It’s a good weekend if you like festivals, whether it’s pies, Scottish celebrations or a fair celebrating African-American cultures.
This weekend marks the return of several Lancaster County mainstays, including the African-American Cultural Fair, Whoopie Pie Festival and Fete en Noir.
But it’s also a great weekend for new beginnings. The Lancaster Rec Beer Garden kicks off its fall event season, The Fulton Theater will debut the new production “For Colored Boyz,” and 551 West will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a street party.
Here are eight things to do in Lancaster County this weekend.
Lancaster Beer Garden Rec
Lancaster Rec debuts fall beer garden this week. Rain disrupted plans for the beer garden to begin Wednesday; is scheduled to open tonight and run through Sunday. The beer garden is family friendly and people are encouraged to bring their pets. There will be food trucks at this event.
Proceeds will go to Lancaster Rec and its programming. There will be two more Lancaster Rec beer gardens this fall, at Reservoir Park from September 14-18 and at Buchanan Park from September 21-25.
More information: Thursday and Friday, 16-22; Saturday, from 11:00 to 22:00; Sunday, 2-20 | Musser Park, 222 E. Chestnut St., Lancaster | The cost: Free entry | More information
African American Cultural Fair
Although the African American Cultural Fair began on Tuesday, there are still a few days left in the festival. There will be carnival rides, live music, fireworks, a parade, several speakers, food and more.
Some notable events include:
– Thursday: Funk band The Experience Band and Show, 8:30 p.m
– Friday: Spoken word/hip-hop artist Sir Dominique Jordan, 8 p.m.; rapper Trina, 9:30 p.m
– Saturday: A parade from King Elementary School to Reservoir Park, starting at 1 p.m.; Gospel singer Kierra Sheard, 9:30 p.m
More information: Thursday and Friday starting at 5 p.m.; Saturday starting at 13:00; Carnival Midway is open 5-10pm Thursday and Friday, and 4-10pm Saturday | Reservoir Park, 832 E. Orange St., Lancaster | The cost: Free entry | More information
‘For the Colored Boyz’
The Fulton Theater will kick off its 2022-2023 Ellen Arnold Groff Studio Series with “For Colored Boyz,” winner of the Fulton New Works Festival. The production is a choreography, which is “an art form that does not contain specific plot elements or characters, but instead focuses on creating an emotional response from its audience,” according to the Broadway production of For Colored Girls’ Instagram account .
“For Colored Boyz,” written by Bryan-Keyth Wilson, mirrors “For Colored Girls” and focuses on five men of color as they tackle issues of racism, stereotypes and hyper-masculinity, according to The Fulton Theatre’s website.
More information: Thursday at 19:30; Friday and Saturday at 20:00; Sunday at 14:00 | Ellen Arnold Groff Studio at the Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster | The cost: $46 to $51 | More information
Party in black
On Fridays we wear black. Call some friends, pack a picnic basket, and hang out at Mount Bethel Cemetery this weekend. This fundraising event will feature a live performance by classic rock band The Kracker Beez, as well as several opportunities to tour the historic cemetery. Visitors are encouraged to wear black. Please bring your own tables and chairs.
Proceeds will go to the nonprofit Friends of Mount Bethel, which helps maintain the cemetery and improve it as needed.
More information: Friday from 18-21; gates open at 5:30 p.m. | Mount Bethel Cemetery, 700 Locust St., Columbia | The cost: $25 | More information
Scottish Festival
A festival dedicated to Scottish food, games and fun will celebrate its ninth anniversary in Lancaster County this weekend. The Scottish Covenanter Festival will feature activities such as sheep and duck herding, performances by Celtic/Scottish musicians Charlie Zahm and Tad Marks, Celtic band Fire in the Glen and harpist Kendrah Tozzo. There will also be a haggis ceremony, dance competitions and a Highland Games competition, among other activities.
More information: Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm | Middle Octorara Presbyterian, 1199 Valley Road, Quarryville (right across from Octorara Covenanter/United Presbyterian Church) | The cost: $20 for day tickets. Children 12 and under receive free admission | More information
Whoopie Pie Festival
Want to try a Chocolate Cotton Candy Pie? How about a poppy seed pie with salted caramel filling? This weekend in Lancaster County is a pie festival with hundreds of flavor combinations. See a full list of flavors here.
There will also be artisan vendors on site, pie-themed merchandise and more.
Visitors can park outside at Journey Church, at 202 Hartman Bridge Road in Ronks, or at the American Music Theater, at 2425 Lincoln Highway E. in Lancaster, and be dropped off at the event. This service is free. Boats start at 8:45 am and continue until 5:15 pm
More information: Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00 | Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn, 240 Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks | The cost: Free entry | More information
551 West Street party
In honor of its 10th anniversary, the 551 West restaurant will host a street party with live entertainment and food. Multi-genre band Good Stew will perform on Pine Street from 5-8pm Dr. E and the Invisible Band will perform inside 551 West from 9pm to midnight.
551 West will have a special of 10 wings for $8.51. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
More information: Saturday from 16-20 at Rr. Pine, 9pm to midnight in | 000 block of N. Pine St., between W. King St. and W. Grant St., Lancaster; 551 West, 551 W. King St., Lancaster | The cost: Free entry | More information
A World Festival
The inaugural One World Festival debuts this weekend featuring food and performers from many cultures, including Latin/Spanish, Indian, Italian, Irish, Islamic, Jewish and Greek, among others. More than 15 artisan vendors and nine cultural organizations will also be present. Be sure to bring cash and credit cards, if possible, as some vendors may not accept credit cards.
Read a full overview of the event here.
More information: Sunday from 11:30 to 18:30 | Alumni Sports and Fitness Center at Franklin & Marshall College, 929 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster | The cost: Free entry | More information
