Greetings my fair-and-foul-weather friends!
I hate to start off on a controversial note, but I have a burning question for you all.
For those of you unlucky to live in an area without all four seasons, allow me to regale you with the best of each season in my corner of the world. That’s right — today, I will share the best of Lancaster County throughout the year, with my hallmark alliteration, of course.
Not feeling very seasonal? I daresay this artful quote might change your attitude:
Quote of the Week
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
— Stanley Horowitz
Autumn
Fall Fairs!
Harvest season has already started shifting the trees and cornfields from green to brown, and with it comes the bounty of this fertile land. Lancaster County has several local fairs throughout September, each celebrating the crops, crafts, and creatures that make up our agricultural heritage.
Just last night, I had a great time with my daughters at the Solanco Fair, a quintessential example of this annual autumn occurrence. There were long white tents, lined with vendors who lured folks over with games, prizes, and candy. Food stands were spread around the fairgrounds, promising patient patrons a hefty BBQ sandwich, fresh cut fries, or the ultimate fair food: funnel cake. Exciting activities drew crowds to different sections of the fairgrounds, from the pig auction to the tractor pull to my daughters’ personal favorite, the Strongman Competition. (Spoiler: some wiry Amish guy wins pretty much every year.)
We are most excited, though, for the West Lampeter Fair, which is celebrating its 100th year this fall. It will run all next week, offering even more great food, live music, and varied entertainment than usual. Come for the Fried Oreos, stay for the Greased Pig Chase (where they grease the kids’ hands instead of the piggy)!
Winter
Limitless Lights!
Whether or not Jack Frost dusts our rolling fields with snow, winter is a beautiful time in Lancaster County. From town square Christmas tree lightings to Christmas Eve luminaries, the holiday season is full of warmth and brightness. Besides all the homes and neighborhoods decorated with Christmas lights, we have multiple excellent drive-thru light spectacles that are worth warming up the car for. From Dutch Wonderland to Herr’s Snack Factory, there are lively light shows across the region. Our family favorite is at Clipper Stadium, where you can drive around the ball field while larger-than-life displays twinkle and flash in sync to holiday music.
Spring
Amish Auctions!
April showers might bring May flowers, but they also bring the Amish out in droves for their rain-or-shine “mud sales.” True to their names, these open-air events are often mud-lucious and puddle-wonderful; make sure you put on your rubber boots before tromping across a well-churned field for some of the best deals on furniture, farm equipment, and food (yes, that is the Auntie Anne’s pretzel stand in the distance — she’s one of our homegrown celebrities!).
Summer
Captivating Concerts!
It’s no secret that I enjoy good live music, and free makes it even better. For decades now, Long’s Park Amphitheater has hosted free concerts every Sunday over the summer. Our family has attended dozens of shows, from well-known rock bands and Grammy-winning zydeco groups to local country artists and authentic Celtic quartets. Plus, there are excellent food trucks, several playgrounds, and usually a dude walking around with a snake or a parrot on his shoulder, so there’s definitely something for everyone.
The biggest performance is the 4th of July show, complete with a U.S. Army band and a fireworks extravaganza; if you’re willing to share the lawn with 30,000 other people and endure the post-concert traffic, it is well worth the experience. Otherwise, you can spread out your blanket on a more casual evening, chat with friends, toss a Frisbee, and dance along to some summer tunes til the sun goes down.
And that's it! What did you think? Please share Lau’s Little List with anyone who you think would enjoy my recommendations!
I would greatly appreciate any feedback you'd like to provide. Which tip was your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of in the next installment? Do you have any other suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts.
We're traveling in South America until Christmas, and as amazing an opportunity as it is, I'd be lying if I didn't admit to a twinge of homesickness for the fall fairs and colors