Holiday Weekend Events in Lancaster

The cornerstone of the City of Lancaster's Independence Day celebration was last Friday's "Celebrate Lancaster" festival, which included street vendors, concerts, and a fireworks display. But here are some of the other events the City and various groups have planned for Independence Day:

Musser Park, at Lime and Chestnut streets, will hold its annual "Old Fashioned 4th of July" from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Entertainment will include food, games, music, and crafts.

FreedomFest '08 at the Marion Courtroom will feature 12 bands on two stages, as well exhibits from over 30 artists, and food concessions. Admission to the outdoor festival is $8 at the gates, starting at 3 p.m. Marion Court is located at 7 East Marion Street near the corner of Marion and Christian.

Also starting July 4 and running through July 26th is a "Patriotic Exhibition at Living Light Gallery." "The exhibit will feature the photography of Adrianna Hoff, a recent graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Art, much of whose work centers on "capturing the day her subjects learned they are being deployed to Iraq this September." Living Light Gallery is located at 150 North Prince Street and its hours will be 11 a.m to 9 .m.

On July 4th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Eggs-Actly Right Gifts of 346 N. Queen St. will host guest artist Rena Grimmer, from Newmanstown, who will be displaying art deco and art nouveau jewelry.

July 4th is also one of the City's "First Fridays" in which "over 90 art galleries and shops extend their hours and stay open until 9:00 p.m. - some even later!"

Enjoy laser tag? For $20, you can play all day July 4th (12 p.m. to 1 a.m.) at Laserdome, 2050 Auction Road in Manheim. For an additional $5, they'll throw in unlimited soda and popcorn, and two slices of pizza.

Also July 4th, the Lancaster Barnstormers play a home game against the York Revolution.

Starting July 5th and running through July 27th, Theater of the Seventh Sister presents "Seed of a Nation: Lancaster and William Penn's Holy Experiment." The drama "unfolds through the eyes of several families, as they intersect with famous and significant figures and events in history." The show runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., at the Roschel Performing Arts Center at Franklin & Marshall College (628 College Avenue). General admission is $25, with discounts available including a family package.

On Sunday July 6, at Long's Park, the 257th Army Band, known as the "Band of the Nation's Capital," performs. Billed as "the community’s largest patriotic celebration," the night features "Charlie Smithgall's cannon brigade" and spectacular fireworks. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m.