Good morning, Lancaster County. It's the first of July, we're staring down a 97-degree scorcher today — with a brutal 102 on the way Thursday — and the long Fourth of July weekend is nearly here. Grab some shade and a cold drink: we've got fireworks in two towns, a funk band, a boxcar reveal, and a whole borough that just threw itself a four-day party.
In today's Lancaster Local:
How Terre Hill spent four days celebrating itself, then capped it with a picnic in the park
Two free Fourth of July fireworks shows — Columbia's 300th and New Holland's hometown tradition
A Philly funk band, a video-game big band, and yacht rock on a Lititz farm
A heat wave to plan around as the week tops out near 102
COMMUNITY NEWS
A borough small enough to fit in one park spent four days celebrating itself.
Memorial Park in Terre Hill lit up again last week for Terre Hill Days, the volunteer-run festival that's anchored this little northeastern-county borough for generations. From Thursday through Sunday, the grounds filled with rides, games, and food stands, plus a magic show, a critter connection, a classic-car cruise, walk-in bingo, an arts-and-crafts fair, and live music — and Saturday night closed with fireworks over the park.
Then Sunday did the thing that makes Terre Hill, Terre Hill: the carnival gave way to a church service in the park, followed by a community picnic. The whole town, catching its breath together before the rides came down.
It's the kind of weekend you can't really manufacture — a place where the festival is run by the same neighbors who show up to it, and the closing act isn't a headliner but a shared meal. A good note to head into the Fourth on.
EVENTS
A holiday week, Lancaster County style — two towns' worth of fireworks, a restored boxcar, and a big band playing video-game music.
🎵 Swingtime Dolls — New Holland Community Park — 400 E Jackson St, New Holland. Tonight, Wednesday, July 1, 7 p.m. New Holland's free Entertainment in the Park series opens July with a vocal trio reviving the WWII-era sound of Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters. Bring a lawn chair. Free.
More info →
🎸 West Art Welcomes SNACKTIME! — West Art — 800 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster. Friday, July 3, 7:30 p.m. The high-energy Philly funk band that got its start busking on city streets brings a brass-fueled dance party indoors. Tickets $25 advance / $30 at the door.
Get tickets →
🎆 Columbia 300th Anniversary Fireworks — Glatfelter Memorial Field — 1249 Columbia Ave, Columbia. Saturday, July 4, from 5 p.m. (fireworks after dark). Columbia marks its tricentennial with a free Fourth of July party, live music from Pop Scotch, and a fireworks finale over the field. Free.
More info →
🎆 New Holland Band & Fireworks — New Holland Community Park — 400 E Jackson St, New Holland. Saturday, July 4; the New Holland Band plays at 7 p.m., fireworks after dark (rain date Sunday, July 5). The town's free hometown Independence Day tradition — bring chairs and blankets. Free.
More info →
🚂 Restored Boxcar Grand Unveiling — Choo Choo Barn — 226 Gap Rd, Strasburg. Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. The Choo Choo Barn Foundation reveals its fully restored 1930s refrigerator boxcar, brought back to life by its volunteer crew — a free, family-friendly stop in Strasburg's railroad corridor.
More info →
🍺 Taps & Tunes featuring 3 Hour Tour — Kissel Valley Farm — 645 E Oregon Rd, Lititz. Sunday, July 5, 12:30–5:30 p.m. A laid-back farm afternoon of yacht rock and soul from 3 Hour Tour, with food trucks and local craft beer, cider, and sangria. $10 at the door.
More info →
⚡ Power Up, with the Lancaster Science Factory — Manheim Community Library — 547 N Penryn Rd, Manheim. Monday, July 6, 2:30 p.m. Kids become electrical engineers for an afternoon, building working circuits with Snap Circuits kits in a hands-on STEM session. Free.
More info →
🎺 Music at Highland: Final Boss Big Band — Highland Presbyterian Church — 500 E Roseville Rd, Lancaster. Wednesday, July 8, 7–8:30 p.m. An 18-piece jazz ensemble plays big-band arrangements of video-game soundtracks — a genuinely unusual night out, and part of the free Music at Highland series. Free.
More info →
🎭 Freaky Friday: The Musical — Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre — 510 Centerville Rd, Lancaster. Opens Friday, July 10 (running through August 4). Disney's body-swap comedy — an overscheduled mom and her teenage daughter trade places and learn to walk in each other's shoes. Showtimes and tickets through the box office (717-898-1900).
Get tickets →
🎄 MMOC Christmas in July Bazaar — Mary Mother of the Church Parish — 625 Union School Rd, Mount Joy. Saturday, July 11, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. A summertime community bazaar with crafters and vendors, a kids' corner, handmade goods, and a chicken BBQ ($12 pre-order, $13 day-of). Free to browse.
More info →
Weather
Wednesday, July 1 — Sunny and a sweltering 97 degrees, with next to no chance of rain. This is the front edge of a real heat wave: Thursday is forecast to hit 102. Drink more water than you think you need, check on older neighbors, and save the yard work for the morning.
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