posted Mar 21, 2024

Top Things to do in April in Lancaster, PA

•Spring has sprung•

Rain or shine, there’s plenty of things to do in Lancaster County in April!

Spring has sprung and spring fever has officially begun in Lancaster, PA. Crops are beginning to poke through the soil, buds are appearing on the trees, and we cannot wait to get outside to do some exploring. Not only does the warmer weather bring opportunities for outdoor activities, but it also brings a wave of new shows, experiences, and events to partake in around the county.

Special Events

Antiquing

Amish Mud Sales

Live Performances

The Arts

Head Outside

Free!

Special Events

That Pet Show! | That Fish Place – That Pet Place | April 1st
Girls on the Run Limitless Potential Breakfast | Eden Resort & Suites | April 3rd
Renewed, Reborn & Ready to Go! | Altana | April 5th
Apollo5 | The Trust Performing Arts Center | April 5th
GiGi's Playhouse Lancaster's Casino Royale Gala | Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square | April 6th
Noodles Around the World | Southern Market | April 9th
Wine & Cheese Basics | Reology Studio | April 10th
Square Foot Art Show | The Shirt Factory | April 12th
The Art of the March | Garden Spot Village Chapel | April 13th
Pennsylvania Entertainers' Swap and Sale | Zion Lutheran Church | April 13th
Spring Fling | Faulkner Chevrolet | April 14th
Revolutionary War Medicine | Historic Rock Ford | April 20th
Preserving Family Heirlooms | Manheim Railroad Station | April 21st
LAUNCH Music Conference | Lancaster County Convention Center | April 25th - 28th
6th Annual PA Family Travel Fair | John Bonfield Elementary Gym & Campus | April 27th
Annual Plant Exchange | Lititz Historical Foundation | April 28th

There are more fun-filled events happening in our Downtown this April, check them all out!

More Events!

Antiques Extravaganza!

In Adamstown, PA, a.k.a. the "Antiques Capital", on April 24th-28th is the Spring Antiques Extravaganza! Check out dozens of antique shops, outdoor markets, and more.

This shopping mecca is conveniently located just off Exit 286 of the PA Turnpike, and is home to thousands of antique shops and dealers. Their treasures of the past range from fine furniture and historic postcards to redware and quirky collectibles.

Guide on Antiques

What are Amish Mud Sales?

Springtime in Lancaster means mud sales! Mud sales offer everything from hand-stitched quilts and crafts to furniture, produce, antiques and more. They're especially known for offering staple PA Dutch foods throughout the sale.

Amish Mud Sales are a Lancaster County original tradition and refer to annual auctions or sales of Amish goods at a number of local fire companies.

Robert Fulton Sale | April 6th
Rawlinsville Mud Sale | April 12th & 13th
Schoeneck Fire Company Mud Sale | April 20th

Learn More

Upcoming Shows in Lancaster County, PA

You know what they say "April shows bring May flowers", so take the opportunity while it's raining to see a live performance at one or multiple of our amazing theatres.

Ragtime | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre | April 5th - May 12th, 2024
Set in early twentieth-century New York, three diverse American family tales are woven together. United by their courage, compassion, and belief in the promise of the future, they confront history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair.

Tuesdays with Morrie | Fulton Theatre | March 29th - April 14th, 2024
The autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie’s appearance on a television news program and learns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life.

Daniel | Sight & Sound | March 14th - December 31st
Taken from his people, Daniel is exiled far from home in the powerful kingdom of Babylon. Now this faithful servant must navigate his new life inside a palace filled with golden statues and shifting empires. As royal pressures mount, Daniel is faced with a dangerous choice. Will his trust in the one true God remain steadfast through every test of faith?

Mystery | Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater | March 15th - October 28th
In this all-new variety magic show, illusionist Brett Myers and his cast explore mysterious worlds such as ancient “Lost Civilizations,” the magic of never growing old in “Neverland,” and the excitement of the “Roaring 1920’s.” You'll also dive into other worlds that keep you guessing such as the mysteries behind a “Masquerade Ball” and the daring escapades of a “Secret Agent.” Join Brett and his cast as they captivate with more large illusions and more dynamic circus arts than ever before

The Confession | Bird-in-Hand Stage | April 4th - August 3rd
Katie Lapp’s parents have been keeping a secret. When Katie learns the truth, she heads to New York to find her birth mother—a wealthy woman who is battling a life-threatening illness and who aches for her long-lost daughter. What follows is a brilliant love story full of music, mystery and mistaken identities. If you haven’t seen it, don’t miss it—and if you have, fall in love all over again.

Ryan & Friends: All-Star Comedy | Bird-in-Hand Stage | April 6th - October 19th
Comedy rules when Ryan returns to our stage with every one of his friends: witty 8-year-old Jeffrey, who lives in a suitcase and travels Third Class on airplanes; Harold and Irene, who have way more opinions than your average grandparents; and not-so-silent beasts Ardy the Skunk and Randy the Rooster, plus a new mystery guest—all hilarious and high-energy friends who barely let Ryan get a word in edge-wise.

South Pacific | Fulton Theatre | April 19th - May 19th, 2024
On a South Pacific island during World War II, Ensign Nellie Forbush, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with French planter Emile de Becque but she refuses Emile’s proposal of marriage, unable to overcome the prejudices with which she was raised. Meanwhile, Lt. Joe Cable falls in love with a Tonkinese girl named Liat, but he too denies himself a future due to the same fears that haunt Nellie. When Emile accompanies Joe on a dangerous mission, Nellie chooses to embrace a future with Emile, thus conquering her prejudices.

Junie B. Jones | Fulton Theatre | April 27th - May 18th, 2024
Junie’s friend, Lucille, doesn’t want to be her best pal anymore and, on the bus, Junie B. makes friends with Herb, the new kid at school. Also, Junie has trouble reading the blackboard and her teacher, Mr. Scary, thinks she may need glasses. Throw in a friendly cafeteria lady, a kickball tournament and a “Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal,” and first grade has never been more exciting.

Don't miss out on seeing a concert in Lancaster! American Music Theatre hosts a ton throughout the year, and Mickey's Black Box and Lititz Shirt Factory hosts a plethora of concerts. Just outside of the county is Giant Center in Hershey, which hosts big-name acts.

UPCOMING SHOWS

Indulge in the Arts

Head down to Marietta to see, River Towns Plein Air on April 13th! This is Lancaster County’s premier outdoor painting event spotlighting original artwork completed on location over an 8-day period in the historic Susquehanna River communities of Marietta, Columbia and Wrightsville PA. This is a fun event to support local artists!

Get crafty at Horst Arts! Create your string art, funky journal and so many more fun activities!

Funky Junk Kid Craft Workshop | April 6th
Junk Journal Workshop | April 6th
Paper Succulent Craft Workshop | April 20th

The Pottery Works is a creative studio located in Downtown Lancaster that offers artists a comfortable and well-equipped space to paint pottery. You can choose from a variety of items, such as bowls, plates, mugs, piggy banks, and figurines for kids, and personalize them with your unique style. If you prefer to create beaded jewelry instead, you can visit the nearby BeadWorks and Gem Den, where you'll find a wide selection of beautiful beads and gems to inspire your crafting projects.

ART TOURS & EXPERIENCES

Sip, Sip, Save!

At the Railroad Museum of PA, sample beers and foods from local breweries and vendors during their Rails & Ales event on April 6th.

Enjoy the luxurious, climate-controlled First Class accommodations and a tasting of select wine, cheese, and crackers as you travel in style down the tracks to Paradise, PA in Strasburg Rail Road Wine & Cheese Train.

The Lancaster County Brewers Guild's first sponsored beer festival, Spring Thaw, will be held on Saturday, April 13th at the Warehouse District Beer Garden.

Enjoy the hand-crafted beer, wine, and spirits of Lancaster County! The Craft & Cork Trail is a mobile passport that allows you to check in at participating businesses and rewards you with free prizes.

Things to do Outdoors in Lancaster, PA

As the weather gets warmer and kids get closer to summer break, being outdoors is the only thing they can think of. Take those kids and have a Homeschool Day at Refreshing Mountain! April 26th, 30th and May 1st & 3rd th are all available to take those kids to enjoy hands-on activities while learning about the environment around them.

Learn the farming life at Open Fields at Homefields Care Farm on April 28th! Go inside our greenhouses, visit the bee habitats, beneficial insect hotels and take home a DIY planter (good for all ages). Homefields Care Farm has created vocational and volunteer opportunities for hundreds of people who have a disability or other barriers to traditional employment.

Explore the great outdoors with one of Lancaster's hiking and biking trails or some fun activities by and on the river. Stay for awhile at one of Lancaster's great campgrounds to further your outdoor adventure.

Have a unique experience by taking a hot air balloon ride with Lancaster Balloon Rides or visiting the pack at the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.

Take the whole family out for a fun-filled day at Dutch Wonderland. With more than 35 kid-friendly rides, including roller coasters, a water playground, and live entertainment. Youngsters will love exploring this kingdom for kids!

Catch a game this season with the Lancaster Stormers! Their season kicks off towards the end of the month.

Go on a Country Roads Excursion or Covered Bridge Tour with Strasburg Scooter Tours. Wind your way through back country roads, on two or three wheels, in search of our favorite Pennsylvania Dutch treats, off-the-beaten-path shops, and special surprise encounters along the way.

Train rides during the wintertime can be one of magic and memories. Taking a ride on the Reading & Northern Railroad Travel by Train: Reading to Pottsville can do that. On April 13th Stone Gables Estate is hosting their Fifth Annual Lincoln Train Ride Commemoration. Witness and participate in this one-of-a-kind living history event.

Explore Food & History in Downtown Lancaster on a guided walking tour. Indulge in culturally diverse cuisine from around the world without leaving Lancaster County. You will be guided around a beautiful 18th-century city with a professional tour guide. Come ready to eat plenty of food from local immigrants

More Outdoor Adventure

Find Adventure in 2025!

Get ready! Find all the best things to do, places to stay, where to eat, an events calendar, and exclusive coupons! Order the FREE 2025 Lancaster County Visitors Guide today!

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Pictured: Hot Air Balloon Ride

Free Things To Do in Lancaster County, PA

Peruse local vendors at the Shops @ Rockvale during their Local Makers Market on April 1st, but be ready to purchase some amazing handmade goods.

Enjoy the Sounds of Spring by Lancaster Violinist Melody Brubaker Cliff. This free 30-minute First Friday concert on April 5, 2024, at First Reformed Church, 40 E. Orange Street, in Downtown Lancaster.

On April 5th, head into Lancaster City for First Friday! You can explore galleries and local artists, see performances and more. You can also take the kiddos to the Lancaster Science Factory from 5-7pm to interact with over 70 hands-on exhibits for free. Similarly, Lititz hosts Second Fridays (April 12th) and Manheim hosts First Thursdays (April 4th) to allow exploration of the art scene in some of Lancaster's cool small towns.

More Free Things to Do