Good morning, Lancaster County.
Mostly cloudy and 88 today, with a 40 percent chance of showers coming in mainly after noon.
Not a washout — they're calling for less than a tenth of an inch — but enough to keep an umbrella in the car.
Today's story is about this weekend, and the forecast has already picked a favorite between the two days.
In today's Lancaster Local:
The airshow is Saturday and Sunday, and the forecast strongly favors Saturday
A Lancaster therapist on the wildfire that took her dream job
Thousands of books at a Mountville church, Friday and Saturday
A yarn circle in Strasburg
COMMUNITY NEWS
Pick Saturday.
The 2026 Lancaster Airshow runs Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, at Lancaster Airport, 500 Airport Road, Lititz.
Here's the practical part first, because it will decide your weekend.
Saturday is forecast mostly sunny with a high near 79. Sunday is showers likely, mainly after 8 a.m., with a 70 percent chance of rain.
Those are National Weather Service numbers, not mine, and they can move.
But as of this morning the two days are not close.
Now the reason to go.
Third Strike Wingwalking is on the performer list.
That is exactly what it sounds like — somebody out on the wing while the airplane is flying.
FIGHTERJETS is bringing a MiG-17F.
The SOCOM Para-Commandos jump.
And the Michigan Flight Museum is bringing a B-25 bomber named "Rosie's Reply."
The rest of the lineup is Vampire Airshows, Rick Volker, Jason Flood, and a stunt plane called GhostWriter.
On the ground there's a long list of static displays, including a UH-60 Black Hawk, a UH-1 Huey, a de Havilland Vampire jet fighter, and a run of WWII-era trainers — Stearmans, a Ryan PT-22, Fairchilds.
You can also buy a ride.
They list the B-25 bomber, a Fairchild PT-19 biplane, and helicopter rides in a Robinson R44 through Abella Aviation.
Ride prices are not posted on the page.
Tickets top out at $25 for general admission, $40 preferred and $150 premier.
Each of those is listed as a range starting at $0, which their page doesn't explain, so look closely at checkout.
There is also a $400 Flight Deck experience and $1,500 group premier seating.
One gap worth knowing about before you drive out there. As of this morning, the airport has not posted gate times or an hour-by-hour schedule — that section still says it's coming.
So this is a rare case where I'd tell you to call before you go: 717-569-1221, or [email protected].
EVENTS
🎨 Color & Chill — Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster.
Today, Thursday, September 17, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
A self-guided lounge with coloring, lo-fi beats and calm lighting.
They provide intricate coloring pages, markers and pens.
The room is deliberately sensory-friendly and accessible, built to be inclusive of all adults including people with IDD and autism, and their support people.
Registration closes at 9:45.
🀄 Midday Mahjong — Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster.
Today, Thursday, September 17, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Self-directed, no instructor — players of all levels learning from each other.
Bring a set and racks if you have them, plus your 2026 National Mah Jongg League card.
Registration closes at 12:45.
🔥 The Serra Is Burning — Lancaster Public Library, 151 North Queen Street, Lancaster.
Today, Thursday, September 17, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Ages 18+.
In 2022 Lancaster therapist Daral Boles took a dream job at a wellness retreat in the mountains of eastern Portugal.
Then a wildfire came through the region and changed everything.
She's telling that story, with photographs.
Space is limited and registration closes at 5:45.
🤝 Sean's Social Club — Adamstown Area Library, 110 W. Main Street, Adamstown.
Friday, September 18, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
A monthly club for adults ages 18 to 29 with differing abilities, plus their friends, family, caregivers and guests.
Registration closes at 12:45.
📚 Friends of the Mountville Branch Fall Book Sale — Mountville Church of the Brethren, 60 Clay Street, Mountville.
Friday, September 18, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Note the address — this one is at the church, not at the library that runs it.
Thousands of books, CDs, DVDs and board games.
Cash, checks and major cards.
Free parking.
Two things worth timing around: the deals start at noon on Saturday, and all proceeds go to the Mountville branch.
🤫 Silent Book Club — Columbia Public Library, 24 South 6th Street, Columbia.
Friday, September 18, 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. Ages 14+.
One solid hour of you and your book, uninterrupted, then a few minutes at the end comparing notes.
It's an after-hours event, so the doors matter: arrive late and your spot may be forfeited.
Registration closes at 5:45.
♟️ Strategy Board Games for Adults — Ephrata Public Library, 550 South Reading Road, Ephrata.
Saturday, September 19, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Ages 18+.
For people who want more than party games — war games, city-building, hidden identity.
Catan, The Quacks of Quedlinburg, Smash Up.
Registration closes at 2:45.
🧶 Yarn Circle — Strasburg-Heisler Library, 143 Precision Avenue, Strasburg.
Tuesday, September 22, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Knitting and crocheting, ideas traded, people helping each other out of whatever they've got themselves into.
Every other Tuesday, drop in any time in the hour, no registration.
📖 Lit Lovers Book Group — Milanof-Schock Library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy.
Tuesday, September 22, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Mostly fiction, but memoir, biography, mystery and science fiction all turn up.
Their listing is unusually direct about house rules: social chatter, gossip and romance novels are kept outside the discussion time.
No registration.
🖌️ Painting Club — Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz.
Wednesday, September 23, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Bring your own supplies and paint alongside other people.
Second and fourth Wednesday of the month.
No registration.
🍺 The Tavern Cook — Lancaster Public Library, 151 North Queen Street, Lancaster.
Thursday, September 24, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Ages 18+.
April Thomas on Richard Briggs, who ran one of London's famous taverns in the 18th century and published a cookbook called the "English Art of Cookery."
Space is limited and registration closes at 5:45.
Mostly cloudy and a high near 88 today, with a 40 percent chance of showers mainly after noon.
Tonight there's a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., low around 68.
Friday turns sunny and 83.
Saturday is mostly sunny and 79 — the good one.
Have a good Thursday.
— The Lancaster Local