Top 10 To-Dos for January 2023

Compiled by Kaylee Rex

December 2022

1 The Pennsylvania Farm Show | January 7-14

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center

Now in its 107th year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show celebrates our state’s agriculture industry, which supports 593,000 Pennsylvania jobs and contributes $132.5 billion to the state’s economy annually. This year, the farm show will feature nearly 4,000 animals, over 12,000 competitive events and exhibits, 245 commercial exhibits and hundreds of educational and entertaining events. Highlights include new dairy and conservation exhibits, goat yoga, Sheep-to-Shawl and bunny-hopping competitions, a 1,000-pound butter sculpture and cooking demonstrations. Be sure to stop by the food court for a variety of PA specialties, from apple dumplings to mushroom burgers to deep fried mozzarella cubes. And of course, don’t forget to have a milkshake from the PA Dairymen’s Association! (Orange cream is the latest flavor addition.) Admission is free, but parking at the complex is $15. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Information: farmshow.pa.gov or 717-787-2905.

 

2 Lancaster Conservancy Programs | January 11-28

Various Locations

If you are itching to get outdoors, bundle up and join Lancaster Conservancy at Climbers Run Nature Preserve on January 14 (Aquatic Insects in Winter from 9-11 a.m. and Discovering Stream Bugs in Winter from 12-2 p.m.) or January 28 (Give Back to Nature Volunteer Workday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.). If you rather not brave the cold, Lancaster Conservancy will be hosting virtual Nature Hour programs on January 11 (Welcoming All Faces in Outdoor Places: A Panel Discussion) and January 25 (York Wildlands: Get Your Elevation On!). Nature Hours are conducted via Zoom from 6-7 p.m. Information: lancasterconservancy.org/events/ or 717-392-7891.

 

3 Sierra Club – Lancaster Group Polar Bear 5K Trail Run/Hike | January 15

Pavilion 22 at Lancaster County Central Park

The Sierra Club – Lancaster Group will be hosting an in-person Polar Bear 5K Run/Hike after two years of virtual races. Leashed dogs are welcome to participate with their owners. Unique prizes and colorful ribbons will be awarded to the top runners. Special door and dog prizes will also be presented. Registration is $30 up until January 5, after which registration is $35. All proceeds support local efforts to ease climate change and help to finance the group’s popular “green project” grant program, which has awarded grants of up to $500 to 71 Lancaster County organizations over the past seven years. The race starts at 10 a.m. Information: lancastersierraclub.org or 717-735-8883.

 

4 Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast | January 16

Millersville University

After hosting a virtual event the past two years, the Crispus Attucks Community Center will once again bring the community together for their 35th-annual breakfast to discuss the life and legacy of Dr. King and confront issues of inequity and injustice. Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, host of BET News and a political contributor for CNN, will be this year’s featured speaker. For those who can’t attend the event in-person, there will also be a livestream option. Tickets are $75 for in-person and $25 for the livestream. To make the event accessible to all, there is also a pay-what-you-will, in-person ticket option. The breakfast is Crispus Attucks Community Center’s largest fundraiser, which annually raises $100,000 in critical funds. Information: Bidpal or 717-299-7301.

 

5 The Play That Goes Wrong | January 19-February 12

The Fulton Theatre

Enjoy a hilarious who-dunnit at The Fulton Theatre. The show, compared to both Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes, is a play-within-a-play where continuous disasters befall the cast, including props falling from the walls and floors collapsing. The cast features an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead and actors who trip over everything – including their lines. The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call. Information: thefulton.org/shows/the-play-that-goes-wrong/ or 717-397-7425.

 

6 Suburban Pennsylvania Home Show | January 21-22

Lancaster County Convention Center

Is a renovation or landscaping project one of your New Year’s resolutions? Find inspiration and professional advice at this home show. Browse home improvement and remodeling exhibits, watch product demonstrations, sample interior and exterior vignettes and get discounts from vendors. Hours are Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Information: lancasterhomeshow.com or 717-287-4038.

 

 

7 Art Recess for Adults | January 27

Lancaster City Welcome Center

Take a break from your desk and join Pennsylvania College of Art & Design’s Center for Creative Exploration over lunch for a creative recess that is just for grown-ups. Enjoy your lunch while making art and new friends. Bring a craft you are already working on or take part in the art project provided. Art Recess is held on the second floor of the Lancaster City Visitor Center from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Participants can drop in at any time during the 2.5-hour session. There is a suggested donation of $2. Information: PCAD.edu or 717-396-7833.

 

8 Festival of the Arts | January 27-28

Downtown Mount Joy

A variety of local artists will be stationed at Mount Joy businesses during this free, family-friendly and walkable event organized by Main Street Mount Joy. Browse the shops, meet the artists and view their work. Art will also be available for sale. Information: mainstreetmountjoy.com/events or 717-653-4227.

 

9 The Conestoga River: A History | January 28

Lititz Public Library

Learn about the past and present of the Conestoga River from local historian and author Donald Kautz. From early Native American inhabitants to the European settlers who made the Conestoga Valley their home, the 60-mile-long Conestoga River has a storied history. Donald will explain the effects that settlement has had on the river and what steps can be taken to ensure that the generations to come are able to enjoy it. The program is free, but registration is required. Register here. 1:30 p.m. Information: Lititz Historical Foundation or 717-626-2255.

 

 

10 Best Wedding Showcase | January 29

Lancaster County Convention Center

Did you recently get engaged over the holidays? No matter where you are in your wedding planning, the Best Wedding Showcase is an opportunity to get inspired and learn something new. Treat yourself to a signature cocktail, capture the beauty of your engagement ring in the Ring Selfie Station, meet local vendors and enter a variety of prize drawings. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Information: bestweddingshowcase.com/lancaster-marriott or 717-733-5683.

 

For more information on local events, click here!