Entrance to Buchanan Park, Sunday Dec 14th 2025
Cheers Friends! A blanket of fluffy white snow covered Lancaster this past Sunday and again a bit last night. I hope you had a chance to take a stroll or gaze at all the beauty.
I’ve got some wonderful ways in this week’s newsletter to celebrate Lancaster both this week and the next time it snows. We’re also launching a huge giveaway for the end of the year!
Last week, I launched a ‘Where am I?’ photo in the sign off section, there’s another at the bottom today. Last week’s winner of a ‘Bert and the Elephant’ giftcard was br**********an@ gmail. com. A gift card is in your email & everyone else can play this week’s edition down below!
Cheers to shoveling & staying…in the Loop! -Ed
Today’s cover art is from my walkabout this past Sunday. If you or someone you know is an artist…email me. I’ll always make room to showcase local artists and I’d love to explore doing so in the cover art.
Together with MM Visuals
I grabbed coffee & breakfast with Mike of MMVisuals a few months back. Since then his art has landed in my various feeds on social and LinkedIn. His capture of Central Market above stopped me in my tracks.
Mike works with businesses to create branded visuals for marketing. He goes below the surface to determine a look & feel matching the uniqueness of the business. You’ll likely see more of Mike’s work around the ‘Loop as I love the mastery of his craft. Have a business and interested in learning more? Find more of his work and connect here.
Catching up w/Lancaster local artist - G. Robert Wagner
Next time you see the county seal on the side of a county work vehicle or flying on our county flag you’ll now know the artist behind it. G. Robert Wagner, a lifetime Lancastrian illustrated and colored the original county seal artwork back in 1979 after being hired by the county.
I recently chatted with Bob, also the artist behind the County’s 250-year anniversary bell, and his own story is as meaningful as the work itself. A U.S. Army veteran, he grew up in Manheim Township before his service time and lives in the county today.
His gift of art now supports veterans with art classes and art therapy, work he’s continued alongside the VA and counselors supporting veterans and their families. After his service he landed at the Lancaster County planning commission where he created the image used in the county seal. The 250-year bell is a gift to our community painted to showcase the beauty of the county and the Thaddeus Stevens’ house.
His artwork is available for purchase at the Discover Lancaster visitor center in Greenfield and shops in Lancaster. And you can see more art work here.
Fun Thaddeus Stevens’ note: You can sleep in his Gettysburg cabin - a VRBO for rent
Bob’s art: Soon to be displayed at Historic Rock Ford
Have an event or a Lancastrian you’d like to see featured? Submit details here.
The 5 Ws of Lancaster
Who / What / When / Where / Why - all across the county & city
Park FREE:
Lancaster City: Enjoy free 2-hour, on-street metered parking within the downtown investment district between December 15-26th | see map
Plan Ahead:
Bulls Head Public House at the Lititz Spring Inn is hosting a Murder in Toyland event with food & the show | 12/22 & 12/23 | Murder Mystery
Featured Event
Just Press Play | Pixel-Perfect Holiday Makers Market | Sat 12/20 10-3p game details here
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Phantom Power | Thursday w. Walter Schreifels | 8p | hardcore punk
Plough Restaurant | Live Jazz | 6-8p | sax jams
Beccafico | Feast of the Seven Fishes - Chef Sara delivers Italian style nine-course tasting menu and communal seating, creating a shared dining experience that captures the true spirit of La Vigilia di Natale | 6-9p | mangiamo!
Friday, December 19, 2025
Marion Court Room | Easily Amused (cover band) | 5:30-9p | mixed music
Phantom Power | Eyes of the Nile | 7p | iron maiden tribute
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Mickey's Black Box | The Reagan Years (80s Tribute Holiday Show) | 8p | eighties tribute
Phantom Power | The Warped Tour Band (cover band) | 8p | warped tribute
West Art | The Country Cabaret! | 7:30p | country music
Pop-up Market | Yuletide Market @315 E Marion St | 10-12p | yum
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Tellus 360 - POV Comedy Brendan Sagalow | 6p | joke tix
Monday, December 22, 2025
Beccafico | John Christopher's Rhythmic Groove ft. Rose Hudson | 4:30-8p | smooth jams
551 West - Karaoke | 9p belt it out
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
West Art | Square Dance - Ho Ho Ho Down | 6:30-930p | promenade
YourLife Gym on Harrisburg Pike feels less like a gym and more like a mission.
Get strong but let’s also take care of what’s going on in our head and heart. The place is packed with serious equipment (think: Arsenal Strength), but the vibe is zero ego.
As a member, what I love most is the support available…life coaching, training, nutrition, even access to a therapist. It’s built for Lancastrians who know that getting stronger means growing the inside & outside.
If you’re in Lancaster and want mental health, community, and iron under one roof, YourLife Gym is the spot.
Lancaster Loop subscribers can join now, try it out, and not make your first payment til Feb 1st 2026 - just let’em know you’re a Looper!
Call or text 717-882-7242
Lancaster Snow Angels
We’ve had some real-life fluffy style snow this week. It’s one of my favorite times seeing everything blanketed in white…until the shovel starts calling my name.
Perfect timing as this week I discovered a local nonprofit serving seniors, veterans, and mobility-challenged neighbors in Lancaster County. For these neighbors snow isn’t just annoying, it often blocks safety and medical access. Enter the Lancaster Snow Angels. Co-founder Jen Jarvis shared how their 501(c)(3) helps vulnerable neighbors (in 17601, 17602, 17603, and Ephrata), so they’re not stranded by the weather.
When a storm hits, they activate volunteers to handle snow and ice for those who can’t. It’s “storm-by-storm,” with no ongoing obligation. High school students can earn service hours and families with kids as young as 10 can help out. The Snow Angels supply salt, shovels, and snowblowers.
Their care continues 365 days a year with lawn cleanups, wheelchair ramp builds, and hot holiday meals. To fund operations, they run Lancaster County approved raffles and accept donations. Prizes range from Ninja kitchen makeovers to a 2026 Chevy Silverado. On top of it all, they also contribute proceeds to 17 local nonprofits.
Snow Angels run on our support. This holiday season, you can clear a path for a neighbor by buying a raffle ticket, making a donation, or grabbing a shovel.
Here’s all their links website | fb | donate | raffle tix | email to voluneer
I’m excited to announce some AMAZING giveaways connected to being a member of the Lancaster Loop.
Lancaster Local Love: 7 days of Post-Christmas Giveaway
Simply be a subscriber to the Lancaster Loop & send at least one referral, and you'll be entered into a daily prize giveaway running from December 26th, 2025 and January 1st, 2026.
Seven days, seven winners - each day being a new chance to win. Take the below 3 steps to be entered for every day!
I have some amazing giveaways on tap: a $500 TaylorMade driver & 1 hour of Trackman golf simulator time at Pull The Pin, a night-away at an amazing Lancaster city property (Hearthstone Hospitality property here), 2 full-day kids’ Go ‘N Bananas family adventure center passes and some arcade money (parents are free), swag & a giftcard to Nikki’s Custard, and lots more from local Lancaster businesses!
Hats off to our early partners Pull the Pin Lancaster, Go ‘N Bananas, Hearthstone Hospitality, and Nikki’s Custard . More partners & details to be announced!
If you want to support local and have a chance at winning something fun this month, this is your sign to have your friends join the ‘Loop (I’m sure they’ll take you along if they win the overnight stay at the Lanc city property!).
Here’s how to enter in 3 easy steps:
Step 2: Refer the Lancaster Loop to one or more friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers. Your personal referral link is below…click to share with someone you want in the ‘Loop.
Step 3: You’re in and ready to win.
I’ll be drawing a winner every day from Dec 26th, 2025 to Jan 1st, 2026 at 5pm EST.
If you’re already subscribed here, simply follow either social page and click the button below to share the Loop with a friend!
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
Thanks for staying in the Loop!
Guess where I am in today’s photo correctly & you’ll be entered for one of 3 giftcards there! Click here to guess
In gratitude & in the loop,
-Ed
PS. If you found the ‘Loop helpful, send it to someone who is team #themoresnowthebetter