Good morning, Lancaster County.
It's the Weekend Edition: the Lititz Chocolate Walk is Saturday, there's free live music downtown tonight, and Sunday looks wet, so we found an indoor plan, too.
In today's Lancaster Local:
Four new markers in Marietta honoring two historic African American churches
The Lititz Chocolate Walk, with tips from the people who run it
Mini cows, a corn maze and a pumpkin patch in Lititz
Saturday-night fireworks at Cherry Crest in Ronks
COMMUNITY NEWS
Four new markers tell the story of two Marietta churches.
A volunteer group in Marietta has installed four new markers honoring the town's African American heritage and the stories of two historic churches.
The group is the Marietta African American Legacy Initiative (MAALI), which LancasterHistory describes as "a volunteer organization of community residents formed in 2025 to research, design, and install the markers." It worked with the African American Historical Society of South Central PA and the Borough of Marietta.
Two of the markers are about Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Its congregation was founded in 1819 by free people of African descent, who gathered for worship in an area known as Heisey's Woods.
About 35 veterans are buried in its cemetery, including 20 from the Civil War.
The other two honor the Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church and Cemetery, which played a significant role in Marietta's African American community for more than 80 years.
Its companion marker focuses on camp meetings and schools.
LancasterHistory, which lists all four on its website, says both pairs can be found at 128 West Fairview Avenue and were dedicated on September 19.
Its page also links to background reports built from research by generations of community historians.
THIS WEEKEND
If you do one thing
🍫 Lititz Chocolate Walk — downtown Lititz.
Saturday, October 10, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
We told you about the Walk's 25th year last week; here's how the organizers say to do it right.
Tickets bought online are picked up starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Lititz Welcome Center/Train Station, 18 North Broad Street, at the entrance to Lititz Springs Park.
Bring your receipt, and don't lose your punch card: it's your ticket to every tasting stop.
Wear comfortable shoes (the Walk is about 2 miles), and bring a container, since it's hard to eat every sample on the spot.
You can start at any location and go in any order; many regulars park at Linden Hall and do the Walk backwards.
If one stop has a long line, skip it and come back.
Lititz Mutual Insurance, 2 North Broad Street, has donated its lot for Walkers; if it's full, try the Warwick High School lot, 301 West Orange Street.
A limited number of tickets are sold, and the money goes to children-focused charities.
Free
🎷 The Mystic Alpacas — Tellus360, 24 E. King Street, Lancaster.
Friday, October 9, 8:00 p.m. Free. Ages 21+.
Start the weekend downtown.
Tellus360 lists the Mystic Alpacas as free live music: a band playing popular blues, melodic jazz, original songs and old-school R&B.
With kids
🌽 Fall Family Fun at Oregon Dairy — The Farmstead at Oregon Dairy, Lititz.
Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The roughly 12-acre corn maze, a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch, barrel train rides, a jump pad, pedal tractors, a straw mound playground and animals to pet and feed are all included with admission.
On Sunday from 1:00 to 6:00, Swartz Farm brings its mini cows to cuddle.
Admission at the gate is $15 for ages 3 to 64 and $13 for 65 and older.
Last admission is one hour before closing, and rides and farm activities close at dark.
Date night
🎹 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical — Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster.
Friday, October 9: dinner 6:00, show 7:30. Saturday, October 10: lunch 11:30, show 1:00; dinner 6:00, show 7:30. Sunday, October 11: dinner 5:30, show 7:00.
The story of Carole King and her songs, including "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."
Evening dinner and show is $83, and show-only tickets are $55, plus a $3 per-ticket fee.
It's rated PG-13 for adult themes and runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Worth the drive
🎆 Saturday at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm — 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks.
Saturday, October 10. Live music 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.; fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
Grant Bryan plays an acoustic set at midday, then the power-pop band Rock Box takes over in the late afternoon, and the night ends with fireworks, which the farm sets off every Saturday through November 7.
This year's 5-acre Amazing Maize Maze has nearly 2.5 miles of paths and a "Let Freedom Ring" theme for America's 250th.
Tickets and season passes are sold on the farm's website.
If it rains
🚂 Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania — 300 Gap Road, Strasburg.
Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4:00 p.m. Last entry 3:30 p.m.
Sunday has a 70 percent chance of showers, and the museum's real trains, historical displays and interactive exhibits are a good place to wait it out.
Adults (12 to 64) $10, seniors $9, ages 3 to 11 $8, and 2 and under free.
Note that the museum is closed Monday, October 12.
Still collecting: Where's the best whoopie pie in Lancaster County?
One name is all we need.
Hit reply.
We may print a few answers with your first name and town.
Sunny today, with a high near 70.
Tonight is mostly clear and down around 50.
Saturday is partly sunny and 70.
Sunday turns cloudy and 67, with showers likely after 8:00 a.m.
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Have a good weekend.
— The Lancaster Local