fig® - Downtown Lancaster

Flags, fireworks, freedom and fun. Yup, you guessed it… it’s the Fourth! As the story goes, the Declaration was read across America as crowds of patriots erupted in cheers and celebration. Spread some red, white, and blue cheer of your own in Lancaster this Independence Day with these holiday affairs in spirit of America!

FRIDAY JULY 1st

Wine and Salsa at Penn Square Grille

Kickoff the weekend right with a little wining, dining, and dancing at Penn Square Grille. From 6-9 in the Great Room.

Big Bang BBQ Weekend at Twin Brook Winery

A weekend long celebration of the stars and stripes! Enjoy music and merriment with your favorite bottle of Twin Brook Wine. Victory Brewing Company will be the special guest BBQ-ers for the weekend and provide samples of some of their favorite handcrafted beer. Concerts every day from July 1^st – July 4^th.

SATURDAY JULY 2nd

Concert at Nissley Vineyards

Enjoy a laid-back evening on the lawn with the captivating sounds of soft rock band “Nightstand”.

Lancaster County Historical Society: Independence Day Picnic

Enjoy a leisurely afternoon on the lawn, listen to live music capturing the hits of 1851, play croquet with Harriet Lane, and roll and run old-fashioned wooden hoops with Buchanan’s nephew, James Buchanan Henry. 12 -4; free to all.

SUNDAY JULY 3rd

257th Army Band, Cannon Brigade & Fireworks: Long’s Park

A celebration of independence featuring Charlie Smithgall’s cannon brigade, the “Band of Nation’s Capital” and fireworks to top off the festivities! Bring the whole family for a memorable 4^th in the community’s backyard. Concert begins at 7:30.

Fireworks and Celebration Party at Willow Valley Inn & Suites

Choose Willow Valley for a jam-packed day of entertainment. With a Splash Party, Celebration Party and fireworks, a great day with the family awaits you. Splash party from 1-3pm; Celebration party 6-9pm; Fireworks 9:15pm

Barbecued Out?  Take a break from the sun and dine at one of these delectable downtown destinations. Celebrate without the stress or cleanup… now that’s American!

The Belvedere Inn — Carr’s Restaurant — Fenz Restaurant & Latenight

Gibraltar — Isaac’s Deli & Downtown — Jethro’s Restaurant & Bar

On Orange — Penn Square Grille — Rosa Rosa Ristorante

The Pressroom — Cork & Cap Restaurant — Rachels’s Ceperie & Cafe

La Petite Patisserie

It wouldn’t be a summer festival without ice cream! Stop by Carmen & David’s to test out one of their top-sellers; Turtle, a blend of vanilla, caramel, pecans, and dark chocolate and M&M Chocolate Chip! Don’t forget the red, white and blue sprinkles!

JUST FOR FUN!

Brush up on your Independence Day in-4-mation with these fun facts sure to make you a hit at any barbecue!

*Over an estimated 150 million hot dogs will be consumed on July 4th. That’s roughly one dog for every two people in the US

*Over $211 million has been spent on the importation of fireworks from China

*The first 4th of July party held at the White House was in 1801

*More than 74 million Americans will BBQ on Independence Day

*The 4th of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941

*The national anthem is actually set to the tune of an old English drinking song called To Anacreon in Heaven

*The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal

*Three US presidents have died on Independence Day. Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826 while James Monroe died on July 4, 1831

*Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal but was outvoted when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson chose the bald eagle

*John Hancock was the only person to actually sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The other 55 signers did not sign it until August 2nd and beyond

*When the United States became a country, there were approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. Today the population is around 304 million.

Happy 4th Everyone! Let Freedom Ring!

-Emily Noto