Events

Music on the Lawn, feat. Matt Hostetter

  • September 19, 2026
  • LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster
  • 5-7pm
  • $10/Adults (+18) | Free for Children
Singer and songwriter Matt Hostetter

Music on the Lawn closes out its 2026 season with Matt Hostetter, a Lancaster-based singer and guitarist whose musical style encompasses American roots like folk, blues, and jazz. 

Registration is required. Walk-ins are welcome. Concerts are rain or shine. LancasterHistory members get in free. Kids are free. Concerts are open to the public, and it’s a $10 donation for Adults. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blanket or chair and pack a picnic if they like! Dogs on leash are welcome. 

Please Remember: The Tanger Arboretum works really hard to beautify the grounds and keep all living things healthy. We ask that visitors treat the plants, flowers, and trees with extra kindness! No climbing trees, please, as tempting as it is!

         Thank you to our 2026 Music on the Lawn sponsors for bringing music to the community!

Featured Event Music on the Lawn Family-Friendly Outdoor Performance

Researching Germanic Lancaster

Hershey (a common German surname in Lancaster County) and the Ressler Family posed on the porch of the farmhouse.

Many residents of Lancaster County can trace their family history back to Germanic origins. Join LancasterHistory Reference Librarian Jessica Barbera for a new workshop on how you can research your German ancestors, including what resources are available at LancasterHistory and how to navigate the research process.

“Researching Germanic Lancaster” will be held on Saturday, September 26, at 10am at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Avenue in Lancaster, PA. Tickets are $20 for LancasterHistory Members and $25 for non-members. To register, click here to order online or call 717.392.4633 to register over the phone. Participants are encouraged to bring examples of their own photograph collections for discussions.

 

In-Person Event Workshop

September 26, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am $20/LancasterHistory Members | $25/Non-Members
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America250PA: Revolution to Reconstruction: Pennsylvania and the Fight for Liberty & Equality

Clint Smith

Join LancasterHistory on October 7 as we welcome award-winning author Clint Smith for “Revolution to Reconstruction: Pennsylvania and the Fight for Liberty & Equality,” an America250PA lecture. Smith will share insights on Pennsylvania’s central role in shaping our ideals of liberty & equality from the Revolution through Reconstruction and the notion that there is no such thing as a single American story.

Clint Smith is the author of the upcoming nonfiction book, Just Beneath the Soil (Knopf, May 2027) which explores how World War II is remembered around the world. He is also wrote the narrative nonfiction book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism, the Stowe Prize, and selected by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2021. With Sonja Cherry-Paul, Smith adapted How the Word Is Passed into a bestseller for young readers (Little, Brown, 2025). He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling poetry collection Above Ground and the award-winning poetry collection Counting Descent. His writing has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review, and elsewhere. In 2020, Smith was named a New America (Emerson Collective) Fellow, and in 2026 was named the inaugural fellow of the Sachs Foundation. Clint received his B.A. in English from Davidson College and a Ph.D. in Education from Harvard University. He is a staff writer at The Atlantic.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

The event, “Revolution to Reconstruction,” will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Ware Center for the Performing Arts, 42 N. Prince Street in Lancaster, PA. Doors open at 5pm, followed by the lecture at 5:30pm. Tickets are free, but registration in advance is required as capacity is limited and this event is anticipated to sell out. The event will include a Q&A portion for our audience, and will not be livestreamed or recorded.

To register, please click the link below or call 717.392.4633 to book over the phone.

REGISTER FOR OCTOBER 7

Signed copies of Clint Smith’s How the Word Is Passed will be available for purchase on-site, thanks to our friends at Pocket Books Shop on Prince! Cash and card are accepted.

Thank You to America250PA for Their Support of This Event!

Lecture

October 7, 2026 The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603 5-7pm FREE | Registration Required
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Wheatland to Washington: The 1856 Presidential Campaign of James Buchanan

An illustration of Buchanan accepting the presidential nomination. From Frank Leslie’s Illustrated News, March 14, 1857

Step inside the headquarters of James Buchanan’s 1856 presidential campaign with a guided tour of Wheatland! Discover how Buchanan used his home as campaign headquarters to promote his candidacy in an age before modern media.

The tour will begin with a curator’s talk explore a display of campaign artifacts in Groff Gallery in the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center.

Wheatland to Washington: The 1856 Presidential Campaign of James Buchanan, a special guided tour of Wheatland, will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026. This special tour will be available at 10:30am and 11:30am. Please Note: These tours are not our regular General Admission tours and are focused on a particular topic than a general history of Buchanan and the home.

To purchase tickets, please select your tour time of choice below or call 717.392.4633. Advance reservations are highly recommended as tours may sell out and walk-in tickets may not be available. Members receive complimentary admission, but should reserve their tickets in advance to guarantee the tour time of their choice.

TICKETS FOR 10:30AM TOUR

TICKETS FOR 11:30AM TOUR

In-Person Event Tour

October 10, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster Tours at 10:30am & 11:30am FREE for LancasterHistory Members | $20 Adult (18+) | $18 Seniors (65+) | $10 Students (11-17 or College ID) | FREE for Children Under 10

Genealogy 101

A Black family in front of their cabin in the Welsh Mountains, possibly at Brushtown. LancasterHistory, General Collection

Curious about your family history but not sure where to begin? Led by Aimee Caya, Director of Collections and Research at LancasterHistory, Genealogy 101 introduces the essential tools and techniques for tracing your family story using LancasterHistory’s extensive collections and online resources. You’ll leave with practical strategies and a clearer path toward your next discovery!

“Genealogy 101” will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 10-11:30am 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, but it helps to have identified some relatives before you start your journey. Please bring note-taking materials to class, such as a laptop or notebook.

In-Person Event Workshop

October 17, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11:30am $25/Non-Members | $20 LancasterHistory Members
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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 10 at 10am! Celebrate fall at LancasterHistory’s family-friendly Pumpkin Adventure! Discover the history behind our love of pumpkins, enjoy a pumpkin hunt across the grounds, and decorate your own pumpkin to take home.

Perfect for families and children 3-8 years of age (though all ages welcome!). 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 at least one (1) adult per household.

To purchase tickets, please click here to purchase online or call 717.392.4633 to purchase over the phone.

Children's Program Holiday In-Person Event

October 17, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am $5/Child (For Supplies)
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“where time folds:” A Community Conversation

A young Black woman with brown skin with brownish-black curly hair wears a cream color blazer in front of a mirror and collage background.
Evita Colón

In celebration of National Black Poets Day, Lancaster’s Inaugural Poet Laureate Evita Colón invites the community to engage with “where time folds,” the original poem she wrote for the grand opening of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center. Co-presented by LancasterHistory, this gathering explores the role of Black poets as storytellers, historians, interpreters, and witnesses—and the ways poetry can help us understand the places we call home.

Through a close reading of selected stanzas, attendees will unpack the poem’s metaphors, imagery, and layered storytelling, inviting participants to consider what lies beneath the language. Together, we’ll explore how Black poetry has carried history, challenged dominant narratives, preserved memory, and imagined possibility.

Moderated and co-facilitated by Dr. Danielle Brown, Education Chair of the Lancaster Branch of the NAACP, the conversation will ultimately bring us back to Lancaster: What does this poem reveal about where we have been, where we are now, and who we might become together? Participants will be invited to engage the poem not simply as an audience, but as neighbors, readers, and co-imaginers of the future.

Evita Colón is an award-winning poet, creative strategist, and Lancaster City’s inaugural Poet Laureate. She is the founder of Speak to My Soul LLC, a cultural strategy and production firm that uses the arts to empower, educate, and elevate through creative strategy, immersive experiences, and the stewardship of Black stories and legacies. A member of the Recording Academy, the International FLO Poets Collective, and the Lancaster County Community Foundation’s Baldwin Fellows Cohort, Colón is the recipient of the NAACP Presidential Social Justice Award, the J.P. McCaskey Distinguished Alumni Award, and the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award. Her work has also been recognized by BET’s Black Girls Rock!, Sprite Inc., and Billboard’s Grammy Contenders campaign. Her work spans museum commissions, public art, educational initiatives, and archival storytelling, using the arts to preserve and interpret Black history for future generations.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 1-3pm at the Stevens & Smith Center, 13-15 E. Vine Street in Lancaster, PA.  The event is free, but registration is appreciated. To register for the program, please the button below or call 717.392.4633.

REGISTER FOR OCTOBER 17

Discussion In-Person Event

October 17, 2026 The Stevens & Smith Center, 13-15 E. Vine Str., Lancaster 1-3pm FREE | Registration Required
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Edible Insects

A woman wearing a green t-shirt and hat stands in the forest.
Lisa Sanchez

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum on Saturday, October 24 for a creepy, crawly, but tasty Nature Series program on “Edible Insects” featuring Lisa Sanchez, Senior Naturalist at the Lancaster County Environmental Education Center. Entomophagy—the eating of insects—is practiced unintentionally daily by everyone through eating processed and packaged foods and fresh fruits and vegetables. On October 24, you’ll learn about edible and inedible insects and how these tasty critters can be a good source of protein. Plus, we’ll put insect tastiness to the test and cook up some edible insects for attendees to try.

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 program, “Edible Insects” will take place on Saturday, October 24 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

Please note that eating insects at this program is completely voluntary. Those who wish to try some insects must sign a liability waiver at the program.

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!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

October 24, 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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White House Workers

Since 1800, thousands of dedicated workers have labored behind the scenes to help the White House fulfill its roles as a seat of government, a family residence, and a historic site. On Thursday, October 29th, join White House Historical Association historian Sarah Fling as she highlights lesser-known stories of White House workers throughout history, including the men and women who worked for President James Buchanan.

A young woman with light skin, long brown hair, wearing a blue dress.
Sarah Fling

Sarah Fling is a historian at the White House Historical Association. Her research focuses on free and enslaved workers, the first ladies, and the White House Collection. Fling is a contributor in The Cambridge Companion to US First Ladies (2025) and has published her research in White House History Quarterly and Teen Vogue. She serves on the Board of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and previously served as a Community Lead in the Youth250 Bureau, a non-partisan initiative that highlighted the Gen Z perspective during America’s 250th. Sarah’s previous work experience includes internships at historic sites such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Frick Pittsburgh. She received her bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Pittsburgh and her master’s in Public History from American University.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event is expected to take place in person at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Doors open and the 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.

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.

REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON

Register to Attend Online

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

October 29, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Lecture FREE | Registration Required

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
Get Tickets