First Fridays in Lancaster
On the first Friday of every month, downtown Lancaster holds a celebration of arts and culture throughout the city. Locals and visitors are able to enjoy the city’s thriving arts community by popping into galleries, artisan studios, charming boutiques, and museums for new exhibitions and performances. Other local businesses and organizations join in as well, offering special programming throughout the evening along with live music and endless dining options. The City of Lancaster also provides free open-air trolley rides so everyone can enjoy the local art along with a memorable ride. Programming typically kicks off around 5:00 p.m. and continues well into the night, with something new to discover from block to block.
How First Fridays in Lancaster Began
Weekends in Lancaster City looked very different in the 1990s. Restaurants would close early, events were lacking, and the art scene was present but not really on the radar of the general public. Part of the renaissance of Lancaster City is due to a few local artists who banded together to create First Friday. Instead of competing for business, the art galleries worked as one to cultivate an interest in the arts and a more vibrant city life.
This wasn’t always easy. Carol Foley Bolt began holding artist exhibit openings on the first Friday of each month at the former Central Market Art Gallery in 1999, inspired by similar traditions in other cities like Philadelphia. Carol, along with Joyce and Michael Heberlein of Lancaster Galleries, and others like Mulberry Art Studios, were among the first to advertise openings on the first Friday of each month. Joyce and Michael Heberlein founded Lancaster Galleries in 1984 and have been a key part of the Lancaster art scene ever since. It’s hard to believe now, but Joyce recalls calling local restaurants and asking them to stay open, because the growing number of people visiting the art galleries had nowhere to eat.
Around the same time, the Downtown Investment District had organized its own first-Friday activities as a way to draw people downtown, pairing the inaugural event with a classic car show. But those DID-organized events didn’t last — it was the momentum from the private galleries that kept building, and within a few years First Friday had become a fixture of the city’s calendar.
Growing Popularity
The popularity of First Fridays grew to such a degree that in 2013, Bernard Harris of LNP wrote a piece titled “City’s ‘First Fridays’: A monthly holiday,” and by then, they really were a monthly holiday. This was right around the peak of the event’s foot traffic, when the first Friday of each month had a distinct and palpable energy to it, drawing crowds that the sidewalks wouldn’t see on any other evening of the month.
I spoke with Anne Kirby and Jason Mondock of The Candy Factory about those years, and Anne recalls seeing over 500 people visit their location on a single First Friday. First Fridays are still a special time for Lancaster, but now the city is lively every weekend, not just one Friday a month. Jason said First Fridays were part of the broader renaissance of Lancaster City. There are still special events and an uptick in traffic on First Fridays, but it can now be viewed as the icing on the cake of the ever-present art, culture, and food scene that’s enjoyable every weekend.
Below are a few of the events scheduled for Friday, September 4th.
September 2026 First Friday Events
September First Friday Open House!
Fri, Sep 4, 4:00–8:00 p.m., Maejean Vintage
Maejean Vintage is opening its doors again for our next highly anticipated Open House! We will have our full stock of inventory out to shop, including never-before-seen pieces available for the first time.
Lancaster Print Crawl
Fri, Sep 4, 4:00–9:00 p.m., Registration at Ewell Plaza (Binns and Ewell)
Print Crawl is a vibrant community arts event celebrating the art of printing while aiming to involve and inform. All ages welcome.
Trinity First Friday Speaker Series
Fri, Sep 4, 5:00–6:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 31 S. Duke Street
Speaker Jean Weglarz of the Woodward Hill Cemetery Board presents on Woodward Hill and Zion Cemeteries.
Ewell Plaza Arts Market
Fri, Sep 4, 5:00–8:30 p.m., Binns and Ewell
Each First Friday from May to October, Ewell Plaza becomes a lively marketplace for local artisans, with food trucks, music, and fun for all ages.
We the People First Friday: Lancaster Print Crawl / Mark & Jordan Rast
Fri, Sep 4, 5:00–9:00 p.m., Ware Center for the Arts
Stop by the Ware Center during the Print Crawl. From 6 to 8 p.m., enjoy the homegrown sounds of Mark and Jordan Rast, a Lancaster father-son duo bringing their own flavor to Appalachian, folk, and bluegrass music.
Covenant Chocolate Chip Cookie Concert with Sound of Roses Big Band
Fri, Sep 4, 6:00–7:00 p.m., Covenant United Methodist Church
A First Friday concert featuring the Sound of Roses Big Band, playing everything from Dorsey to disco — jazz, disco, rock, and swing. Fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies will be served, alongside art from local artists Sandy Leonard and Joanne McIlvaine.
Bachata at Binns
Fri, Sep 4, 6:00–8:30 p.m., Binns and Ewell
An evening of rhythm, connection, and community at this Salsa & Bachata Dance Night, hosted by RCM Entertainment.
Season Launch
Fri, Sep 4, 6:00–8:30 p.m., Trust Performing Arts Center
The Durang Dance Company and Brasswood Trio launch the season with a collaboration of live music and contemporary ballet.
Live Music at South County
Fri, Sep 4, 7:00–10:00 p.m., South County Brewing Co.
Live music featuring local artists, held every first and third Friday. Warmer-weather shows move to The SC Park Bar.
Organ In A Grand Style
Fri, Sep 4, 8:00–8:30 p.m., First Reformed Church
A free 30-minute organ concert by guest organist Ken Krause, part of the “Organ In A Grand Style” series.
For a full list of First Friday events, see visitlancastercity.com