Charter Day 2026

Join us Sunday, March 8, from 12PM to 4PM at Historic Ephrata Cloister for a celebration of Pennsylvania’s Charter Day. Charter Day is a statewide celebration recognizing the 1681 charter for Pennsylvania that was granted to William Penn by King Charles II.

As part of this commemoration, many sites operated by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), including Historic Ephrata Cloister, will be open to the public with free admission. This event offers visitors the opportunity to explore the rich history of Pennsylvania and Ephrata Cloister with engaging activities, demonstrations, and live performances.

The Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the historic 1741 Meetinghouse with three 20-minute sessions, taking place at 1:30PM, 2:30PM, and 3:30PM. Seating is limited to 120 guests per performance and is timed entry. Wristbands are required for entry and can be picked up at the Information Table near the Visitor Center. If a performance reaches capacity, guests are encouraged to explore the rest of the site while waiting for the next session.

Additional attractions throughout the day include:

• Live demonstrations and hands-on activities with historical interpreters, including printing, doctoring, spinning, weaving, and more.
• A brief guided cemetery tour to learn more about Ephrata’s historic burial grounds.