My fav Christmas present - a one-off handcrafted Lancaster Loop cardboard puzzle
Hello again Wintery-Mix Warriors! I hope your wrapping paper mound is gone and the boxes are recycled. We’re growing quite fast at the ‘Loop! If we all met up we could fill the Fulton Theatre over 8x. I’m excited to keep that momentum rolling into 2026. My one Santa-list wish is for you to invite a friend to join the newsletter.
Let’s dive into this week’s happenings!
-Ed
(Today’s beautiful cover art is from one my very own artists again. My child made this as a Christmas present. If you or someone you know is an artist reach out - I’d love to celebrate them with a cover art showpiece.)
Lancaster Local Love: 7 days of Post-Christmas Giveaway….continued
Didn’t unwrap what you wanted on your Santa list? No worries, there are still 15 açaí bowls & matching t-shirts, a night away to a Lanc City Airbnb, a brand-new golf driver w/simulator time, and the opportunity to become part of the friendliest workout community in Lancaster.
Welcome back to the final days of the 1st Annual Lancaster Loop Giveaway. Four days have past, but still 4 big giveaways remain. Thank you to our partners for supporting the ‘Loop and for all of you for helping this community grow. The more readers we have, the more fun things I can deliver, & as always subscribing will remain FREE.
Here’s the giveaway deets…
Dec 26th: Go ‘N Bananas - 2 full day kids passes & arcade card with play time ($120) adults are free Congrats to w***y@ptd . net
Dec 27th: Denim Coffee - gift card to use in any store of your choice ($100) call it 30 days of delish! Congrats to tim*********er@outlook . com
Dec 28th: Nikki’s Custard- Nikki’s merch, hat, key chains, stickers, shirt, tote bag & gift card ($105) dress the part & eat the part! Congrats to an****40@gmail . com
Dec 29: Tanger Outlets - gift cards to up to 4 stores of your choice ($200) so many choices or spend it all in one spot! Congrats to al********er@gmail . com
Dec 30: Hearthstone Hospitality - 1 night away at their Lancaster City property ($300) a beautiful downtown Lancaster City location!
Dec 31: Oola Bowls - 15 individual winners of a t-shirt & free bowl of your choice at their Central Market stand ($450 total value) yum for days!
Jan 1: Pull the Pin Lancaster - TaylorMade driver ($500) & 1 hour of Trackman golf simulator time ($60) attack your handicap with precision!
Jan 1 #2: YourLife Gym - gift card towards membership, merch, nutrition, or coaching ($150) community community community (side benefit: get strong).
It’s been a blast spinning the random name wheel and seeing Lancaster locals winning.
If you already entered you don’t need to do anything more…your entry is loaded up.
If you’re new here…follow these 3 easy steps to enter:
Step #2: Refer one person to the Lancaster Loop: a friend, family, neighbor, or coworker. Your personal referral link is below👇 Click to share! 👇
Step #3: That’s it. You’re in and ready to win.
The daily drawings will continue tonight and thru Jan 1st, 2026 at 5pm EST.
*Local Lancaster only pick ups for physical products.
Lancaster Field Trip
Ever looked up in Lancaster and thought…”huh…kinda hard to hunt for stars between all these Sheetz and streetlights?”
It’s a struggle so I’ve pinpointed the darkest spot in the county. Ryan Observatory at Muddy Run is your flashlight haven. A spot to spot the stars.
The observatory is run as a public outreach by the Rittenhouse Astronomical Society and Constellation Energy, with real astronomers, real telescopes, and real chances to say ‘farrrr ouuuut’ without anyone judging you.
Closed now, but from April through December, they host monthly open house nights with stargazing and presentations. This spring, you’ll find me at one of their guided night hikes that teach you how to let your eyes adjust and navigate by the sky.
If you’re craving a reminder of how big the universe is and how small we are take a drive over the next few weeks. Pack your hoodie, your giant Stanley, & a blanket. Park & kill the headlights, and sit on your hood to chase some galaxies. stars rock
This Week’s 5 Ws of Lancaster
Who / What / When / Where / Why - all across the county & city
Today - Tuesday, 30th
Pints and Pistons | Quips Pub | 6p - Mid-Atlantic Land Rover club | let’s trail ride
Wednesday, 31st - NYE
🍼 Kids
FREE NYE Kid’s Bash | ❤️Go ‘N Bananas❤️ (LLL giveaway partner) | 3-6p | dance it out and in bed by 8
Glow Party | Tiny Town | 1-3p | ages 8 & under | bluey & bingo show up
Family Friendly NYE | West Art | 6-8p | music, drinks, snacks, & games
Red Rose Drop | Penn Med Stadium | 8p-12a | kids & adult countdown | fireworks
NYE @ Noon | National Watch & Clock Museum | games & balloon drop & music
Car Drop | Buck Motorsports | 7-11p - all ages | crash & fireworks
🍺 Not so Kids
Dance or Elegance NYE 2 diff parties | Eden Resort | 21+ | 2 parties 1 countdown
THIS.IS.EMO NYE Dance Party | Phantom Power | 8p & 21+ | eyeliner & dance
The Thompson Triplets & Stars In Sapphire | Tellus360 | 8p $ 21+ | 80s & 90s
NYE Party | Marion Court Room | 10p-1a | no cover - $3 dollar jello shots
4th Annual NYE Bash | Decades | 10p-1a & 21+ | drinks, dinner, games
A Special NYE w/Bailen | Lititz Shirt Factory | 8-10p | alternative rock
NYE Party | Southern Market | DJ w/Screamin Daisys | 6p & 18+ | food & jams
Steal Your New Years | Grateful Dead and other jams @ Zoetropolis | 7-10p | what would jerry do
Thursday, 1st
Happy New Year Red Rose Loopers!
Let’s eat some Pork & Sauerkraut (learn why)
Lancaster Church of the Brethren | Food | 11a-2p | min donation $15
Brickerville House | Food | 8-8p | full menu but special is kraut
St Joseph Catholic Church | 1-3p | Lanc City | free or volunteer
Stubby’s | unconfirmed kraut/pork but not on the menu | ask and ye shall receive
Pequea Valley FD - Kinzers | tons of recs | 10-5p or preorder | ayce cabbage
Friday, 2nd
Holiday Break Skate | Castle Roller Skating | 1-4p | dj play my jam
Just Like Murray | Marion Court Room | 530-9p | full electric band
Saturday, 3rd
Karaoke | American Legion 34 | 8-11p | stars & songs
Full Moon Walk | Naturalist Lisa Sanchez - Ballfield #1 539 Golf Rd | 630-730p | howl
Side Quest Art Market | Meduseld Meadery | 3-8p | axe throwing & flash tattoos
Pokemon PLAY! Tourney | MVP Sports & Games | 12-3p | GO find em
Learn the Ropes | Bound Studio - Shibari & Boudoir studio | 12p | know knots
Sunday, 4th
Lobster Roll Truck | ❤️Tanger Outlets❤️ (LLL giveaway partner) | 12-6p | main maine
Corn Hole Tourney | Stoner Grill | 12p | tossin bags & rules
Pool Kayak Session | YMCA of the Roses | 130-5p | pool 1st then SUQ river
What gets you off the sofa?
One of my big pillars for creating the Lancaster Loop is to build community in real life. Let’s get to know our neighbors and meet some new people.
When I say I’m building this with your input…it’s literal. I polled about merch a few weeks ago and only 66% were interested…so it’s on the back burner for now.
I’m curious what you think of a live, in-person, off-the-sofa, feet-on-the-ground type of event.
Vote Here! Which of these would get you off the sofa?
- Make Food -- something like learn to make your own Dubai Chocolate or sourdough ~60-90min
- Lancastrians on Tap -- event space - drink ticket - learn something from a local biz owner/professor/vip/expert in 'x'/cool cat ~60-90min
- Walk/Hike a trail -- in the county sunrise or full moon trail time w/some local yummy treats provided ~1 to 2 hours
- Bah-humbug Ed - i'm staying on my couch - 0.0 minutes
Got a better idea for an in-person meet? Add them in the comments after you vote.
Hosted your own events or have a cool venue? - reply to this email and let’s connect.
SUPPORT THE LOOP
The kindest way to offer support, is to forward this email to 1, 2 or 3 friends and tell’em why they should join the ‘Loop. It’ll always be 100% free and independently owned and operated (heck, it’s just me). Your shares & contributions go toward keeping the ‘Loop strong so we can have more fun and build more community. I appreciate any and all support my friends! - Ed
❄️Snowflakes typically fall at about 1.5 mph. They take close to an hour just to make it from the nimbostratus to your nose. Here’s your invitation to move in an unhurried pace for the next few days.❄️
Where is Ed?
Last week’s location, Just Press Play on Lincoln Highway E, was guessed correctly by 21 people. The winner was nf***ts@ yahoo . com —> check your email!
Just Press Play is a great place to stop through for a visit or check out their Vault - full of old school throwbacks. Then go watch ‘8-Bit Christmas’ - how have I missed this instant Christmas movie classic since 2021? - several laugh out loud hilarious moments.
I’ll email the winner to send your gift card! 👇 Guess this weeks below 👇
Guess correctly where I am in today’s photo & you’ll be entered for a giftcard there.
Thanks for staying…in the loop!
-Ed
PS. If you found today's ‘Loop helpful…send it to someone who puts Old Bay on everything (unsalted Utz potato chips & OB is the Superbowl champ of snacks -& yes I’m here for the whoopie pie replies)