Community Calendar
The Community Calendar
A central part of LancasterHistory’s mission is to support the needs and interests of history-oriented organizations in our region and to bring into greater focus the extraordinary opportunities for learners of all ages to experience America’s past in Lancaster County and the surrounding region. LancasterHistory is proud to provide this Community Calendar to highlight upcoming events of history-focused institutions and organizations.
Looking for LancasterHistory’s main events calendar? View events calendar.
How To Submit An Event
If you are an authorized representative of a Lancaster County-based, history-focused institution or organization, please fill out our Community Calendar Submission form to submit your event for inclusion on this webpage. Before submitting, however, we highly recommend you review our Community Calendar Guidelines [PDF, 217kb].
This Community Calendar is moderated by a LancasterHistory staff member. Questions about this calendar can be directed to info@lancasterhistory.org.
Submit Event to Community Calendar
COMMUNITY CALENDAR GUIDELINES [PDF, 217KB]
Calendar Guidelines & Disclaimers
Each submission will be reviewed and must be in compliance with our Community Calendar Guidelines [PDF, 217kb]. LancasterHistory will do its best to make sure all information on this calendar is correct and up-to-date. Despite our efforts, some information may be incorrect or may have been submitted incorrectly to us. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Listings below may contain URLs to other organizations’ or institutions’ websites or ticketing pages, or other third-party URLs. These URLs do not constitute official endorsement on behalf of LancasterHistory and are for informational purposes only. LancasterHistory is not responsible for those URLs, the content found on those webpages being linked to, or those website’s privacy policies and policies on collecting data.
The History of Watt & Shand Department Stores
Who: The Manheim Township Historical Society
What: Presentation and book signing
When: Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 6:30pm
Where: The Barn Venue above Stoner Grille Restaurant, 605 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA
Cost: Free and open to the public
On Tuesday, April 30 at 6:30pm, join the Manheim Township Historical Society as they welcome local author Nancy Groff for a presentation on the history of the Watt & Shand Department Stores. Her book, Watt & Shand: East, West, Hame’s Best, covers the history of the local department store started by James Shand and Peter T. Watt, Nancy’s great-grandfather. The book begins in the Orkney Islands in Scotland with the life of Peter T. Watt and why and how he came to America.
Nancy’s presentation will include a PowerPoint, tables of Watt & Shand artifacts, a book review, and books and posters for sale.
No registration is required. For more information contact mthistoricalsociety@gmail.com or (717) 569-6638.
Submitted by the Manheim Township Historical Society
From Lancaster County to the World: Mennonite Central Committee and WWII
Who: The Millersville Area Historical Society
What: Presentation
When: Saturday, May 11 at 9am
Where: Millersville Borough Administration & Police Building, 100 Municipal Drive, Millersville, PA
Cost: Free and open to the public
The Millersville Area Historical Society invites the public to a free, slide presentation, titled “From Lancaster County to the World: Mennonite Central Committee and WWII.” It will take place at 9am on Saturday, May 11, in the Millersville Borough Administration & Police building, 100 Municipal Drive. Doors open at 8:30am and lock at 9:15am.
Kenneth Sensenig, for 35 years associated both domestically and internationally with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), will be the speaker.
Sensenig will focus on a number of issues, including the challenges that WWII presented to the largely rural Mennonite populations in Lancaster County and across the country; the quick response by MCC volunteers in Europe, which enabled them to unveil the depravations and devastation of the war; and how the war forced MCC to grow up. Twenty years old at the outset of the war, the Akron-based MCC created a bridge between the U.S. and Europe for C.A.R.E. packages, clothing and canned meat. A Q & A session will close the meeting.
Newly retired, Sensenig had served MCC as a volunteer teacher in Africa for six years and as a public relations specialist for several decades. An Ephrata resident, he earned college degrees in education from Penn State (B.S.), Millersville University (M.Ed.) and Temple University (Ed.D.).
Although admission is free, donations are appreciated. For more details, contact Phil Gerber at 717.872.7535 before noon or at pge8507@aol.com.
Submitted by the Millersville Area Historical Society
Town and Country Garden Club Annual Plant Sale
Who: The Town and Country Garden Club of Lancaster
What: Plant Sale
When: Saturday, May 11 from 9am to 12pm
Where: Manheim Township Community Park (Pavilion #1), 201 Petersburg Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601
Cost: Free and open to the public
The Town and Country Garden Club of Lancaster will hold its Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Manheim Township Community Park (Pavilion #1), 201 Petersburg Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601. The general public is invited to purchase a variety of herbs, annuals, vegetable starter plants, houseplants and unique perennials from members’ gardens. The popular “green” elephant table with gently used garden equipment, books, pots and other items will be featured. All proceeds benefit the club’s Horticulture Scholarship Fund.
Submitted by the Town and Country Garden Club of Lancaster
1852 Herr Family Homestead to Open on May 11 for 2024 Season
Who: The Herr Family Homestead
What: Season Opening
When: Beginning Saturday, May 11 from 1-4pm; thereafter every 2nd and 4th Saturday from 1-4pm through October
Where: The Herr Family Homestead, 1756 Nissley Road in Amos Herr Park in Landisville, PA
Cost: Free and open to the public
The Herr Family Homestead, located at 1756 Nissley Road in Amos Herr Park in Landisville, will open for the 2024 season on May 11. The home and barn will give guided tours every 2nd and 4th Saturday from 1-4 pm through October. Last tour begins at 3:15pm. There is no admission charge however donations are appreciated.
The foundation received three American hooked rugs that were made by Alice Herr Zander in Lancaster County in the late 19th or early 20th century. The Heritage Center of Lancaster County conducted research from 2004-2006 that culminated in the exhibition Rags to Rugs: Hooked and Handsewn Rugs of Pennsylvania. Alice’s rugs were part of the resulting 2007 exhibit, and her rug hooking is documented in the exhibition catalog written by Patricia T. Herr, who also compiled the book entitled Rags to Rugs, published by Schiffer in 2008.
The rugs were donated to the Amos Herr House in memory of Robert Christian Pfahl, Jr (1938-2021) and his family. They were made by his great-grandmother, Alice Herr Zander (1858-1952). She hooked more than 2,000 rugs for 72 years and attributed her zest for living to her vital interest in hooked rug making. These rugs are of geometric design and are unusual, for most of her rugs illustrated a wide variety of flower and leaf patterns.
For more information, call 717-898-8822 or visit www.herrhomestead.org.
Submitted by the Herr Family Homestead