Good morning, Lancaster County. The sun's back and the mid-to-upper 60s are rolling in - a proper spring Monday after a weekend that reminded us why we love this community. From a stroller-pushing dad at Saturday's Race Against Racism to live Americana music tonight, here's what's worth knowing.
In today's Lancaster Local:
Hundreds turned out for the 28th YWCA Race Against Racism - and one dad stole the show
The Steel Wheels bring touring Americana to West Art's converted-church stage tonight
Your week ahead: trivia, karaoke, First Friday, a bluegrass jam, and more
Our review of the Dutch Apple's 40th-anniversary-season production of "Oklahoma"
BUSINESS
Hundreds Lace Up for the 28th Race Against Racism
The YWCA Lancaster's Race Against Racism returned to Musser Park on Saturday for its 28th year, drawing hundreds of runners and walkers to Chestnut Street. Robert Reynolds of York took the overall win in 15:08, while Julie Halteman of Elizabethtown led the women's field at 18:15. But the crowd favorite? Lancaster's own Brock Martin, who pushed his 16-month-old daughter Margot in a stroller across the entire course. A Kids' Race kicked off the morning, Giant donated water and snacks, and all proceeds supported causes that matter.
EVENTS
A Monday night out and a week full of reasons to leave the house.
🎵 The Steel Wheels w/ Maya de Vitry - West Art - 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster. Tonight, doors at 6:30 PM, show at 7:30 PM. Touring Americana and bluegrass in Lancaster's beloved converted-church venue. Intimate, all-ages, and the kind of show that reminds you why small rooms matter. Get tickets →
🎤 Open Mic Artist Sessions w/ Henry Devorick - Tellus 360. Tonight, sign-ups at 6 PM, music at 7 PM. Lancaster's long-running weekly singer-songwriter open mic in the pub. Bring a song or just bring your ears. 21+ More info →
🧠 Weekly Trivia Night - Tellus 360. Tuesday, April 28, 7:00 PM. The downtown pub-trivia tradition rolls on with rotating weekly topics. Grab a team and a pint. 21+. More info →
🎤 Karaoke Night - Tellus 360 (Tigh Mhary Pub). Thursday, April 30, 8:30 PM. MC Mike Hopes runs the mic. You bring the confidence. 21+. Free. More info →
🎧 me·lod·ic - DJ Edge & Special Guests (First Friday) - Tellus 360. Friday, May 1, 10:00 PM. Kick off First Friday late-night with down-tempo, chill DJ sets on the second floor. 21+. More info →
🎸 FILTH! with Inferious & Monochromatic Black - Phantom Power, Millersville. Friday, May 1, doors at 7 PM, show at 8 PM. Touring hardcore and metal on the Phantom Power stage. If loud is your love language, this is your Friday night. $5–$25. Get tickets →
🪕 Bluegrass Jam Session with Jordan Rast - Tellus 360. Sunday, May 3, 2:00–5:00 PM. A free Sunday afternoon jam - bring your banjo, your fiddle, or just your lawn-chair energy. Under-21 welcome with a parent or guardian. More info →
🎭 "Let's Make This Quick…" feat. Whose Hands Are These? - The Lounge at Hempfield Apothetique, 100 W Walnut St, Lancaster. Sunday, May 3, doors at 6:30 PM, show at 7 PM. A brand-new variety show blending storytelling, improv-music, and comedy, capped off by Lancaster emo-rock favorites Whose Hands Are These? 21+. $10. Get tickets →
FEATURED LANCASTER COUNTY THEATER REVIEW
Real-life couples, familiar faces, and coconut cake: inside the Dutch Apple's 40th-anniversary "Oklahoma"
The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre is celebrating its 40th anniversary season, and production number 303 is a big one - Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma, the show whose title song became an actual state anthem. It's the fifth time the Dutch Apple has staged the classic, including during its inaugural 1987 season.
Our reviewer found plenty to love. A cast mixing Lancaster County theater veterans - including Jim Johnson, Managing Artistic Director of Susquehanna Stage in Marietta - with fresh Dutch Apple debuts gives the production an energy that feels both familiar and new.
A real-life couple plays the comedic B-story pair of Ado Annie and Will Parker, and their chemistry lands every joke.
The villain gets his due too, with a performance described as hauntingly played, anchored by striking lighting effects. And yes, the dinner buffet delivers - Parmesan-encrusted chicken, smashed potatoes, pecan-crusted tilapia, and a coconut cake that earned its own fan club at the table.
Oklahoma runs Wednesday until May 10, with matinee, evening, and Sunday twilight showtimes. Best enjoyed, our reviewer notes, with a slice of Dutch Apple pie.
Weather For Monday, April 27, 2026 - Sunshine and mid-to-upper 60s today, the kind of spring weather that makes you walk the long way home. Enjoy it - rain chances creep in by midweek.
Thanks for starting your week with Lancaster Local. We dig into the good stuff happening in this county so you don't have to scroll through the noise. If you found something useful today, forward this to someone who still gets their news from a Facebook group.