Good morning, Lancaster County. June has officially arrived, and the county is ready to celebrate - this week is stacked with live music, outdoor festivals, community runs, and some genuinely exciting local news. Pull up a chair and let's get into it.
In today's Lancaster Local:
A breast cancer prevention vaccine trial is expanding to Central Pennsylvania, offering promising access for eligible local patients
Motown royalty comes to Lancaster Thursday night when The Temptations and The Four Tops take the American Music Theatre stage
Lititz takes over its Main Street Friday with plein air painters, local bites, and a full block party atmosphere
A big weekend awaits: the Red Rose Run turns 50, VegFest returns to Buchanan Park, and Long's Park opens its free summer concert series
EVENTS
A stellar week ahead for live music, food, and community fun across Lancaster County.
🎤 The Temptations & The Four Tops - American Music Theatre - 2425 Lincoln Hwy East, Lancaster, PA. Thursday, June 4, 7:30 PM. Two of Motown's all-time greatest acts share the stage for one unforgettable night - think "My Girl," "I Can't Help Myself," and decades of hits that still hit. Tickets range from $79–$109. Get tickets →
🍽️ Taste of Lititz - Main Street, Lititz, PA. Friday, June 5, 5 PM–9 PM. Main Street closes to traffic from Water Street to Broad Street for a block-party-style evening featuring small bites from local restaurants, live music, and family-friendly games. It's one of the most beloved nights on the Lancaster County calendar. More info →
🥃 Belmont Bourbon Bash - Ironstone Ranch at Stone Gables Estate, 1 Hollinger Lane, Elizabethtown, PA. Saturday, June 6, 4 PM–8 PM (VIP Train Experience 3–4 PM). The inaugural Belmont Bourbon Bash is a race-day-inspired charity event featuring a Bourbon Barrel Trail, tastings paired with small bites, live entertainment from The Moonlighters, hat and fashion contests, a cigar lounge, and the exclusive reveal of a 2026 electric Porsche Cayenne. Proceeds benefit the STAGES Foundation and Penn State Health's palliative care program. Tickets from $35–$250, including non-drinking "Safe Bet" options. Get tickets →
🤠 Scotty McCreery with Guest Shane Profitt - American Music Theatre - 2425 Lincoln Hwy East, Lancaster, PA. Saturday, June 6, 7:30 PM. American Idol winner and country star Scotty McCreery brings his warm, storytelling sound to AMT with opener Shane Profitt. Tickets are $59–$109. Get tickets →
🌱 Lancaster VegFest 2026 - Buchanan Park, Lancaster City. Saturday, June 6 & Sunday, June 7, 12 PM–5 PM both days. Lancaster VegFest hits its 10th anniversary with two full days of plant-based food vendors, chef demos, live music, community yoga, kids' activities, and nonprofit resources - all completely free. Donations to Lancaster Farm Sanctuary are encouraged at the door. More info →
THIS WEEK Out and about in Lancaster County
🎨 Taste of Lititz Quick Draw - Moravian Church Square, 8 E. Main Street, Lititz, PA. Friday, June 5, 10 AM–2 PM. Before the evening block party kicks off, catch local artists competing en plein air in Lititz's charming town square. All artwork is for sale, making it a great opportunity to bring home something one-of-a-kind from a Lancaster County artist. More info →
🏙️ First Friday - Downtown Lancaster City. Friday, June 5, programming starts around 5 PM. Lancaster City's beloved monthly arts crawl fills galleries, studios, museums, and streets with creativity and community energy. The free First Friday Trolley runs from 5–8:30 PM on a continuous loop starting and ending at Ewell Plaza - a great way to explore without worrying about parking. More info →
🏃 50th Annual Red Rose Run - Ewell Plaza & Binns Park, 145 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA. Saturday, June 6, 8 AM (5-mile run and wheelchair race); kids' fun run at 9:30 AM. Lancaster's most storied road race turns 50 this year with a 1970s theme, a USATF-certified course through Lancaster City and County Park, and more than $27,000 in prize money. The 5-mile race entry is $40; the kids' run is free. More info →
🎸 Long's Park Summer Music Series Opening Night - Long's Park Amphitheater, Lancaster, PA. Sunday, June 7, 7:30 PM. Summer's unofficial arrival gets its soundtrack when Parker Barrow, a blues-infused Southern rock band out of Nashville, opens the 2026 season at Long's Park. Concerts are free every Sunday all summer - no ticket required, donations welcome. More info →
FEATURED LANCASTER COUNTY HEALTH STORY A cancer prevention vaccine - and it may be coming to a clinic near you
For decades, a cancer vaccine has sounded like science fiction. Now it's a clinical trial - and it's coming to Central Pennsylvania.
UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh have announced the expansion of a first-of-its-kind breast cancer prevention vaccine trial to Central Pennsylvania, opening access through UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
The trial is specifically designed for post-menopausal women age 50 and older who have been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) - a Stage 0 precancerous condition.
DCIS is one of the most common early-stage diagnoses, and researchers are racing to understand whether a vaccine intervention at this stage could stop breast cancer from ever fully developing.
Participants in the vaccine arm of the trial receive three doses of the vaccine before their standard surgical treatment.
While still in clinical trial phase, the research represents one of the most hopeful frontiers in breast cancer care - and the expansion to Central Pennsylvania means that Lancaster County residents and surrounding communities now have a path to participate without traveling to Pittsburgh.
If you or someone you know has received a DCIS diagnosis, this trial may be worth a conversation with an oncologist.
Monday, June 1 - Sunshine and mid-70s to welcome the first day of June, with zero chance of rain. Get outside, Lancaster - it's as good as it gets.
Thanks for reading Lancaster Local. We hope this week gives you something to look forward to every single day - because it really does. If you found something useful, forward it to someone who still gets their news from a Facebook group.