Why not make holiday shopping a holiday experience?
You’ll find great local shops in Lancaster County, as well as plenty of holiday markets with unique items. Discover small-town tree lightings festivities and spectacular drive-through lights. Take in a show, enjoy the tastes of Lancaster County, then relax with us at Olde Square Inn.
At the end of a great day cozy up in front of the fireplace in your beautiful room or work on a puzzle in the living room. After a good night’s sleep, you’ll wake up to the delicious aroma of a tantalizing 3-course breakfast, refreshed and ready to take on the day!
Here are just a few of the events you’ll find this December in Lancaster County.
- December 1-January 1 – Hershey Park Candylane. You can ride some rides, sip some hot chocolate, and walk through 5 million twinkling lights. Yes, literally 5 million lights. You can even pet a reindeer.
- December 6 – First Friday Downtown Lancaster. Holiday Arts Market 5-8 PM at Ewell Plaza, 100 Block of N. Queen. Shop handmade treasure and see what’s happening in the city.
- December 7 & 8. 14 & 15 – Yuletide at the PA Renn Faire. They say you’ll be transported to a magical realm of different lands and time periods, filled with holiday cheer and laughter. Be sure to get your tickets in advance to experience the merriment!
- December 7 – It’s WINTERFEST in Mount Joy!! 1-5pm. Holiday Market, store specials, food court, FUN afternoon. Come out and visit the best town ever!
- December 13 & 14 – Christmas Folk Art Show in Manheim. In addition to handmade items they’ll feature painted furniture, wood carvings, pottery, and even textiles.
- December 14 – Full Moon Fundraiser at the Wold Sanctuary. Bring a blanket, flashlight, and chair and enjoy the roaring bonfire or take a self-guided tour with docents stationed along the way. There will be live entertainment and wolf stories! Get tickets in advance.
- December 15 – Lancaster Liederkranz’s Christkindlemarket 11am-5pm. Just down the road from Olde Square Inn, this traditional German Christmas market with have vendors, German beer and food, mulled spice wine, music, and more. Be sure you take cash or you’ll be sad; few vendors accept credit cards.
- Now through January 4 – National Christmas Center. This is cool because it’s a full-scale town 1950’s set up for Christmas. You can actually look into the store windows at the Woolworths and the other shops they have set up. This is at Stone Gable Estates and really, it’s WAY more than just shops. Book in advance.
Looking for fantastic drive-through lights?
- Our Visitors’ Center, Discover Lancaster, has a great list of drive-through Christmas lights. You can see them now through the end of December, with some going going to January 5.
Need a place for dinner on Christmas or Christmas Eve?
- Maybe you don’t want to cook, maybe you just want to slip away and have time with someone special. Check out this list of restaurants open for the holidays.
Don’t forget the shows!
- The Fulton Theater is featuring a variety of shows throughout December on several different stages, running now through the end of December: Frozen, the Broadway Musical, Who’s Holiday (adult-only comedy!), and A Christmas Carol.
- Attend a concert in candlelight at Prima Theater in Lancaster, a small, intimate venue. Illumination is their current show and runs through December 22.
- Inn guests have loved American Music Theater‘s 2024 Christmas Show, Joy to the World. Think nostalgic America home-town winter carnival with music, fabulous singing, and fantastic dancing.
- At Magic and Wonder Theater, you can choose between Winter Wonderland and Holly Jolly Christmas. As you might guess, there’s magic AND wonder AND grand illusions!
- Is it really Christmas without mentioning Irving Berlin’s White Christmas? I don’t think so. You can have dinner and a show at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater and enjoy this old favorite.
Book your stay at Olde Square Inn.
- While we will be closed on December 24 to enjoy Christmas Eve with family, we will be welcoming guests all other days of December, including New Year’s Eve. Make your reservation now.
