Posted: 11/17/2021 | by Discover Lancaster

Lancaster County Christmas

Discover the heartwarming traditions of the holidays in Lancaster

The Holiday Season in Lancaster County is a joyous time of fond memories and festive traditions. We welcome you to join us as we celebrate! Hear children laughing in anticipation of presents. Breathe in the enticing aromas of cookies and pies. Feel the warmth of crackling logs in the fireplace, and smile as we're filled with the uplifting spirit of the holidays.

Take some time to explore and find out how the communities that make up Lancaster County will be celebrating this year. See why the holidays in Lancaster County are truly something special.

1. Holiday Events in Lancaster

Lancaster County buzzes with excitement during the Holiday Season. Festive lights twinkle and shine as images from joyful holidays past, present, and future appear before your very eyes. Discover what makes this time of year in Lancaster County truly something special, as you create lasting holiday memories together. There's enough holiday spirit to go around!

plan holiday adventure

Strasburg Railroad in Lancaster at Christmas in Pennsylvania

The holiday season in Lancaster County is full of themed attractions and fun events for young or old to enjoy.

Christmas tree illuminated in green and red lights in Lancaster, PA

Experience holiday lights and cheer in a socially distant style.

Experience the holiday spirit with these kid friendly events and adventures!

Lancaster County farmlands at sunrise 
Photo Credit: Discover Lancaster / Gabe McMullen

Lancaster County is centrally located to several larger cities, making it the perfect location for a day trip! Plan your trip, pack the...

2. Holiday Shopping

How long is your gift list this year? Lancaster County offers many venues from delightful one-of-a-kind shops selling unique wares made by local artisans to outlet shops representing nationally known brands, making it easy to find something for even that most difficult to buy for friend. Shopping this time of year is especially enjoyable! As you stroll from shop to shop, you’ll also be taking in the decorations, music, and spirit of the season. Unique gift ideas and the joy of the Holiday Season combine to make gift shopping in Lancaster County a special experience.

shopping this season

Give the Perfect Lancaster County Gift

Great gifts for all the people on your list!

Shop the latest styles, homemade crafts and unique gifts.

Boutique Shopping in Lancaster, PA

Boutique shops for clothing and accessories in Lancaster.

Antiquing in Lancaster, PA

Where to shop for antiques in Lancaster, PA.

A Guide to Quilting in Lancaster, PA

A popular (and soft) art form in Lancaster.

3. Holiday Shows & Performances

Holiday time in Lancaster County is the perfect time to catch a show! Choose from cherished classic seasonal tales or original productions bringing a new spin on holiday spirit. Music, dance, comedy, and drama can be found celebrating the season on stages large and small around the county. The pageantry and grandeur of these holiday performances are just more reason that the holidays in Lancaster County are something special.

Experience the Amish

white exterior of an Amish home and rolling hills in Lancaster

It’s more than just slow-paced and hardworking.

a family rides in an Amish horse-drawn buggy through farmland on an Amish tour in Lancaster, PA

The Amish & Mennonite may look the same, but there are some notable differences!

christmas cards on a table and the words "Do the Amish Celebrate Christmas?"

Do they celebrate Christmas like we do?

Check out some of the awesome places to stay and eat, things to do, and more to start planning your trip to Lancaster...

Enjoy a few fun facts about Lancaster County holiday traditions below.

Fun Fact 1:

Early Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas traditions included dying eggs with onion skins. We now associate this practice with Easter, but it was originally a Christmas practice in south-central Pennsylvania. The decorative eggs would then be used to grace Christmas trees.

Fun Fact 2:

The traditional Pennsylvania Dutch New Year’s Day meal of pork and sauerkraut was thought to bring luck and good fortune in the coming year because, as the saying goes, “the pig roots forward while the turkey scratches backwards.”

Fun Fact 3:

The first known written mention of a Christmas tree in America is found in the 1821 diary of Matthew Zahn, who lived right here in Lancaster, PA!

Fun Fact 4:

Among the unusual items that have been dropped in various boroughs on the new year around the county are a giant pretzel, an M&M, a shoe, and a 100-lb. bologna!

Lancaster is perfect for the holidays

Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree in Lancaster, PA

Plenty of places to find the perfect tree.

Winter snow covered house and field in Lancaster County, PA

A wonderful mix of holiday cheer and indoor fun for your winter trip to Lancaster.

Joy and cheer is plentiful this time of year!

A couple experiencing the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Lancaster, PA

Find special events and one-of-a-kind things to do in Lancaster County all-year long. Search for seasonal festivals, wine and food events, local music...

Horse and buggy transporting fall mums in Lancaster County, PA.

Learn about upcoming events and plan for this weekend's adventures in Lancaster!

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kids in buggy with mini horses

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