A Weekend of Giving
The most wonderful time of the year is almost here… and a small group of Lancastrians have come together to design a weekend that will ensure 2022 is truly a year of giving, community, and good fun.
Who wouldn’t want to spend a thoughtfully-curated weekend exploring the very best that Lancaster County has to offer? Discover Lancaster and Gifts that Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair have put together an itinerary for the weekend of December 9-11, 2022 that is perfect for locals and visitors alike.
Their focus in designing this weekend was to create an experiential gift — a series of fun, thought-provoking activities that families and friends could do together (in lieu of a traditional, potentially more consumerist present that might end up sitting unused on a shelf somewhere).
“The idea to collaborate with other Lancaster businesses and companies is really an extension of what we do with the gift fair,” explained Jennifer Oehme Knepper, organizer of the Lancaster Gifts that Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair. “It's truly a collaborative effort of a lot of nonprofits, social enterprises, food trucks, and more that come together for the gift fair, so we thought it would be fun to partner with other companies to bring people to Lancaster that might not know about some of the hidden gems.”
Discover Lancaster and Gifts that Give Hope have given us an inside look at what this unique holiday weekend will entail:
Friday, December 9
Start your day exploring Lititz, PA — a charming community once voted the “Coolest Small Town in America.” Stroll up and down Main Street, sip a hot coffee or warm cocoa, and get any necessary holiday shopping done while supporting small businesses (Lititz is known for its incredible small boutiques and artisan shops).
Stop by Zest! — a kitchen supply shop that is a true favorite of locals — for food-focused gifts and treats. Then, just a few miles down the road, folks are encouraged to attend a special holiday cooking class at the Zest! Cooking School (pre-registration is required). The class — Gifts From The Kitchen — is specially designed to feature recipes that travel and gift well. In this hands-on, two-hour class, participants will learn to make winter spiced granola (sweet or savory!), rosemary champagne jelly, seeded water crackers, and dark chocolate mendiants — all perfect treats to share with loved ones through the New Year.
After a full day of food, those visiting from out of town (or locals looking to make the weekend a true stay-cation!) can head back to the Holiday Inn in downtown Lancaster to get some shut-eye. (When booking a room, be sure to mention “Gifts That Give Hope” [Group block code: GGH] for a special discounted rate of $169/night.)
Saturday, December 10
On Saturday, visitors and locals alike are in for a beautiful day exploring downtown Lancaster, which will be fully decked out for the holidays.
Why not start the morning by perusing the rows of Central Market Lancaster? As the oldest farmers market in the United States, Central Market is a true staple for foodies — grab a coffee from any one of the incredible local coffee shops with stands at market, then take your time exploring each row. Central Market is open from 6 am to 3 pm on Saturdays, so be sure to give yourself a good amount of time to explore and purchase local produce, prepared foods, gifts, treats, and so much more.
Up for more holiday cheer — with a side of history? Head over to the Fulton Theatre (which is the oldest continuously operating theater in the U.S.) to catch a festive show. The Fulton’s production of A Christmas Carol starts at 11 am that day, while White Christmas goes on at 2 pm and 8 pm. (But be sure to purchase tickets in advance!)
Food lovers should be sure to book an International Food Tour with Unique Lancaster Experiences. Over the past decade, Lancaster has become a gastronomy hotspot, and this one-hour tour will introduce visitors and locals alike to some true hidden gems, all within walking distance of Penn Square. (To learn more about Unique Lancaster Experiences, read our previous blog post here.)
Sunday, September 11
On Sunday, leave yourself plenty of time to explore the 15th annual Gifts that Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair! From 10 am - 3 pm, head to the Farm & Home Center (1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster) and meet with local organizations, non-profits, small business owners and social entrepreneurs, and so many more incredible folks working to make a difference in our community — both locally and around the world.
Each organization is offering up a unique opportunity: to change the way we look at holiday gift giving. This year, instead of purchasing someone a candle they might not burn, or a sweater that might not fit, why not make a donation in their name to an organization whose mission is near and dear to their heart?
If you know a bibliophile, introduce them to the folks at Lancaster County Reach Out and Read. For the music lover in your life, get to know the team at Music for Everyone. These and so many more amazing organizations will be at the gift fair, ready and willing to share their work with you.
Of course, if you’re looking for a more traditional holiday gift — AKA one that can be wrapped with a bow! — head to the fair’s Marketplace, where you’ll find one-of-a-kind offerings. Local food vendors will also be on-site in case hunger strikes during your time browsing — so why not make a full day of it?
“We thought this weekend would be a fun way to collaborate with other organizations that offer a lot of great opportunities for unique experiences,” Oehme Knepper shared. “We are always looking to prioritize experiential gifts for the holidays — either to do as a family or as a group of friends — and we felt like this aligned with that goal by offering people suggestions for experiences, like coming to the Gift Fair on Sunday the 11th, taking a cooking class at Zest!, or seeing a show at the Fulton.”
She continued, “We really just wanted to highlight some of the many great things that are going on here in Lancaster County.”
By: Maddy Pontz
