Pennsylvania vacations in Lancaster County and the town of Ephrata offer an endless array of attractions that the whole family can enjoy.
This area is bustling with events, festivals, and fairs year-round. Here are just a few of the Lancaster, PA events and activities you can enjoy while staying at the Smithton Inn, listed by season:
Winter 2011/12 (December, January, February)
The Christmas Show at American Music Theater – November 1 – December 30: Set your holiday spirits aglow, and experience a yearly tradition that returns to its classic form! The all-new 2011 Christmas Show, Winter Wonderland, will immerse you in a festive evening of Yuletide whimsy and wonder. This snowy, outdoor-themed Original Show is sure to delight long-time fans as well as those attending for the first time. You’ll enjoy the spectacular vocals and breathtaking dance moves of professional artists from across the country. Come hear your favorite sacred and secular holiday carols, hymns and songs from yesterday and today, and delight in a little holiday cheer as the jelly-bellied one himself comes for a visit. You’ll laugh out loud at all the funny moments, including an appearance from Little Shelley. For a real holiday thrill, don’t miss The 2011 Christmas Show, featuring more of what you know and love, but like you’ve never seen before. http://www.amtshows.com/2011-christmas-show
Home for the Holidays at the Rainbow Dinner Theater – November 8– December 30: A nice young couple settle in for a cozy Christmas together in their New York apartment. No pressure, no parents. Especially her parents, who don't know they're living together... or that she even has a boyfriend, or that he's Jewish while she's not. It would be a beautiful Christmas if her parents don't show up on her door; it'll be a funnier Christmas when they do! Laugh all through the holidays and into next year with "Home For The Holidays"! http://www.rainbowdinnertheatre.com/buy-tickets-home-for-holidays.php
Miracle of Christmas at Sight and Sound Theater – November 11 – December 31: As the Wise Men and shepherds did so long ago, follow the star to witness the miraculous truth of the Savior's birth! Journey back in time and experience the bustling village of Bethlehem as camels, horses, donkeys and villagers surround you. Witness the beauty and majesty of angels worshipping in heaven, and proclaiming to shepherds, "The Savior is born!" Miracle of Christmas has become a family tradition, so this holiday, follow the star and arrive early to enjoy an interactive experience! http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSiteSS/getshowdetails.do?eventCD=MOC
Miracle on 34th Street at Dutch Apple Theater – November 16 – December 23: Kris Kringle takes on the cynics among us in this musical adaptation of the popular holiday movie. A white-bearded gentleman claiming to be the real Santa Claus brings about a genuine miracle, spreading a wave of love throughout New York City, fostering camaraderie between Macy's and Gimbel's Department Stores, and convincing a cynical single mother, her curious daughter and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus and true happiness is no myth. http://www.dutchapple.com/Content/show-season-2011.asp
Segway Holiday Tour (Red Rose Segway, Lancaster City) – November 16 – January 15: During this special guided Segway tour you'll learn about holiday traditions that started in Lancaster. You'll see beautifully decorated downtown Lancaster shop windows, as well as the huge holiday tree located in Penn Square! No previous Segway experience is needed. http://www.redrosesegtours.com
The Gift of Lights at Elizabeth Farm – November 18 – January 1: Elizabeth Farms has been the area’s largest Christmas tree farm since 1758, and this holiday season, hundreds of thousands of lights will set the farm aglow. This drive-through experience will become a beloved tradition for family and friends to enjoy together. Enjoy driving through 1.2 miles of lights with more than 1 million lights on display. The first 15,000 vehicles will receive a holiday bag with holiday values from sponsors. http://www.elizabethfarms.com
HersheyPark Christmas Candylane – November 18 – December 31: The magic of the holidays comes to life at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. With two million twinkling lights, rides for all ages, festive decorations, and Hershey's Product Characters decked out in their holiday best, there is something for all to enjoy! http://www.christmasinhershey.com/christmas_candylane/index.php
Hershey Sweet Lights - November 18 – December 31: A winter wonderland awaits at Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular. Enjoy nearly 600 illuminated, animated displays from the comfort of your car as you drive through two miles of wooded trails. Families return year after year for this holiday tradition. Admission is charged. http://www.christmasinhershey.com/hershey_sweetlights.php
Dutch Winter Wonderland – November 19 – December 30: Dutch Winter Wonderland offers themed rides, games, and holiday entertainment under thousands of twinkling lights! Indoor activities include cookie decorating, voting for your favorite gingerbread house, and sharing holiday wishes with Santa. http://www.dutchwonderland.com/events/winter_wonderland/index.php
Show & Sale of PA German Folk Art at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society – November 19 – December 31: Tuesday–Saturday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Over 30 artists display pieces inspired by original Pennsylvania German designs and techniques, including blue stoneware, redware, painted toleware, saffron boxes, painted boxes, hooked rugs, scherenschnitte, woodworking, quilts, theorem, fraktur and fiber arts. http://www.lmhs.org/Home/Shop/Folk_Art_Sale
A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens – November 24 – January 8: There's nothing like A Longwood Christmas, and this season Longwood is transformed into a Gingerbread Fantasy! Stand beneath towering trees adorned with gingerbread garland and cookie ornaments. Don't miss the Gingerbread Express train as it travels through a candy-laden Music Room. Outdoors, illuminated fountains dance to holiday music while more than a half a million brilliant lights create holiday magic. http://www.longwoodgardens.org/Christmas.html
The Fulton Opera House – November 30 – December 31: Just in time for the holidays comes Broadway's big fat musical hit. Jump back to early 1960s Baltimore, where pleasantly plump Tracy Turnblad has big hair, an even bigger heart, and a huge dream to be a dancer on the Corny Collins Show. This musical-comedy blockbuster inspired a film and swept the Tony Awards-and audiences off their feet. http://www.thefulton.org/hairspraySpecial Events:
Kitchen Kettle Village Christmas Friday Nights and Hollydays – November 30 – December 23: Enjoy the spirit of the season every Friday night from 5-9pm. Guests of all ages will be delighted by carolers and roaming musicians, holidays cooking demos and oodles of specialty shopping for everyone on your list. Be sure to enjoy some hot chocolate and make a s'more while you're here! http://www.kitchenkettle.com/events/old-fashioned-christmas.asp
Candlelight Tours at Hans Herr House – December 1 - 3: Add a dash of old-world charm to your holiday season. Experience holiday customs from some of the earliest ethnic groups who settled in Lancaster County. Learn the origins of beloved Christmas traditions: the Christmas tree, tree ornaments, Christmas cards and lights in windows. Costumed guides demonstrate blacksmithing and traditional crafts. House tours end with hot cider and caroling around a bonfire. Advance registration strongly suggested. http://www.hansherr.org/Home/Events/Candlelight_Tours
Trees Galore – Home for the Holidays at the Lancaster Museum of Art – December 2 – 18:
Twelve Shops of Christmas: December 2 – 10: The "Twelve Shops of Christmas" tour is a unique Lancaster County shopping adventure--featuring 12 wonderfully festive, off-the-beaten-path shops. SERIOUSLY. These shops are “off the beaten track” even for the locals!! http://bestkeptsecretstour.com/Christmas_Tour.html
Country Christmas Village at Landis Valley Museum – December 3-4 and 10-11: http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/cgi-bin/eventsdetail.cgi?Year=2011&Month=12&Day=03
Days of Wine and Chocolate at Nissley Vineyard – December 3: Treat yourself to a flavor experience, and discover wine and chocolate pairings that can uniquely top off your holiday meals.
The Musical Cats at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre – December 7 – 18: One of the most unconventional musicals ever to become an international sensation, Cats will transport you to a world unlike that of any other musical. At EPAC, we will be able to present this show in the kind of intimate, environmental setting for which it was intended, bringing you close to this mystical, delightful and oddly human family of cats. Soaring with the rich melodies of Andrew Lloyd Webber and filled with dance, Cats is a unique theatrical experience, a magical fantasy that could only exist in the theatre, bringing the EPAC season to a fitting and celebratory end. * School day performances available. http://www.ephrataplayhouseinthepark.org
George Winston at the Ephrata Main Theater: December 8: http://www.ephratamain.com/index.php/concerts-events
Christmas at the Cloister at the Ephrata Cloister – December 12 – 13: http://www.ephratacloister.org/events.htm
Holidays at Landis Valley – A Pennsylvania German Christmas – December 16: Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum welcomes the community to spend an evening with us, free of charge, as we celebrate a Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas on Friday evening, December 16 from 6:00 – 8:30 P.M. Tour several of our decorated historic buildings, huddle around a large bonfire and sing carols accompanied by the Lititz Moravian Trombone Choir. Afterwards, join friends and family in our Yellow Barn for cookies and hot cider. The event is free and open to the public and there is ample free parking. Landis Valley asks that visitors bring one or more non-perishable food items to the event. Donations will go to the Lancaster Food Bank. http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/cgi-bin/eventsdetail.cgi?Year=2011&Month=12&Day=16
Cinnamon & Sugar Plum Festival at Intercourse Canning Company – December 16 – 17: Christmas in Lancaster County is a beautiful time of year! And we are offering a variety of products to help you celebrate - all of which feature cinnamon and sugar! http://www.intercoursecanning.com/
Yule-Tide tours at Rock Ford Plantation – December 26 – 29: http://www.rockfordplantation.org/specialevents.htm
Lantern Tours at the Ephrata Cloister – December 27 – 30: http://www.ephratacloister.org/events.htm
Shrek the Musical at Hershey Theater – December 27 – January 1: SHREK THE MUSICAL, based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre – not a handsome prince – shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a villain with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek. It features a terrific score of 19 all-new songs, big laughs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery http://www.hersheytheatre.com/performances_events/details.php?id=12336
A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline at Dutch Apple Theater– December 30 – February 4: A tribute to Patsy’s spirit and a celebration of her music. Now you can relive all the passion, the drama, the glamour, and the songs of country music’s greatest legend. Hear all your favorites: Crazy, Sweet Dreams, Walkin’ After Midnight, Leavin’ On Your Mind, She’s Got You and more. http://www.dutchapple.com/Content/2012_season.asp
PA Farm Show – January 8-15:
Traditional Amish Wedding Dinner – January 21st: Honeybrook Fire Company
Let’s Kill Marsha at Rainbow Dinner Theater – January 27 – March 14: Tobias Gilmore and his lovely but ditzy wife Marsha have been extremely lucky in business and love. But lately Tobias works 24/7, and Marsha sits at home reading murder mysteries and wondering why they are growing apart. Is it his age, his work, another woman?! Or could it be he's plotting to kill her? With Marsha anything can happen and it does! Come for the mystery, come for the comedy, come for the fun-- make your reservation today.
The God of Carnage at the Fulton Opera House – February 1 – 19: Yazmina Reza's savagely funny comedy has been described as a comedy of manners...without the manners. When two well-to-do New York City couples meet to discuss their sons' playground altercation, the thin veneer of civility that shrouds their lives is quickly usurped by more savage instincts. Watch out as cordial banter gives way to adults behaving very, very badly. http://www.thefulton.org/godofcarnage/
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Dutch Apple Theater – February 9 – March 10: A heartwarming and offbeat new musical comedy about growing up, fitting in and earning R-E-S-P-E-C-T. There’s gold stars all around when six young people in the middle of puberty learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. http://www.dutchapple.com/Content/2012_season.asp
Fire & Ice Festival, Lititz – February 17 - 19: The Lititz Fire and Ice Festival is back again in downtown Lititz. Friday night, Feb. 17th kicks off the block party with ice sculptures, music, food, and entertainment! Then Saturday's events move indoors for the annual Chili Cook-off and Winter Wonderland Carnival in the Warwick High School cafeteria and gymnasium. The evening ends with a Battle of the Bands and a dance party! Then on Sunday, the Ice skating rink is open! Check out all the details at http://www.lititzfireandicefestival.com
Come Fly Away at the Hershey Theater – February 16 -19: Come Fly Away is the new Broadway musical that brings together the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra and the creative vision of Tony Award-winner Twyla Tharp (Movin' Out). This one-of-a-kind experience combines the seductive vocals of "Ol' Blue Eyes" with the sizzling sound of a live on-stage big band and the visceral thrill of Tharp's choreography. As 14 of the world's best dancers tell the story of four couples falling in and out of love, you will experience the exhilaration of a first kiss, the excitement of a first dance, and the bittersweet moments of a first good-bye in a world of sparkling romance and astonishing beauty. http://www.hersheytheatre.com/performances_events/details.php?id=12424
5th Annual Winter Brew Fest at Stoudt’s Beer Garden – February 24: From 7 pm to 11 pm taste winter warmers from 13 prestigious breweries featuring special aged beers, great food (7-9 pm) and live music by "The Octavia Blues Band Must be at least 21 years of age. Tickets are available $35.00 Call 717-484-4386 Ext. 204 or go online ticketalternative.com ,fee applies more details on web at www.stoudts.com
Strasburg Mud Sale – February 25th: Strasburg Fire Company.