The 10th annual Lancaster Print Crawl is an interactive, all-ages walking event that showcases Lancaster’s design and print communities. Participants carry a blank artisan poster to print shops around downtown, adding a new layer at every stop until the year’s poster is complete.
Stops include screen printing, letterpress, stamping, laser cutting, riso, 3D printing and vinyl sticker graphics. There’s no set order — the map on the back of your poster shows the print locations, sponsors, food and parking, and you can hit them in any sequence. The full route is roughly one mile one way. Food trucks will be set up in Ewell Plaza, with snacks and beverages at select stops.
How to participate
- You must reserve a blank poster to take part in the crawl. Posters are pay-what-you-can, from $0 to $30. Reserve yours here.
- Buying in advance is strongly recommended — posters often sell out before the event. Advance orders need a credit card; at the registration table you can pay cash or card.
- Buy a 2026 t-shirt or tank top and a poster is included free.
- Registration table: Ewell Plaza, 123 N Queen St, open 4:00–8:00 PM. Print shops open at 5:00 PM, so start as close to 5:00 as you can to finish your poster.
- Merch pickup and any remaining shirts: Typothecary Letterpress, 440 W King St, 4:00–9:00 PM.
Good to know
- Rain or shine. Clear sleeves will be available to protect posters if it rains.
- Parking: street parking is free after 6:00 PM, and Lancaster Parking Authority garages are a $5 flat rate after 5:00 PM if you exit before 5:00 AM. The Duke Street Garage at Duke and Chestnut is closest to the registration table.
- Most stops are accessible, with a few exceptions, and staff can assist with any stop. Not every location is stroller friendly because of tight interior space.
- Restrooms are available at several stops along the route — just ask.
- A professional photographer will be shooting throughout the night, and images may be used in future marketing.
Fundraiser
Poster sales cover the cost of running the event. Alongside that, the Print Crawl raises scholarship money for a graphic design student at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design and a design/printing student at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, through separate GoFundMe campaigns and a raffle at FORCEpkg on the night. Every $10 donated earns a raffle ticket, and donations go directly to whichever school you choose.