Good morning, Lancaster County. Spring is flexing today - we're headed toward a warm 78°F with sunshine breaking through after some morning showers. Inside: a historic restaurant gets a fresh name, a brand-new museum exhibit opens its doors, and Easter weekend fun is closer than you think.
In today's Lancaster Local:
A Manheim Township restaurant with 250-year roots is reborn as Wayside Public House under new ownership
The North Museum of Nature and Science opens its immersive Nature Reimagined exhibit today
Improv comedy, historic walking tours, and more fill out this week's event calendar
Easter weekend is loaded with family fun - trains, egg hunts, bunny breakfasts, and more
Community News
A 250-Year-Old Landmark Gets a New Name - and a Nod to Its Past
The restaurant at 1390 E. Oregon Road in Manheim Township's Oregon village is getting a new identity: Wayside Public House.
The rebrand comes under new ownership and draws directly from the site's remarkable history - this location has housed taverns and inns since 1775. New owners have been renovating the historic space while preserving its character.
The name "Wayside" isn't just clever branding - it's a handshake across centuries of Lancaster County hospitality.
EVENTS
A strong week for things to do - from a brand-new museum exhibit to free improv comedy on First Friday.
🏛️ Nature Reimagined - Exhibit Grand Opening - North Museum of Nature and Science - 400 College Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603. Today, March 31, starting at 10:00 AM. The North Museum pulls back the curtain on its newest immersive experience today, blending art, science, and hands-on discovery to celebrate the natural world. It's opening day, which means you can say you were there first. More info →
🚶 Historic Lancaster Walking Tour - 2026 Season Opens - Penn Square, Lancaster, PA 17603. Wednesday, April 1, with tours at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM (Tue–Sat). Lancaster City's beloved guided walking tour kicks off its 2026 season tomorrow, leading visitors through 300 years of history on foot. Local guides bring the architecture, alleyways, and stories of this city to life in a way no podcast ever could. More info →
😂 Lancaster Improv's First Friday Free For All - The Ware Center - 42 N Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603. Friday, April 3 at 8:00 PM. Lancaster Improv Players bring their free monthly showcase to First Friday - no tickets, no reservation, just show up and laugh. Spontaneous, unscripted, and always a good time in one of Lancaster City's great performance spaces. More info →
🎭 Saturday Night Improv: Peach Soda - Lancaster Improv Players Theater, Lancaster, PA 17602. Saturday, April 4 at 7:30 PM. Long-form improv where every single show is completely different and entirely made up on the spot - that's the promise of Peach Soda, Lancaster Improv's Saturday night staple. Bring a suggestion, bring a friend, and bring your willingness to laugh at things no one saw coming. Get tickets →
🚂 Easter Bunny Train at Strasburg Rail Road - 301 Gap Rd, Ronks, PA 17572. April 3–5, multiple departures daily. Strasburg Rail Road runs one of Lancaster County's most beloved Easter traditions - a vintage steam train ride through farmland with the Easter Bunny himself on board. This one books up, so don't wait until Thursday to check availability. More info →
🍳 Breakfast with Yummie and the Easter Bunny - The Kling House Restaurant at Kitchen Kettle Village - 3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, PA 17534. Friday, April 3, 8:00 AM–11:00 AM. A classic Easter morning breakfast with Yummie the bear and the Easter Bunny, right in the heart of Amish Country at Kitchen Kettle Village. Reservations are recommended, so get ahead of it. More info →
🐰 Kids Fuzzy Bunny Planter Workshop - Ken's Gardens, Smoketown, PA 17576. Saturday, April 4 at 10:00 AM. Little ones get to build their own fuzzy bunny planter to take home and watch grow - a hands-on Easter craft that's equal parts fun and adorable. Ken's Gardens knows how to do a kids' workshop right. More info →
🥚 Community Easter Egg Hunt - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, PA 17602. Saturday, April 4 at 10:00 AM. Free and open to all families, Holy Trinity's community Easter egg hunt is exactly the kind of neighborly springtime tradition that makes Lancaster County such a great place to raise kids. Show up, hunt eggs, meet neighbors. More info →
WEATHER
Tuesday, March 31 - Morning showers will give way to mostly sunny skies and a high of 78°F - about as good as a late March day can get once things clear out. Tonight drops to around 62°F with a slight chance of thunderstorms after dark, so enjoy that afternoon sunshine while it lasts.
Thanks for reading Lancaster Local. Spring is doing its thing out there - new exhibits, old traditions, and a 250-year-old wayside inn with a brand-new sign out front. If you found something useful in today's edition, forward it to someone who still gets their news from a Facebook group.