Making Meaningful Holiday Memories
By Maddy Pontz
For Jennifer Oehme Knepper, organizer of the Lancaster Gifts That Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair, experiences have always made for more meaningful presents than material goods. With that focus on shared experiences and creating memories in mind, the folks at Gifts That Give Hope have designed the second annual Gifts of Lancaster County Weekend Tour — coming up on December 8-10, 2023.
“The idea came to us in 2022 when we were celebrating our 15th year of GTGH,” Knepper explained. “We wanted to further build on the collaboration that has been a mainstay and backbone of how we intentionally run the Gift Fair. We believe, in all aspects of life, that we are better when we work collaboratively and build on the collective strengths of the people that are on our team and the community at large.”
She continued, “We thought that it would be fun to build a list of suggested experiences for the weekend during which the Gift Fair takes place, to offer to tourists and locals alike. This weekend is filled with suggestions for activities that might expose them to opportunities they may have never run across before.”
And that’s exactly what the Gifts of Lancaster County Weekend Tour is: A thoughtful guide for partaking in some of Lancaster County’s most unique experiences, including meaningful gift-giving opportunities and a built-in appreciation of food, the arts, culture, history, and theater.
“I think people are looking for something different around the holidays and are looking for suggestions on how to build meaningful memories with the special people in our lives,” Knepper shared. “I was recently reflecting on a night when I went out for dinner with some friends and then went to a concert. I will always have that fun memory with them. I want people to have that same feeling when they come into Lancaster County for the weekend — for it to feel like a magical time away from stressors, work, and responsibility, where they can enjoy a show, the plethora of tastes and food tours available, and reconnect.”
Gifts that Give Hope has given us an inside look at what this year’s exciting holiday weekend will include:
Friday, December 8
Begin your festive weekend by heading to Lititz, PA — once voted the coolest small town in America. Grab something to eat at one of our many delicious local restaurants or cafes, then spend your evening enjoying the popular annual Christmas Candlelight Tour, hosted by the Lititz Historical Foundation.
Participants will enjoy a 40-minute guided tour of the Johannes Mueller House (built in 1792) and will learn the history and customs of the 18th century Moravian community of Lititz. Tickets are $8 each; these candlelight tours depart every 15 minutes and run from 5-8 p.m. The Lititz Museum will also be offering holiday refreshments for the evening.
Saturday, December 9
The following day, you will have the opportunity to choose from a number of exciting and festive experiences throughout Lancaster County.
If you’re interested in supporting one of our local theaters, consider attending a Saturday matinee or evening performance.
The Trust Performing Arts Center will present a unique 45-minute adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” in which all roles are performed by just two actors. Catch either the 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. show; tickets are available for purchase here.
Just around the corner, the Fulton Theatre — the oldest continuously operating theater in the U.S. — is showing “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” as this year’s holiday production. The Fulton shares that this, “holiday spectacular brings glitz and glam to the Fulton with influences from cirque, famous magicians, and superstar performances wrapped around a story you know and love.” Attend a showtime at 2 or 8 p.m.; be sure to purchase tickets in advance.
“I’ve seen countless shows at the Fulton with friends, and everything they produce is top notch and spectacular,” Knepper shared. “I have no doubt that ‘Joseph’ — which is one of my favorite musicals of all time — will leave audiences dazzled.”
If you would prefer to explore the culinary scene of Lancaster City, register for a tour with Unique Lancaster Experiences. ULE partners with local businesses to design tours and experiences that guide you throughout downtown Lancaster — including their International Food Tour, the History and Breakfast Walking Tour, or a self-guided tour of Food is Love Lancaster locations. (Be sure to book your experience in advance!)
Sunday, December 10
Truly a highlight of this special weekend: Spend your Sunday enjoying the 16th annual Gifts That Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair, from 10am-3pm at the Farm & Home Center (1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster).
“GTGH is the culminating event for the weekend, on December 10th,” Knepper said. “This event, in particular, allows attendees to experience the food scene, holiday merriment, shopping in the marketplace from social enterprise, fair trade, and business-for-good organizations and nonprofits alike.”
Knepper continued, “Attendees will also enjoy live musical entertainment, as SWAN performs at noon. This nonprofit provides a music and support group to children impacted by parental incarceration. Their musical performance brings many to tears — the power in musical expression and seeing first-hand the impact that an organization like SWAN has in changing the trajectory of children’s lives.”
At the alternative gift fair, holiday shoppers can find a gift for everyone on their list. Folks are encouraged to make a donation in their loved one’s name to an organization, social enterprise, B Corp, etc. whose mission they feel passionately about.
“The gift fair is a great landing spot to discover all of these hidden gems throughout Lancaster County,” Knepper shared. “Gifts That Give Hope introduces people to so many businesses for good, exposing people to new ways of thinking about giving back and incorporating altruism into the holiday season.”
For more information on the Gifts of Lancaster County Weekend Tour, click here.