With the weather warming up, organizations around Lancaster County are busy planning spring tasting events to draw crowds to the outdoors.
The calendar over the next couple of months will be filled with sampling tours, food truck events, strawberry socials, wine and beer tastings and tasty fundraisers for Lancaster County nonprofits.
Here’s a menu of tasting and sipping events scheduled for Lancaster County from now through the end of June.
This story will be updated as more events are added.
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General food events
LITITZ PRETZEL FEST
• When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26.
• Where: Downtown Lititz.
• Details: Those attending the event can sample sweet and savory treats made with Julius Sturgis Pretzels. There will be samplings of adult beverages, as well, and live music. The event is hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Lititz Area.
• Benefits: Money raised through the event funds the Lititz Kiwanis’ free Fun Day at the Park for kids, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Lititz Springs Park.
• Admission: Tickets for the Pretzel Fest are $35 each; only 750 tickets will be sold.
• Info and tickets: Tickets will not be sold in retail stores this year. They’re available online only, and will be held at the Lititz Train Station for pickup. lititzkiwanis.org/our-work/events/lititz-pretzel-fest.
EMPTY BOWLS
• When: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, April 27.
• Where: Lancaster Creative Factory, 580 S. Prince St., Lancaster.
• Details: Participants choose a handmade ceramic bowl made by a local artist, and fill it with soup samples from local restaurants, along with baked goods and a variety of fresh breads. There will be a live art auction, glass blowing, a pottery wheel-throwing demonstration and music from the band Easily Amused.
• Admission: $39.19 including fees.
• Benefits: Meals on Wheels of Lancaster.
• Info and tickets: lanc.news/EmptyBowls2025.
TASTE THE WORLD
• When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 9.
• Where: Walking tour starts at Neighbors Community Center, 450 N. Prince St., Lancaster.
• Details: The season of multicultural walking-and-sampling tours of Lancaster kicks off May 9 and continues on the second Friday of each month until Sept. 12. Ticketholders get a passport to be stamped as they walk among participating restaurants offering samples.
• Admission: $30.
• Benefits: Neighbors Community Center.
• Info and tickets: neighborslancaster.org/
GYROFEST
• When: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
• Where: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 64 Hershey Ave., Lancaster
• Details: This festival of gyros and other Greek food is drive-thru only.
• Admission: Platters consisting of a traditional or chicken gyro, two pieces of spanakopita and a Greek salad are $13 in advance and $15 the day of. A limited variety of pastries, honey balls and frozen Greek dishes will also be available for purchase.
• Benefits: A third of the proceeds will go to charitable organizations supported by the church.
• Info and tickets: facebook.com/gyrofest will take you to the link to buy tickets when they are available later this month. You can also buy them by calling the church office at 717-394-1735.
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KITCHEN KETTLE VILLAGE RHUBARB FESTIVAL
• When: Friday-Saturday, May 16-17.
• Where: 3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse.
• Details: A variety of rhubarb-based foods and beverages are available for sampling at various businesses around the village. The festival’s annual Best Rhubarb Dessert in Lancaster County Baking Contest is Saturday, with home bakers competing in various categories and baked goods sold as a fundraiser. There’s also live entertainment, a rhubarb-car derby, the crowning of a rhubarb king and queen, sales of fresh rhubarb and more.
• Benefits: Proceeds from baking contest, rhubarb and rhubarb cookbook sales benefit the Lancaster Farmland Trust.
• Admission: Free.
• For info or to register for the dessert contest: kitchenkettle.com/events/rhubarb-festival.asp.
LANCASTER VEGFEST
• When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8.
• Where: Buchanan Park, 901 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster.
• Details: There will be a food court filled with vendors selling vegan meals, desserts and snacks; vegan food trucks; a vegan farmers market; vegan-friendly vendors; a vegan beer garden featuring vegan beer and seltzer; farm sanctuary displays; kids’ activities; yoga; chef demonstrations; live music; and speakers.
• Admission: Free, but suggested donations of $5 will be accepted for Lancaster Farm Sanctuary. VIP tickets, which allow for early admission to the festival from 11 a.m. to noon and include a goodie bag, raffle tickets and a festival tote bag, are $36.70 including fees.
• Info and VIP tickets: pavegfest.com.
TASTE OF LITITZ
• When: 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 6.
• Where: East Main Street, Lititz.
• Details: Hosted by Venture Lititz, this downtown block party features local restaurants and food and beverage businesses selling small bites for sampling. There will also be live music and family-friendly activities. East Main Street will be closed from Water to Broad streets.
• Admission: Free; buy samples and sips as you go.
• Info: lititzpa.com/event/taste-of-lititz-3.
Beverage events
THE FRESH BREWS OF MOUNT JOY
• When: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, April 26, with a VIP hour from 1-2 p.m.
• Where: Main Street, between Market Street and Marietta Avenue, Mount Joy.
• Details: This is a 21+, 1990s-themed brewfest featuring more than 50 breweries serving samples, food trucks, local vendors and live bands playing ’90s music. Those attending are encouraged to dress in their ’90s gear.
• Admission: General admission of $66.63 includes a tasting cup. VIP tickets are $76.88 for early access to the festival from 1-2 p.m. Designated drivers get in free. Fees are included in the ticket prices.
• Benefits: Part of the proceeds benefit the Donegal Athletic Club.
• Info and tickets: voyagemountjoy.com/event-list.
EPHRATA RHYTHM & BREWS FESTIVAL
• When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 3.
• Where: Thomas P. Grater Community Park, 398 Cocalico St., Ephrata.
• Details: At least six breweries, two wineries and a distillery will have beverages to sample. There will be food vendors, and live music by the Keri Edwards Band, Crackerboxx and the Jess Zimmerman Band.
• Admission: $23.18 including fees.
• Benefits: Mainspring of Ephrata and the Ephrata Rec Center.
• Info and tickets: lanc.news/EphrataBrews2025.
BARON BREW FEST
• When: 3-6 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
• Where: Market Square, Manheim.
• Details: Beer, wine, spirits, cider and mead will be available for sampling and purchase from more than 40 beverage vendors from around the region. There will be food vendors and live music throughout the day. This is a 21+, rain-or-shine event; ID is required.
• Admission: $44.52 including fees.
• Benefits: Manheim Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Info and tickets: lovemanheim.com/brewfest.
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BARKS & BREWS
• When: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
• Where: Stoudtburg Village, 3 Market Plaza, Adamstown.
• Details: At this event for dogs and their owners, area breweries will be serving up craft brews and food trucks will be selling savory and sweet treats. There will be adoptable rescue dogs, discounted health checkups for dogs and pet-friendly vendors.
• Admission: $7.18 including fees.
• info and tickets: lanc.news/BarksBrews2025.
FLAVORFEST AT MOUNT HOPE
• When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25.
• Where: The grounds of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at Mount Hope Estate, 2775 Lebanon Road, off Route 72, north of Manheim.
• Details: Twenty-four wineries and nine distilleries will offer samples of their beverages. Five pour-houses and 10 food booths will be serving food on the festival grounds. There will also be a variety of vendors.
• Admission: Adults, $24.96, which includes a tasting glass; ages 12-20: $6.95; 11 and under, free.
• Info and tickets: parenfaire.com/flavorfest.
FIRST SATURDAY IN EPHRATA/WINE WALK
• When: 2:30-8 p.m. Saturday, June 7.
• Where: Main Street in downtown Ephrata.
• Details: First Saturday events kick off for the season with the Wine Walk from 2;30-4:30 p.m. Local wineries will set up tasting rooms in brick-and-mortar businesses around Ephrata; attendees can taste their way up and down Main Street while shopping at these retail stores. First Saturday continues from 4:30-8 p.m. with an all-ages event at the Whistle Stop Plaza, 16 E. Main St., with food, beverages and live music by Caulfield’s Radio. First Saturdays continue through September, with different early-afternoon themes each month.
• Admission: No tickets are required, but Mainspring of Ephrata asks that you RSVP.
• Info and registration: mainspringofephrata.org/first-saturday.
CENTRAL MARKET STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
• When: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 14.
• Where: Lancaster Central Market, 23 N. Market St., Lancaster.
• Details: The alleys around the market will be filled with stand-holders selling strawberry-themed creations. There will be live entertainment and activities for the whole family.
• Info: Visit Lancaster Central Market’s Facebook page at facebook.com/LancasterCentralMarket for updates closer to the event.
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HIP-HOP AND R&B CRAB FEST
• When: 4-8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14.
• Where: Crispus Attucks Community Center, 407 Howard Ave., Lancaster.
• Details: In honor of Father’s Day, the Crispus Attucks center will be serving up crabs and sides, while supplies last. There will be a DJ playing hip-hop and R&B music. There will also be some giveaways.
• Admission: $71.21 including fees.
• Info and tickets: lanc.news/CrabFest2025.
STRAWBERRY SOCIAL, ELIZABETHTOWN
• When: 1-6 p.m. Sunday, June 15.
• Where: Elizabethtown Borough Park, 1 Ken Lane, Elizabethtown.
• Details: Those attending the annual free community picnic, for Father’s Day, are asked to wear red and bring picnic items or just themselves. There will be free strawberry treats to sample, food trucks selling food and beverages, a makers market, contests, live music, and more.
• Info: Visit the LIV_Etown Facebook page closer to the event for details.
Food truck events
TASTE OF NEW HOLLAND FOOD FEST
• When: 5-9 p.m. Friday, April 25, and noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 26.
• Where: Garden Spot Fire Rescue lot, 339 E. Main St., New Holland.
• Details: This event features more than 10 food trucks, games, a DJ, bingo (6-8 p.m. Friday), a kids’ zone (2-4 p.m. Saturday) and tours of the fire house, a visit from Smokey Bear, a smoke trailer, a dunk tank and live music by Dynamite Dave & the Ignitors.
• Admission: Free; pay for food as you go.
• Benefits: A percentage of sales goes to the fire company.
• Info: Visit Garden Spot Fire Rescue’s Facebook page.
FOOD TRUCK FRENZY/CRAFT FAIR, ELIZABETHTOWN
• When: 1-7 p.m. Saturday, May 10.
• Where: Elizabethtown Fire Department Station 74, 171 N. Mount Joy St., Elizabethtown.
• Details: Craft vendors will be selling their work while food trucks serve up food, beverages and desserts.
• Admission: Free; buy food as you go.
• Benefits: Vendor fees go to the fire department.
• Info: Visit the events section of facebook.com/etown74.
WARWICK BANDS FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
• When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
• Where: Warwick High School, 301 W. Orange St., Lititz.
• Details: Around a dozen food trucks will serve up food and desserts. The Warwick Middle School High School Jazz Bands and the High School String Synergy ensemble will perform.
• Admission: Free; buy food from vendors as you go.
• Benefits: Warwick Marching Band.
• Info: lanc.news/WarwickFoodTrucks2025.
LANCASTER’S BEST FOOD TRUCK COMPETITION III
• When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 31.
• Where: Root’s Country Market & Auction, 705 Graystone Road, Manheim.
• Details: Dozens of food trucks will compete for the title of Lancaster’s best, with four food trucks competing in each of 12 categories such as barbecue, dessert, burgers, Mexican and Italian. A panel of judges will determine the winners, and there will be a community choice award voted on by those attending. There will be a DJ, games, bounce houses and other family-friendly activities.
• Benefits: Joyful Doberman Rescue of PA.
• Admission: Free; pay for food as you go.
• Info: lanc.news/BestFoodTruck2025.
FOOD TRUCK FEST
• When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7.
• Where: Stauffer Park, 1241 Lititz Pike, Lancaster.
• Details: More than 15 food trucks will serve up meals, snacks, drinks and dessert. There will be a raffle, DJs and a touch-a-truck event and other activities for kids. Police, fire and construction vehicles will be on hand for kids to pose for pictures with.
• Benefits: Occupational Development Center and the Manheim Township Recreation Department.
• Admission: Free; buy food as you go.
• More info: odcenter.org/blog/food-truck.
FOOD TRUCK FRENZY, MANHEIM
• When: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22.
• Where: Manheim Fire Department, 83 S. Main St., Manheim.
• Details: Several food trucks will serve up a variety of dishes and desserts. There will be family-friendly activities including a bounce house.
• Admission: Free; buy food as you go.
• Benefits: Manheim Fire Department.
• Info: lanc.news/ManheimFoodFrenzy2025.
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