Things to Do
Things to do this December in Lancaster
Mark your calendars for exciting events across Lancaster this month.
December is here, transforming Lancaster City into a glowing holiday wonderland. Shop local for the holidays with fun and festive holiday markets, get in the holiday spirit with local performing arts, find workshops to get creative, and don’t miss all the events that make the holiday season so special.
First Friday, December 5
- Lancaster Public Library Open Late
- Cashmere Trunk Show | J. Hilburn Studio
- Life-Size Candy Land | Lancaster Public Library
- First Friday with Santa | Ewell Plaza
- First Friday Market – Art of Gifting | Gallery Grow
- Holiday Makers’ Market | Ware Center for the Arts
- Prohibition Repeal Party | The Log Cabin
- Hamilton Presents Merry Moments | Hamilton Watch Lancaster Store
- Dec Bouquet Making Workshop | Central Market Flowers on Queen
- Music For Everyone Community Chorus | Covenant United Methodist Church
- First Friday Live Music | South County Brewing Co.
- Solo Recital of Holiday Music by Classical Guitarist Peter Fletcher | Lancaster Public Library
- First Friday with Goldfinch Pottery | Ville & Rue
- Light Up Southeast | Crispus Attucks
- Be Still: A Mosaic Man’s Journey | Ware Center for the Arts
- First Friday Salsa Dance Lessons | The Village Nightclub
- It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Opening Show | Fulton Theatre
- Organic Reflections: O Come, Emmanuel | First Reformed Church
Holiday Events at Penn Medicine Park

- Christmas Spirit Light Show | Now through December 31
- Christmas Tree Lane | December 5 through December 23
- Free Pictures with Santa | Every Night
- Elf on the Shelf | Every Night
- Adult Scavenger Hunt | Every Night
- Letters to Santa | Every Night
- Dog Photos with Santa | Every Wednesday
- Pictures with Holiday Characters | Every Friday
- Story time with Mrs. Claus | Every Saturday Night
- Pictures with Reindeer | December 11, 18, and 21
- Dashing Through the Lights | December 12
- New Year’s Eve Celebration | December 31 at Penn Medicine Park
Art, Education & Workshops

- Christmas Kokedama Happy Hour Workshop | December 3 at Gallery Grow
- Holiday Workshop Succulent Globe | December 4 at South County Brewing Co.
- Home For The Holidays Opening Night | December 4 at Lancaster Art Vault
- Write , Paint, Release: Expressive Art Series for Creatives – by Art therapist, Amanda MacMurtrie | December 4 at Urban Arts House
- Winter Sowing: What, Why, How | December 6 at Lancaster Public Library
- Festive Succulent Tree Happy Hour Workshop | December 10 at Gallery Grow
- Introduction to Acrylic Painting with Jason Ward | December 13 at Lancaster Art Vault
- Critique Club | December 16 at Lancaster Art Vault
- Holiday Succulent Centerpiece Happy Hour Workshop | December 17 at Gallery Grow
- Philosophy, Drinks, and Film: John Huston’s The Dead | December 18 at Zoetropolis
- Live Model Figure Drawing | December 23 at Lancaster Art Vault
Performing Arts & Culture

- Elf Story Time with Fulton Theatre | December 2 at Greenfield Park
- Hark! An Irish Christmas with RUNA | December 3 at Ware Center for the Arts
- Handel’s Messiah | December 4 at First Presbyterian Church
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party | December 6 at the Ware Center for the Arts
- The Nutcracker, The Musical: Opening Show | December 6 at Fulton Theatre
- Christmas with The Lancaster Chamber Singers | December 7 at St. Edwards Episcopal Church
- Lancaster Art Song Society | December 7 at The Trust Performing Arts Center
- Heritage Chorale of Lancaster: Winter Concert | December 7 at First Reformed Church
- Music For Everyone Winter Showcase Concert | December 7 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
- Anthony Nunziata: Bocelli & Beyond at Christmas | December 11 at Ware Center for the Arts
- 14th Annual Holiday Pops | December 12 at the DoubleTree Resort Lancaster
- Bright Star Theatre Presents: A Dickens Tale | December 12 at The Trust Performing Arts
- Julia Kamanda & Cabbage Hill | December 12 at Ware Center for the Arts
- Clara and the Nutcracker | December 13 & 14 at First United Methodist Church
- Bria Skonberg: Jingle Bell Swing | December 13 at Ware Center for the Arts
- Wheatland Chorale Presents A Rose in Winter | December 14 at Lancaster Church of Brethren
- The Heritage Chorale | December 14 at Highland Presbyterian Church
- Glenn Miller Orchestra – In the Holiday Mood | December 17 at Ware Center for the Arts
- The Pettets Christmas | December 20 at The Trust Performing Arts Center
- An Allegro Christmas: A City in Song | December 20 at First United Methodist Church
- The Country Cabaret | December 20 at West Art
- Best of Broadway with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and Fulton Theatre | December 27 at the Gardner Theatre
- Yuletide | December 27 at Historic Rock Ford
Special Events and More!

- Cyber Monday | December 1
- Cashmere Trunk Show | December 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 at J. Hilburn Studio
- Whoville Holiday Celebration | December 4 at Greenfield
- Village Christmas Market | December 6 at Garden Spot Village
- Santa in the City | December 5, 6, 13, and 20 in Lancaster City
- Lancaster Shops Late | December 12 in Lancaster City
- Music For Everyone BINGO | December 17 at Tellus360
- Winter Carnival | December 18 at Lancaster Rec
- New Year’s Eve Party | December 31 at Southern Market
Weekly Events

- Trivia at Annie Bailey’s | Monday at 6PM
- Trivia at Rural City Taproom | Monday at 6:30PM
- Trivia at Our Town Brewery | Tuesdays at 7PM
- Trivia Night at Tellus 360 | Tuesdays at 7PM
- Wellness Wednesdays at West Art | Wednesdays from 5:30–8PM
- Trivia Night at Spring House Brewing | Wednesdays at 7PM
- Trivia Night at Southern Market | Wednesdays at 7PM
- Music Bingo at Bert and the Elephant | Thursdays at 6:30PM
- Trivia at Columbia Kettle Works 2nd Gear | Thursdays at 7PM
- Karaoke Night at Tellus 360 | Thursdays at 8:30PM
- Trivioke at Southern Market | Thursdays at 7PM
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