First Friday @ The Lancaster Science Factory!
Every First Friday the Lancaster Science Factory offers free admission from 5 – 7pm. Explore over 70 interactive exhibits for kids in grades K – 8 and their families! This […]
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Things To Do In Lancaster, PA With Kids
Lancaster County is a genuinely great place to raise kids. Between the farmland, the parks, the museums, and the sheer number of people here who seem to actually like children, there’s no shortage of things to do as a family.
Year-Round Options
Hands-On House
A children's museum designed for ages 2–10 where adults and kids play together. The self-directed exhibits include a village with a grocery market, vet's office, and post office; a farm exhibit complete with a life-sized tractor and two-story barn; and a construction zone with a functional crane and the beloved "Amazing Airways" air tunnel. There's also an outdoor adventure garden with slides, a pirate ship, and a nature trail.
Urban Air Adventure Park
A sprawling 60,000-square-foot indoor adventure park that goes well beyond trampolines. Attractions include go-karts, laser tag, a ropes course, climbing walls, dodgeball courts, a "leap of faith" jump, obstacle courses, and tube playgrounds. Different ticket levels unlock different attractions. Best for kids who need to burn serious energy, and parents who don't mind a bit of controlled chaos.
Tiny Town
An imaginative indoor playplace in a converted 8,000-square-foot warehouse, ideal for kids 7 and under. Twelve luxury playhouses let kids role-play as firefighters, salon stylists, mail carriers, and more. There's a dedicated infant area for crawlers and plenty of seating (plus coffee and wifi) so parents can actually relax while keeping eyes on their kids. They also host bubble parties, drive-in movie nights, and seasonal events like their popular Gingerbread Village.
The Lancaster Science Factory
A hands-on STEM center with 60+ interactive exhibits focused on physics, engineering, and technology. Kids can build bridges, experiment with electricity, explore air and water dynamics, and tinker in the Maker Space. Geared toward elementary and middle school ages (Pre-K through 8th grade), though younger kids will find plenty to explore.
Lancaster Public Library
Free and often overlooked. The library offers regular storytimes for different age groups, craft programs, and seasonal events. They also participate in the Family Museum Pass program, meaning you can check out free passes to places like the Lancaster Science Factory, North Museum, and others. For families on a budget, it's worth building library visits into your routine.
North Museum of Nature and Science
Lancaster's natural history museum is located near the Franklin & Marshall campus. Kids can meet live animals (turtles, snakes, small mammals), get face-to-face with dinosaur fossils, and climb through an indoor discovery tree. The real draw is the SciDome planetarium, an 80-seat theater with immersive, live-narrated shows about space, weather, and Earth science. Best for curious kids who love animals, rocks, and the cosmos.
Family-Friendly Events
12 events found.
Events
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The Lancaster Science Factory 454 New Holland Ave, Lancaster, PA, United States
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Living the Experience: Underground Railroad Interactive Reenactment
Step into history and join us for an immersive Underground Railroad reenactment you won’t forget!Living the Experience: Underground Railroad Interactive Reenactment Step back in time and immerse yourself in history […]
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Preschool Picassos – Saturday
North Museum PA, United StatesArt program for preschool-aged children. First Saturday of each month.
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Pre-K STEM Explorers
The Lancaster Science Factory 454 New Holland Ave, Lancaster, PA, United StatesThis is a weekly program that introduces early learners, ages 4-6, to STEM concepts, vocabulary, and thinking by repetition and play. Click here to learn more and to sign up!
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Day Off Camp – President’s Day!
The Lancaster Science Factory 454 New Holland Ave, Lancaster, PA, United StatesSpend your day off from school at the Science Factory. Our next day off camps will be on Monday, February 16th (President’s Day). for Grades K – 5. Activities will […]
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President’s Day Special Event – Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Animal Ambassadors
The Lancaster Science Factory 454 New Holland Ave, Lancaster, PA, United StatesThe Lancaster Science Factory is OPEN on President’s Day, Monday, February 16th from 10am – 5pm. Join us for family fun on your day off from school! CLICK HERE TO […]
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Pre-K STEM Explorers
The Lancaster Science Factory 454 New Holland Ave, Lancaster, PA, United StatesThis is a weekly program that introduces early learners, ages 4-6, to STEM concepts, vocabulary, and thinking by repetition and play. Click here to learn more and to sign up!
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Nature Hour: Appalachian Geology
Join us for this virtual presentation on emerging research about the impact of tectonics on Pennsylvania's natural resources.About the PresentationIn this presentation, Eric will explore and explain how Lancaster Conservancy […]
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Little Explorer and Me – Wednesday
North Museum PA, United StatesHands-on program for little ones and caregivers. Ages 2-5.
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Preschool Picassos – Saturday
North Museum PA, United StatesArt program for preschool-aged children.
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Little Explorer and Me – Wednesday
North Museum PA, United StatesHands-on program for little ones and caregivers. Ages 2-5.
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Preschool Picassos – Saturday
North Museum PA, United StatesArt program for preschool-aged children.
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