Good morning, Lancaster County.
Sunny and 78 today, with the wind almost nothing until a light southeast breeze picks up in the afternoon.
Fog rolls in after 5 a.m. tomorrow, so tomorrow's commute may start soft.
Today's story is about the biggest thing happening in the county next week, and it takes over an entire town.
In today's Lancaster Local:
Ephrata shuts two streets Monday night, and the 107th fair opens Tuesday
Mahjong at an Ephrata brewery tomorrow evening
A Lititz group that spends its afternoons making blankets for somebody else
Miniature painting, trivia, and a bingo game where the prizes are books
COMMUNITY NEWS
The fair that shuts down a town.
A week from today — Tuesday, September 22 — the Ephrata Fair opens for the 107th time.
But the part worth knowing is what happens the night before.
At 7 p.m. on Monday the 21st, Main Street and State Street close to local traffic.
That is the actual beginning.
Not a gate opening — a town handing over its streets.
The Ephrata Farmers Day Association, which runs it, bills it as "the largest street fair in PA." Their phrase.
They've been at it since 1919.
What makes it a street fair instead of a fairground fair is where it sits.
Their own line for the Midway is "delicious Fair food and dozens of rides, all right in the heart of Ephrata."
Here's how the week actually goes.
Monday the 21st is setup and registration for the contests and exhibits.
Their schedule is blunt about it: "No rides, exhibits, or food are yet open to the public." Monday is registration slots, nearly all of them at Tent City: grains, vegetables and poultry in the afternoon, then goats, sheep, rabbits and swine from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday the 22nd is the real start — their schedule calls it the first "official" day.
The Midway opens at 11 a.m. Their schedule lists rides opening at both 4 and 5 p.m., so treat 5 as the safe bet.
Over at Tent City there's a petting zoo from 4 to 9 p.m. and a BBQ pork chop dinner at 5.
Tent City is the agricultural half, and it's in Grater Memorial Park.
Cattle, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry.
Antique tractors.
Produce exhibits.
A livestock sale supporting 4H and FFA.
Wednesday the 23rd is the big one.
Senior Citizens' Day activities run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — free entertainment, bingo, and discounted food and parking.
Then at 7 p.m., the 91st Ephrata Fair Parade.
The association calls the parade a fair highlight, and says it features businesses, non-profits and schools from the Ephrata area and beyond.
You can judge how seriously Ephrata takes that parade by what the public library does: it closes at 5 p.m. that day for it.
New this year, you can reserve premium parade seating on Lake Street online instead of staking out a curb.
Thursday the 24th is Kids' Day — reduced rides, all around the fair.
Friday evening is Family Fun Night at Tent City, which is a run of competitions for whole families.
The fair runs through Saturday the 26th.
One piece of admin that will save somebody a wasted trip: dogs are not permitted at the fair. Not a suggestion on their site.
A flat line in the footer of every page.
And if you're buying ride wristbands, the hours are not the same every day — Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday they're good from 4 p.m. to close, while Thursday and Saturday they run 12 to 5 p.m., or 5 p.m. to close.
The association is straightforward about why any of this exists.
Agriculture, they point out, is Pennsylvania's number one industry — and they see the fair as their part in "promoting and preserving our agricultural heritage."
Since 1919, that's been the job.
EVENTS
🧶 Blanketeers — Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz.
Today, Tuesday, September 15, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Two hours of sitting around making blankets for Project Linus, which passes them on to children who are seriously ill or otherwise in need of one.
Quilts, tied comforters, fleece, crocheted and knitted afghans — they take all of it.
First and third Tuesday of the month.
No registration.
📖 Coterie Book Club — Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster.
Today, Tuesday, September 15, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
September's book is Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict.
Registration is encouraged, and it closes at 12:45 — fifteen minutes before they start.
🃏 Hand & Foot — Quarryville Library, 357 Buck Road, Quarryville.
Today, Tuesday, September 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Age 18 and up.
A volunteer-led group playing Hand and Foot, which is a cousin of Canasta.
Beginners are the point — they'll teach you.
Look for the tables behind the magazines in the main library.
Two warnings from their own listing: registration closes at 5:15, and they need a minimum number of registered players or it gets cancelled, so watch your email.
🫖 Jane Austen Society of Lancaster County — Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz.
Today, Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Their whole description is "come sip tea and discuss all things Austen," which is honestly all it needs to be.
No registration.
☕ Young at Heart — Adamstown Area Library, 110 W. Main Street, Adamstown.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 16, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Age 60 and up.
Run by REAL Life Community Services — coffee, chatting, games and crafts, free.
🂡 Pinochle Party — Ephrata Public Library, 550 South Reading Road, Ephrata.
Wednesday, September 16, 12:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Their listing opens with the words "Meld, bid, marriage, trump" — so you already know whether this one is for you.
Registration closes at 12:15.
🎱 Friends of MSL Adult Bingo — Milanof-Schock Library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy.
Wednesday, September 16, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Age 18 and up.
Bingo run by the Friends of the library, and the prizes are vouchers for books off their lobby racks.
Registration closes at 1:45.
🀄 Mahjong at Inspiration Brewing Company — 284 S. Reading Road, Ephrata.
Wednesday, September 16, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Ages 18+.
The Ephrata library runs this one, but it happens at the brewery, not at the library — American Mahjong, all skill levels, no registration.
Bring your National American Mahjong card and set if you have them.
🎨 Miniature Paint Night — Lancaster Public Library, 151 North Queen Street, Lancaster.
Thursday, September 17, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Ages 18+.
Chris Medalis teaching dry brushing, layering and glazing on 1:56 scale miniatures.
The library supplies the 3D-printed miniatures, paint, palettes and brushes, so you can turn up with nothing.
Space is limited and registration closes at 4:45.
🫖 Noveltea Book Club — Lancaster Public Library — Mountville Branch, 120 College Avenue, Mountville.
Thursday, September 17, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
For, in their words, bibliophiles who appreciate a good cup of tea just as much as a good story.
Their reading list runs the full year, so ask which book September is before you go.
🧠 Mastermind Trivia Night — Manheim Community Library, 547 N Penryn Road, Manheim.
Thursday, September 17, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by Carson, one of their own.
Pop culture, history, and obscure facts.
First place takes a gift certificate to the library bookstore and a spot on the Winners Wall.
Registration closes at 5:45.
Sunny and a high near 78 today, with a calm wind turning southeast around 5 mph this afternoon.
Tonight is mostly clear and down around 54, with patchy fog after 5 a.m.
Wednesday has fog before 10 a.m., then sun and 84.
Thursday is sunny and 86.
Have a good Tuesday.
— The Lancaster Local