Good morning, Lancaster!
When we first saw the weekend forecast, our first thought was "movie marathon." Highs in the teens, snow on Sunday, the kind of weather that makes your couch look really appealing. But then we started pulling together this week's events and remembered why we love this county. There's a chocolate stroll in Mount Joy. Josh Ritter is playing at West Art. And if you're feeling adventurous, there's a talk about loving forests that might just convince you to bundle up and brave the cold.
Here's what we have for you this week:
A new Lancaster word game
This weekend's best events
A dedicated page for family-friendly events
What we learned when we researched Lancaster’s recent dip in air quality
A New Lancaster Game
We’ve made a simplified version of our favorite word game, featuring a Lancaster-related word.
The New York Times won’t let us call this a Wordle. We're not sure if we should call it a Lancordle or a Lardle (probably not). Either way, how many guesses will it take you to guess the word?
The Weekend Preview
Do you have an event that you’d like us to include on our website and in the newsletter? Click here to submit an event.
✅ Something for the Family
Little Explorer and Me at The North Museum - Wednesday, Jan 28 @ 10:00 am
A trained facilitator will guide you through a theme that sparks your child’s imagination while helping build critical skills through fun and interactive play. Each activity is designed to be easy for you to recreate at home with everyday materials, giving your child the chance to explore and engage with the world around them.
✅ Something Free
Nature Hour: How to Love a Forest - Thursday, Jan 22 @ 6:00 pm
In this talk, Ethan Tapper, a forester, bestselling author, and digital storyteller from Vermont, will draw from his work as a forester and his book How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World to discuss what it means to care for forests and other ecosystems at this moment in time.
✅ Something With Friends
Mount Joy's Annual Chocolate Stroll - Friday, Jan 23 @ 4:00 pm
Stroll through downtown Mount Joy, sampling chocolate treats from local shops along the way. This annual tradition is the perfect excuse to explore the town and celebrate all things chocolate.
✅ Date Night Idea
Music in the Round: The Hen - Saturday, Jan 24 @ 7:30 pm
Somewhere between a concert and a cocktail party, Allegro Orchestra’s ‘Music in the Round’ concert series features shorter performances in intimate settings, preceded by a festive reception with desserts and beverages.
✅ Live Music
Josh Ritter at West Art - Sunday, Jan 25 @ 8:00 pm
West Art and WXPN are bringing singer-songwriter Josh Ritter to Lancaster. If you haven't seen him live, this is your chance. If you have, you already know why you should go again.
A New Way to Find Free Events & Family Events
Finding things to do with kids in Lancaster just got easier.
We've launched a dedicated Family-Friendly Events page with a calendar and resource hub for activities, workshops, and events geared toward families. It’s a lot like our Live Music Calendar, but for story times, museum programs, outdoor adventures, and everything else that keeps the youngest members of your family entertained (and gives you a reason to get out of the house).
You can browse by date, filter for free events, and find ideas for everything from weekday mornings to full weekend outings. We'll keep it updated, so you'll always know what's coming up.
Why the Air Quality Was So Bad During Sunday's Storm?
On Sunday, Lancaster’s air quality hit "Unhealthy" levels on January 18th, with the Air Quality Index climbing to 156, well into the red zone where everyone, not just sensitive groups, should take precautions.
How Many Inches of Snow?
The predictions have been all over the place for this winter storm. How many inches do you think we'll actually get?
How many inches of snow will we get this weekend?
More Weekend Events
Thursday, January 22
Wine Education Class: Expand your palate with a guided wine tasting
Nature Hour: How to Love a Forest: Learn about forest ecosystems and conservation
The Chill Side with Rob Walker: Laid-back vibes and good music at Zoetropolis
Dillweed and Chuck Darwin & the Knuckle Draggers: Live rock at a local venue
Friday, January 23
Friday Night Music – 3West: Live music to kick off your weekend
Lives Lost, Iara, and Grave Lord: Heavy music night for the metalheads
Smilo and the Ghost & Friar Jon: Indie folk and Americana
Leo DiSanto & Friends: Local favorite takes the stage
Saturday, January 24
Living Moss Bottle Terrarium: Workshop at Ken's Gardens (Smoketown)
Bare Root Water Garden with Light: Workshop at Ken's Gardens (Intercourse)
The Trust Dance Festival: Contemporary dance performances
High School Musical: 20 Years Later: Celebrate 20 years of Wildcats
Best Imitation Of Myself / Undone: Ben Folds Five and Weezer tribute night
Y2Kids: Late-night party vibes starting at 10:30 pm
Sunday, January 25
Build Your Own Pet Lick Mat: DIY enrichment for your dog or cat
Irish Session with Paraic Keane: Traditional Irish music session at Tellus 360
The Weekend Weather
Friday, Jan 23
32°
Overcast
H:32° L:25°
Saturday, Jan 24
18°
Overcast
H:18° L:11°
Sunday, Jan 25
16°
Light Snow
H:16° L:14°
Wrap Up
That's all for this week!
Whether you're braving the cold for the Chocolate Stroll or staying in with a puzzle and a cup of hot coffee, we hope you find something good. And if you try the word game, let us know how many guesses it took (we won't judge).
If you have an event for us to promote on the website or newsletter, get in touch! We will list your event for free. If you want to promote your business with us, send us an email! We would love to partner with you ([email protected]).
— Adam, Ben, and the crew at The Lancaster Review