyone at Campus of History Cheer!

Candy Canes & Cocoa on the Campus of History (10-11am)
From 10-11am, kids can help us on our hunt for candy canes across the Campus of History! Children will listen to the book, On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue: How Milton Hershey Brought Milk Chocolate to America, read aloud and complete a craft to take home. After Storytime, we’ll bundle up and head outside for a candy cane hunt, followed by a hot cup of cocoa to top off the fun! Tickets are $5 per person, and the cost goes towards crafting supplies and hot cocoa. At least one adult (18+) must attend per household. The event is best suited for children between 3 and 12 years of age, but all ages are welcome. Advance registration is encouraged so we can make sure to have enough supplies for all children.

GET CANDY CANES & COCOA TICKETS

NOTE FOR FAMILIES: If you would like to continue the holiday fun after Candy Canes & Cocoa, consider purchasing tickets to “Go at Your Own Pace” self-guided tours at Wheatland. There’s a scavenger hunt page for kids and all ages will enjoy the festive, themed rooms at Wheatland. Then stay for the Greens Sale with the Arboretum and music by Music for Everyone’s Ukelele Uprising!

Holiday Greens & Bake Sale (11am-2pm)
Pick up fresh greens at the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum’s Holiday Greens & Bake Sale! Peruse a selection of fresh greenery and homemade baked goods from 11am to 2pm or until sold out. Cash and card accepted. Proceeds benefit the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum, an 11-acre arboretum on the grounds of LancasterHistory’s Museum & Research Center. All greens creations are beautifully assembled by Arboretum volunteers.

“Go At Your Own Pace” Yuletide at Wheatland Tours (11am-4pm)
Explore President James Buchanan’s Wheatland, festively decorated for the season, at your own pace! On this self-guided tour, you can explore the president’s home for as long as you like. All rooms in the mansion will be decorated in theme, and explore the history related to each theme. Tour guides will be stationed around Wheatland to provide visitors with information about the spaces, objects, decor, and time-honored Christmas traditions that started in the mid-Victorian era. “Go At Your Own Pace” tours are great for families and those who want to take their time viewing the mansion (and taking pictures!) in contrast to our regular ‘guided tour’ experience.

Tour entry to the mansion begins at 11am and continues every 15 minutes until the last entry at 4pm. Advance tickets are encouraged. To purchase tickets in advance, please click the button below. Your ticket purchase also includes the museum exhibitions in the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center.

GET “AT YOUR OWN PACE” TICKETS

Holiday Performance by Music for Everyone’s Ukelele Uprising (11:30am-1pm)

Open to the public. Enjoy festive songs by fan-favorite “ukes,” including the Grinch theme song! Take in the sounds while crossing off your holiday shopping list in the Museum Store. Music will be located in Ware Commons.

Please Note: Tickets are required for the “Candy Canes & Cocoa” children’s program and the “Go At Your Own Pace” Yuletide Tours. Tickets are not required to attend any of the other programs or events, including the holiday music performance.

All of the above programs and activities take place at LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster, PA on Saturday, December 5. Ample free parking onsite. We look forward to seeing you then!

Thank You to Our Holiday Season Sponsors!

At Your Own Pace Tour Children's Program Family-Friendly Fundraiser Holiday In-Person Event Sale Tour

December 5, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am - 5pm Free & Paid Options