Good morning, Lancaster County. The low 70s are rolling in today, the week is warming up fast, and we've got a story that - no exaggeration - reaches all the way to the moon. Let's get into it.

In today's Lancaster Local:

BUSINESS

Advanced Cooling Technologies, headquartered in Lancaster, manufactured components used aboard NASA's Artemis II mission - the first crewed test flight in the Artemis campaign and the mission that set a new record for farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.

ACT, which started as a research firm in 2003, produces thermal management technology that controls heat in extreme environments. A production supervisor at the company described the pride of knowing that something you work on with your hands ends up orbiting above your head.

And the Lancaster County connection didn't stop at the hardware: the astronauts' wakeup song on the final day of the mission was "Run to the Water" by LIVE, the alternative rock band formed in the area.

Several members have ties to Lancaster County. This is Lancaster touching space - literally and musically.

EVENTS

A packed midweek lineup - from big stages to cozy pubs.

🎭 Hairspray at the Fulton Theatre - Fulton Theatre - 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster. Tonight at 7:30 PM. The Tony Award-winning musical is running through May 3. Big hair, big dreams, and even bigger dance numbers on Lancaster's most storied stage. Get tickets →

🎵 Magnolia Park – Nights After VAMP Tour - Mickey's Black Box - 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz. Tonight, doors at 6:30 PM, show at 7:30 PM. Orlando pop-punk favorites roll through with Silly Goose and Pinknoise. Tickets are $25–$35. Get tickets →

🎭 Sight & Sound Theatres: Joshua - 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks.. The 2026 original biblical epic plays on the legendary 2,000-seat wraparound stage with live animals, pyrotechnics, and panoramic sets. Tickets run approximately $82–$104. Get tickets →

🍽️ Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre: Oklahoma! - Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre - 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster. Today, 11:30 AM lunch / 1:00 PM showtime. Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic on Dutch Apple's 40th-season schedule. Dinner-show packages run approximately $75–$80. Get tickets →

🎧 Tellus360 Major Vibes Friends-Days - Tellus360 - 24 E. King St., Lancaster. Tonight at 9:00 PM. Weekly DJ night in the Forest Room. Free entry. More info →

🥧 Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market (Seasonal Opening) - 2710 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand. Today, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM. The market is back for the season with standholders serving up whoopie pies, soft pretzels, fresh meats, cheeses, and ice cream. Open Wednesday through Saturday through November. More info →

⚾ Lancaster Stormers Home Opener vs. Long Island Ducks - Penn Medicine Park - 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster. Friday, Apr 24, 6:45 PM. The Stormers open their 22nd season at home at the newly renamed Penn Medicine Park. Tickets start around $12–$18.. More info →

🌎 Manheim Township’s Earth Fest - Overlook Park & Activity Center - 301 Golf Dr., Lancaster. Saturday, Apr 25, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM. Lancaster County's largest Earth Day celebration is free and packed: native-plant sale, makers' market, food trucks, live-animal shows, and a recycling drive. More info →

🚗 VolksFest at Mount Hope Estate - 2775 Lebanon Rd., Manheim. Saturday, Apr 25, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM. The 33rd annual VW swap meet and car show brings hundreds of air- and water-cooled Volkswagens together with Renaissance Faire food and Swashbuckler Ales. Admission is by donation, with proceeds benefiting PA Wounded Warriors, Nobody's Cats Foundation, and other charities. More info →

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - A warm one for mid-April: expect highs in the low 70s with plenty of sunshine. Thursday stays right in that range too, so soak it up - the weekend cools down and could bring some rain.

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