The 2025 Annual Dinner of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum
Celebrate and gather with friends for the Annual Dinner of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum! Join us on Wednesday, April 16 from 6 – 9pm at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Lancaster for an evening of fellowship and fun, benefitting the care and conservation of the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum at LancasterHistory.
The Annual Dinner begins at 6pm with cocktails, followed by a plated dinner at 6:30pm and a program, awards, and raffle drawings around 7:30pm. We’re excited to welcome local tree enthusiast Len Eiserer for a great presentation spotlighting “In Celebration of the Humble Serviceberry.”
RSVP INFORMATION & DINING OPTIONS
Tickets to attend the Annual Dinner for the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum are $65 per person. Ticket purchase includes access to the event, a plated dinner (salad, sides, main entree, and dessert), and the main presentation by Len Eiserer. Raffle tickets may be purchased during the cocktail reception at 6pm with cash. Proceeds from the dinner and raffle benefit the care and conservation of the Tanger Arboretum.
Dinner includes: Salad with sun-dried cranberries, garden vegetables, & balsamic vinaigrette, herb roasted potatoes and seasonal roasted vegetables, a main entree (choose one: chicken piccata, New England style baked haddock, or grilled vegetables and pecorino cheese ravioli), and crumb-topped apple pie with whipped cream. It is a cash bar.
The RSVP deadline has passed. Thank you for your interest!
If you are unable to attend the Annual Dinner and would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, please click here.
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION: Join local tree enthusiast Len Eiserer for a presentation celebrating the serviceberry (Amelanchier)! Serviceberries are crucial players in our native landscapes, providing food for pollinators and songbirds. They also played important roles in American history as a key food staple for Indigenous peoples and as a harbinger of springtime. Learn about the history and importance of the underrated, underutilized, and wonderful serviceberry!
Len Eiserer received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine and his doctorate in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College. He has taught for 38 years and currently teaches at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). He maintains the website, Tree Treasures of Lancaster County, and serves on the board of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum.
Fundraiser In-Person Event Off-Site Event Program Reception
On Saturday, April 26, learn all about the tiny but mighty bonsai with Millersville University’s Dr. Ryan Wagner! Whether you’re new to bonsai or are an experienced bonsai caretaker, get tips on the “dos” and “don’ts” of bonsai with special attention to aesthetics and improving general health. At this presentation, you’ll discover the history of bonsai and the different inspirational styles, while fostering an appreciation of the diversity of bonsai design. Plus, experience a live demonstration of techniques used to develop and shape bonsai.
This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, 
Feeling overwhelmed by climate anxiety? Feeling isolated in your search for climate action? Building strong communities around climate resilience can help! Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum on Saturday, May 10 as we welcome Aidan Fife, Director of Community Engagement at RegenAll, to learn about the ways to get involved with your community that can provide hope and agency in the face of climate change. Discover actionable steps, like making home energy improvements or joining RegenAll’s Climate Action Neighborhood program, listen to stories of climate hope, and find ways to make climate action feel tangible, actionable, and possible.
Summer is a fantastic time to explore life in our local creeks. On Saturday, June 7, Lancaster County Park Senior Naturalist Lisa Sanchez will bring the creek to LancasterHistory for our Nature Series program, “Creeks & Critters!” Examine various “critters” representing a sample of life from a creek and learn about the life cycle of the many insects that begin their lives in the water. Aquatic insects, such as dragonflies, mosquitoes, and mayflies, play a valuable role in our ecosystems and help tell us a lot about the quality of the water and the health of our creeks and streams.