Together with Byler Build
The weather this summer has been wild!
Columbia, York, and the eastern end of the county caught the brunt of more fast-moving storms at the end of last week. And then yesterday Mother Nature delivered pure Lancaster beauty and temps.
Hang on tight, there’s only 29 more days of summer.
See ya ‘round the county…
-Ed (connect over on LinkedIn)
Today’s cover art is by local artist Desiree Elswick. She founded Elswick Goods sharing handmade goods crafted from her home on a Lancaster organic farm. Scroll back up, today’s cover art photo is actually candles.
The Tulip Taper Bouquet is a piece of functional beauty. First the tulip top is poured into a mold, leaving a long wick from the bottom. Once cured, the stem is hand-dipped building it up layer by layer. Sold as a bouquet of three with only 6 sets left until spring.
Additionally, Desiree is offering a special mystery candle giveaway. Anyone who guesses in this poll is entered to win.
The green wax color of the stems reminded Desiree of green-gold sunlight shining through fresh spring leaves in May. So she named it after this German word meaning 'May Sunshine':
LOOPER LOCAL LEARNINGS
Lancaster County Fair Season
In six days I will have lived in Lancaster County for exactly three years.
Confession: I’ve never been to a Lancaster County fair…yet.
Please do not sign the petition to revoke my newsletter license.
Seven fairs run between now and mid-October. I pored over each fair website and found all the loopy highlights.
Rather than just list the details, let’s mix it up. Every fair wins a made-up award and there’s a chance for you to make a future cover photo in the newsletter.
THE AWARDS
Best Fair for a Kid (or 48 yo) Who Peaks at 8p
Elizabethtown today thru 8/29 - ($5 parking) - Free Bunny story time at 10:30 daily, petting zoo 10a to 10p, rides start at 2p so you're home before the wheels come off. Plus four capybaras named Cake, Cookie, Candy and Cream…$10 buys you three minutes. The website states cash, card, Apple Pay, no Bitcoin. PS Lancaster isn’t bitcoin ready. FREE admission ($5 parking)
Best Fair for Getting Your Money's Worth
Denver 9/15–9/19 - Bingo is two cards for a quarter. All-week ride armband is $75, five nights of live music, chainsaw carving auction, and fireworks 9/19 @ 945p on the last day. Nothing else around the county comes close on price. FREE admission
Best Fair for Someone Who's Pretty Sure They Don't Like Fairs
Solanco 9/16–9/18 - No midway, no blinking lights, no $8 lemonade. But there is a Celebrity Invitational Milking Contest 9/18 at 5p and the Iron Man Contest at 730p. Started in 1950 by farm women who decided the Southern End needed its own fair. FREE admission
Best Fair If You Won't Drive to a Fair
Ephrata 9/22–9/26 - No need to find the fairground, just head to Main Street! This is the largest street fair in PA that has run since 1919. Park once, walk everywhere. Parade 9/23 at 7p. FREE admission
Best Fair for Three Generations in One Photograph
West Lampeter 9/23–9/25 - One of the oldest in the county since 1924, back when the fair book was only four pages. Tractor parade 9/23, baby parade and the L-S marching band 9/24. FREE admission
Best Fair If You Only Leave the House Once All Season
New Holland 9/30–10/3 - The Spectacle of Bands Parade is two miles of marching bands through the middle of town…the biggest 90 minutes of fair season on 9/30 7p Get there early for curb seats. Bonus: the Funnel Cake 5K, a race you run to earn a funnel cake…best finish line ever.
Best Fair for People Who Are Done With Crowds
Manheim 10/5–10/9 Five days, 8 to 9p, no rides, no roar. Manheim Central gives kids time off so they can go. Alpaca obstacle demonstration 10/7 at 430p, which is exactly what it sounds like, and I MUST be there for it. FREE admission
Loop Advice: The actual BEST FAIR is always the one you actually attend.
If you snag a photo with Cake, Cookie, Candy and Cream, send it my way and you’ll have a chance at being the cover art in an upcoming edition of the Lancaster Loop!
Roy founded Byler Build to deliver quality craftsmanship to the county where he was born. Connect with Roy from simple home repairs to kitchen and bath remodels to house additions and commercial projects. Roy is a long-time friend of the Loop and all things Lancaster. Call or text 717-404-5910 or Byler Build
The 5Ws of Lancaster
Featured Events
August 29 Stops in Full Bloom: A Drunk History Bar Crawl @ Downtown Lanc Venues 7-830p Drink (optional) your way around the city and learn some history while you do it! Pre-walk eats 630p at Southern Market learn & drink
August 29 Mini Stuff To Do Fair 11-3p ‘Dance & Fitness’ edition - find your next club or friend group from the 16+ groups and classes free and family friendly
Plan Ahead
October 9 JOIN ME JUMPING OFF A ROOF- Over the Edge with Big Brothers Big Sisters @ Mid Penn Bank on 2nd St in Harrisburg- Harness up & rappel down 18 stories to raise money for BBBS of South-Central PA. Want to support the Loop team donate here or join us here
Tuesday August 25th
Baroque Chamber Music @ Historic Rock Ford by The Ephrata Chamber Ensemble 6p on the piazza of the Hand Mansion with seating on the lawn
Wednesday August 26th
Sparkdate @ Tellus 360 630-830p 21+ no apps - real people & four rounds of 7-minute conversations followed by marking yes or no and if it’s two YESes then contact info is exchanged - no swipes and no algos
Everyone Shares Ideas @ Gracie’s on West Main 3-5p professional networking with attendees sharing and learning ideas from their peers
Thursday August 27th
ALS Awareness Fundraising Dinner @ Pepper Theo (campus of Lanc Theological Seminary) 6-8p catered dinner by Cracked Pepper with jazz trio and proceeds to support ALS research
2026 Stevens Scramble @ Crossgates Golf Club 11-5p All levels welcome bring your foursome to benefit the Thaddeus Stevens Alumni Association from the tee
Liminal Wild @ The 9 Collective 7-9p Herbs and Plants from the Edges, Thresholds, and In-Between Places - find a deeper understanding of hidden green worlds
Lancaster’s Outdoor Recreation Economy @ Columbia Crossing River Trails Center 730-9a learn how to access and leverage our county’s natural assets, trails, and river corridors
Intro to Glassblowing @ Grandview Vineyard 430-630p no exp needed students make their own plant waterer, wine sampler, or seashell
Friday August 28th
Lancaster Park Artisan Fair @ Long’s Park 10-5p (thru Sunday) original artwork and handcrafted goods, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, prints, and live art demos
The Far Out Folks @ Nissley Vineyards 530-830p live music and 630p hayride for the kids
Saturday August 29th
Fire Dance with Contact & Cacao @ Conestoga area 4-10p outdoor dance around a fire, potluck, cacao ceremony and drum circle
Citadels Sanctum II Music Festival @ West Art 230-10p 10 musical acts across the spectrum, art, and food trucks
Bubbles’ Big Top Circus Party @ The Learning Experience 11-2p petting zoo, ice cream & food, face painting, balloon artists, games, and more circus fun
Basic Handgun Safety & Shooting Class @ Mount Joy Sportsmen’s Association 10-2p new handgun owners or beginners rent or bring your own pistol
Music in the Vineyards @ Nissley 530-10p featuring Class Act with live variety, R&B, and soul with food trucks playing cheesesteaks, crabs, and tacos
Phenology Training @ Graham Nature Preserve by Lanc Conservancy 9-12p learn how observing seasonal change as a volunteer scientist helps flora and fauna
Fight Night @ Hilton Double Tree 5-9p Mellott Boxing Club is hosting 15-20 fights from the best local talent with quick hands
All White Brunch Day Party @ Moose Lodge 0299 11-7p drinks, music, and chill vibes while rockin’ your best all white outfit
Celebrate National Dog Day @ Ken’s Gardens 8-5p free treats and enter to win a gift card plus a selfie station with your pup
Sunday August 30th
Comedy Showcase @ Hempfield Apothetique 7-9p seven comedians with Ray Zawodni headlining the night
Romance is Not Dead Book Club @ EVO 206 Coffee Elizabethtown 12-2p drinks, snacks, and discussion on the best love stories classics & modern tales
Monday August 31st
Happy Anniversary to my lovely wife and de facto editor-in-chief 831 (eight letters, three words, one meaning) & 143 (i & love & you)!
The Loop is independently and locally written by a guy who 💚s Lancaster. Any and all support is welcome - the biggest compliment is forwarding this email to a friend & asking them to subscribe. -Ed
LOCAL LOOPER SUPPORT
This week’s storm was hard on many local organizations, but the Lancaster Farm Sanctuary was particularly hard hit.
They didn’t just lose their generator, they also were struck by lightning.
LOOPER EVENTS
LANCASTER LOOP DINNER CLUB
Sponsor seats at the next Dinner Club.
The next Dinner Club is just under one month away, September 17th. It’ll be another great evening and I’m looking to expand the impact.
Here’s the opportunity: I’ve heard from readers who want to come but a night out is over their budget. I’ve been thinking about how to make it possible for any budget. I don’t want the check to be the reason somebody doesn’t meet five new neighbors.
I’m looking for one local business to sponsor the September 17th Dinner Club. Your support would go directly to the ticket and meal cost for 10-20 Loop readers.
If your business would like to sponsor, let’s chat. Reply to this email.
Your dollars will do three things at once.
#1 They’ll support new readers attending and building community.
#2 They’ll pour into local businesses and help keep our county thriving.
#3 They’ll be seen by 14,000 readers who love supporting local.
If that’s you reply or send me a text, 717-723-8634.
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
I stumbled upon last week’s location on an afternoon walkabout. The photo was the skatepark located in the Lancaster Central Park.
Central Park is one of my favorite places for a quick fix of nature. 544 acres of trees, trails, and...trash. To be fair, you wouldn’t necessarily know 30 acres were once an active landfill, I just find that random fact interesting. The dump site closed in 1968 and thankfully it’s grown into a beautiful respite these days.
After you work up your appetite with a wander or hike, there’s a great food truck to hit nearby. Tacos el Gordo sits at the corner of S Prince St and Furnace St. I’m partial to the quesabirrias 🤌.
Congrats to Jason Schultz for guessing correctly and winning the giveaway. Look for an email with further details today!
Know a local shop you’d love to see featured in Where’s Wal’Ed’o? - shoot me a reply or an introduction to the owner. Feel free to forward this email to them as a starter.
👇 Click the pic to guess this week’s “Where’s Wal’Ed’o?” location 👇
Click the pic to guess and win
A few clues: That's no ordinary tree behind me. A money tree would be nice, but this one's a bigger dill.
Continuing in the spirit of today's German poll…the ornaments on this tree are a symbol of good luck, hope, and survival. There's a tradition of hiding one in the branches for a find-it game on Christmas morning.
The whole store is themed around this single item. I walked out with a hairclip and a pair of earrings for my daughters, both in that same theme.
10 guessers will win a pint-sized container from this crunchy Lancaster spot.
As always thanks for staying… in the ‘Loop! -Ed
P.S. Property Peek
$859,900 | 2,961 sf main home | 924 sf separate unit | This beautifully decorated odd-duck is technically two Lancaster City homes for one price (plus an inground pool) - I'd be the buyer if the scooter runs and is included check out the bathroom wallpaper
P.P.S. If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, forward it to a friend you’d take for a street corn date after a hike at Central Park
P.P.P.R. The ‘R’ stands for randomness; Where’s all the rain go? Three minutes and four seconds on Lancaster stormwater and Long’s Park Wetlands
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