Winter’s chill won’t slow down downtown Lititz this February as the borough kicks off its annual Lititz Fire & Ice Festival, a celebration blending breathtaking ice artistry, fiery entertainment and community-focused fun. 

The 10-day event runs Friday, February 13 through Sunday, February 22, 2026, with activities spread throughout historic downtown streets and public spaces.

Now a staple of the local winter calendar, the Fire & Ice Festival draws visitors from across Lancaster County and beyond to explore ice sculptures, special events and seasonal experiences designed for all ages.

At the heart of the festival are the ice sculptures installed along Main and Broad Streets and throughout downtown Lititz, creating a shimmering outdoor gallery that invites strolling, photography and exploration. 

Visitors can enjoy these displays day or night, though organizers note they’re especially spectacular in daytime light.

A family-friendly scavenger hunt runs throughout the festival, encouraging visitors of all ages to uncover hidden seasonal clues while wandering through downtown shops and public spaces.

Organizers emphasize that the Fire & Ice Festival isn’t just about monuments of ice and dazzling performances - it’s a chance for the Lititz community and its guests to come together during winter’s quietest season. 

Local shops, restaurants and historic venues all participate, offering visitors ways to experience the charm and hospitality that make downtown Lititz a year-round destination.

Click here to learn more: https://lititzpa.com/events/lititz-fire-ice-festival

If you’re looking for a cozy, indulgent way to kick off Valentine’s weekend, Grandview Vineyard is hosting one of its most popular winter events on Friday, February 13.

All Things Chocolate & Wine Pairings invites guests to enjoy a guided tasting featuring four Grandview wines, each thoughtfully paired with artisan chocolates selected to complement and enhance the flavors in the glass.

This experience goes beyond a standard wine tasting. Guests will explore how sweetness, acidity, tannins, and texture interact - and how the right chocolate can unlock new notes in a wine you might not notice on its own.

The event begins at 5:30 PM and takes place at Grandview Vineyard, offering an intimate, relaxed setting that’s perfect for date night, a Valentine’s outing, or a fun evening with friends.

Tickets are $20 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Seating is limited, and advance purchase is required.

Get tickets and more information here.

A new neighborhood gathering spot is officially opening its doors in Lancaster City this week.

The Lancaster City Alliance and the Lancaster Chamber are inviting the community to a Ribbon Cutting Celebration for GEM’s Bodega & Café on Friday, February 13, at 11:30 a.m.

The event will take place at 155 N. Ross Street, welcoming neighbors, local leaders, and supporters to celebrate the opening of entrepreneur Emily Gonzalez’s newest venture in the City of Lancaster.

GEM’s Bodega & Café represents the realization of a long-held dream for Gonzalez: to create a warm, welcoming neighborhood hub where great food, genuine connection, and culture live side by side. Designed with the community in mind, GEM’s is meant to be the kind of place where you can stop in for everyday essentials, linger over something delicious, and feel right at home.

The bodega will stock everyday dry goods and household staples, alongside fun snacks and sweet treats for kids - and kids at heart. On the café side, visitors can look forward to fresh-baked pastries and desserts, hearty salads, crave-worthy hot and cold subs, and a rotating menu of freshly prepared meals, offering both comfort and variety throughout the week.

The ribbon cutting marks not just a business opening, but the arrival of a new community space built around hospitality, accessibility, and neighborhood connection.

What: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for GEM’s Bodega & Café

When: Friday, February 13 | 11:30 a.m.

Where: 155 N. Ross Street, Lancaster, PA 17602

All are welcome to attend and help celebrate another locally owned business putting down roots in Lancaster City.

Long before Lancaster became known for tourism and small businesses, it was a major industrial city. One of the most important - and least remembered - chapters of that history begins with cork.

In 1860, Thomas Morton Armstrong, a Scots-Irish immigrant, purchased a small cork-cutting operation and began manufacturing cork stoppers for bottles.

Cork was essential in the 19th century, used to seal everything from food and drink to medicine. Armstrong quickly gained a reputation for quality, even branding his corks and offering written guarantees - a rare practice at the time.

Lancaster soon became a center of cork manufacturing. Factories like the Conestoga Cork Works at 140 Locust Street lined city streets with wagons hauling raw cork and finished goods. During the Civil War, Armstrong supplied cork stoppers to the Union Army, helping launch the company onto the national stage.

As production grew, Armstrong faced a problem: cork dust waste. Instead of discarding it, the company turned it into innovation. Cork flour became a key ingredient in linoleum flooring - valued for being durable, fire-resistant, quiet, and insulating.

By the early 1900s, Armstrong had transformed cork from a simple stopper into a building material found in homes across America. In 1908, the Lancaster Floor Plant opened north of the city, eventually spanning more than 200 buildings and 111 acres. In 1929, Armstrong moved its corporate headquarters from Pittsburgh to Lancaster, cementing the city’s role in the company’s success.

Though many of the factories are gone, cork and linoleum helped shape Lancaster’s industrial rise - a reminder that some of the city’s biggest innovations started with simple materials and practical thinking.