Good morning, Lancaster County. The weekend's thunderstorms cleared out overnight and left us a bright, comfortable Monday to start the week. Grab your coffee — there's a river worth bragging about and a full week of things to do.

In today's Lancaster Local:

The river we used to apologize for just beat out the whole state.

For generations, the Conestoga was the river you didn't swim in — a waterway most of
Lancaster County associated with pollution and neglect. So it means something that this week it's wearing a crown.

The Conestoga River has been named Pennsylvania's 2026 River of the Year, and on Wednesday, June 10, the Conestoga River Club, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and a roomful of state and local leaders gathered at Lancaster County Central Park to make it official. Mayor Jaime Arroyo was there. So were the heads of the Lancaster Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, plus a regional EPA administrator — all crowded around a freshly unveiled 2026 River of the Year poster.

What makes the win sweeter: this was the second time the Conestoga made the statewide ballot, and the first time it actually won. The honor recognizes exactly the kind of turnaround that's been happening quietly for years — a river once defined by its problems now defined by the people fishing it, paddling it, and walking its banks.

A quiet start to the week, then it all lands Thursday through the weekend. Here's where to be.

🎶 Jazz on the Patio — The Barn at Paradise Station — 312 Paradise Lane, Ronks. This
Thursday, June 18, music 6:30–8:30 p.m. (the Bistro opens at 6). Free live jazz on the
courtyard patio with a weekly-changing menu, beer, and wine — no cover, free parking, and reservations strongly encouraged because the patio fills. More info →
(https://www.barnatparadisestation.com/events)

🍓 Lititz Farmers Market — Lititz Springs Park — Lititz. This Thursday, June 18, from 3:30 p.m. Fresh produce, artisan breads, and local treats under the trees, with live music and food trucks to make an afternoon of it. Free to wander. More info →
(https://www.facebook.com/events/1291773709254374/)

🎤 Jo Dee Messina — American Music Theatre — 2425 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster. Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. The country hitmaker brings "Heads Carolina, Tails California" and the rest of the catalog, with the Bennett Hall Band opening. Tickets $49–$89. Get tickets →
(https://amtshows.com/show/jo-dee-messina-2026/)

🎹 Lauren Daigle — American Music Theatre — 2425 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster. Friday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. (a second show Saturday). The two-time Grammy winner plays AMT — expect this one to move. Tickets $99–$229. Get tickets → (https://amtshows.com/show/lauren-daigle/)

🚗 Thunder on the River Car Show — Locust Street, Front to 6th — downtown Columbia.
Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. More than 550 vintage and classic vehicles line the street, a short walk from the Market House, two breweries, and the river trail. Free to stroll; the Columbia Lions Club sends proceeds to local nonprofits. More info →
(https://columbialions.org/carshow/)

🍺 Lancaster Beer Gardens — Buchanan Park — 901 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster. Saturday, June 20 from 4 p.m. The traveling beer garden sets up in Buchanan Park with local brews, rotating food trucks, and yard games (non-alcoholic options too). Season proceeds go back to Lancaster Rec. More info → (https://lancasterrec.org/BeerGardens/)

☀️ Summer Solstice Festival — Downtown Mount Joy (W Main St) — Mount Joy. Saturday, June 20 from noon. A community-led welcome to summer with local artisans, wellness vendors, and live entertainment — and proceeds benefit the Mount Joy Food Bank and the Breast Cancer Coalition. More info → (https://www.facebook.com/events/768534079185169/)

🎨 PA Guild of Craftsmen Summer Fine Craft Fair — Foundry 48 — Lititz. Saturday and Sunday, June 20–21, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. both days. A juried show where dozens of guild artisans sell and demonstrate their work — a good one if you like watching things get made. Get tickets →
(https://pacrafts.org/2026-summer-fcf/)

🎷 Freedom Jazz Festival — Binns Park — downtown Lancaster. Sunday, June 21 from 3 p.m. Bring a blanket for a free afternoon of food trucks, artisan vendors, and live sets from Living the Experience, the Imani African Dance Company, DJ Cool LA, and Mz Bree & Funk Tyme Soldiers. More info → (https://www.facebook.com/events/998034745908162/)

🪕 The War and Treaty — Long's Park Amphitheater — 1441 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster. Sunday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. The free Summer Music Series brings in the Grammy-nominated, two-time Americana Duo of the Year — a husband-and-wife powerhouse. Beer garden on site. More info →
(https://longspark.org/summer-music-series/)

🎵 Straight No Chaser: Beach Bash — American Music Theatre — 2425 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster. Next Wednesday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. The platinum-selling a cappella group turns AMT into a summer party. One to plan ahead for. Get tickets →
(https://amtshows.com/show/straight-no-chaser-beach-bash/)

Monday, June 15 — Sunshine wins. After the weekend's storms, today turns mostly sunny and lands around 76° with a light breeze — close to a perfect June day. Clear and cool tonight near 54°, and the sun sticks around into Tuesday.

Thanks for reading Lancaster Local. If you found something useful, forward it to someone who still gets their news from a Facebook group.