Lancaster's Live Music Scene

Good morning, Lancaster!

My wife and I made a resolution this year: see at least two live shows a month. When we started looking for shows, we soon found out that it’s way too hard to see what’s playing around town. Shows would pop up on Facebook, or we'd hear about something through a friend (thanks for the Josh Ritter tip, Mike), but there was no single place to see it all.

This week, we’re launching a live music calendar for Lancaster County. It's something we've been working on behind the scenes, and we hope it becomes a resource for anyone else who wants to support local music but doesn't always know where to look. We'll keep adding to it, but it’s going to be impossible to capture everything on our own. We need your help. If you know of a venue or event series we're missing, let us know.

Here's what we have for you this week:

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.

New Year Hike at Welsh Mountain - Saturday, Jan 17, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join Peggy Eppig from the Lancaster Conservancy to bring in the new year with a 3-mile hike through Welsh Mountain’s hardwood forests. You will learn how life adapts to cold temperatures and celebrate the protection of open space as we kick off 2026!

The Pennsylvania Farm Show - January 9 - January 17
Although this event is not in Lancaster, it is popular enough among Lancastrians that we had to include it in our list of events. The farm show has mini Highland cows, a giant butter sculpture, and even a mullet contest. What more could you ask for? General admission is free, but bring some cash or a card to buy some of the great food, and if you plan to attend special events like the professional rodeo.

Beans and Brews at Grandview Vineyard - Friday, Jan 16, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Chili + Beer = Fun. The Grandview Vineyard is hosting a battle of the breweries to see which local breweries can bring the best combination of chili and beer. This weekend is the second of a four-part series, featuring Cartel Brewing & Blending vs. Twisted Bine Beer Co.

SchnAZZY at Tellus 360 - Friday, Jan 16, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
A Martini? A Manhattan? Löwenbräu? Schnazzy pairs perfectly with anything. Bring your date for a drink and some jazz at Tellus 360.

Prokofiev & Tchaikovsky - January 16 -January 18
Pianist Natasha Paremski brings electrifying brilliance to Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. There are four performances to choose from, all of which are at the Gardner Theatre. Get there 45 minutes early for a free pre-concert lecture.

Lancaster County punches well above its weight when it comes to live music. We are heirs to a musical history that connects 18th-century mystics to stadium tours, NASA mission control to Catholic school theater. We’re retelling five moments in Lancaster’s musical history that have shaped our town.

Read the story here >

Thursday, January 15

Friday, January 16

Saturday, January 17

Sunday, January 18

Each week, we promote local businesses and organizations and highlight a dog that is available for adoption at the Brandywine Valley SPCA Lancaster location.

That's all for this week!

If you're heading out, the chili competition at Grandview and the jazz at Tellus are both solid bets for Friday. Or if you're staying in, pour yourself some tea (loose-leaf, if Heather's convinced you) and dig into the music history piece; there's more Lancaster in those stories than you might expect.

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