🌹 The Lancaster Ledger

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Good morning, Lancaster. Quick fact for your Friday: the new Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center opens today at 13-15 E. Vine Street. That address is not a coincidence. Stevens spent his career in Congress championing the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. Twenty-five years of preservation work, $19 million spent, and one address that does its homework. May is officially here.

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In today's Lancaster Ledger:

• The Thaddeus Stevens museum opens today

• Columbia Borough has its first woman police chief

• Taylor Swift is heading into the PA Hall of Fame

Let's do it.

— Collin

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After 25 years and $19 million, the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy opens this morning at 13-15 E. Vine Street. The 9 AM ribbon-cutting kicks things off, followed by a 12:30 PM awards program at Shreiner-Concord Cemetery (where Stevens is buried) and a 1:30 PM tour of the Stevens School Residences. A donor gala runs Friday evening; the free public block party is Saturday from noon to 6 PM with live music, food trucks, kids' activities, and free museum admission (timed-entry tickets recommended).

The museum gives Lydia Hamilton Smith equal billing — Black businesswoman, real-estate investor, Stevens' confidante and life partner — not a supporting figure. Two cisterns in the basement of Stevens' property were modified in the 1830s so freedom seekers could enter from the basement of the Kleiss Tavern next door. Stevens and Smith hid people on the Underground Railroad there. Regular hours start Tuesday May 5: Tue–Sat 10 AM–5 PM. Adult admission $20, kids 10 and under free, SNAP recipients $3 or less. Twenty-five years in the making. Hard to overstate this one.

Holly Arndt becomes Columbia Borough's first woman chief of police starting today, in a department that's been around for 131 years. She joined the force as a patrol officer in 2008, made lieutenant, and was sworn in at Tuesday's borough council meeting. Annual salary: $123,497. Outgoing chief Jack Brommer joined the department in 1997, became chief in 2011, and just retired to take over as Columbia Borough Manager.

The department has 15 full-time and one part-time officer. James Anspach, secretary/treasurer of the Columbia Borough Civil Service Commission, said Arndt "embodies integrity and knowledge of the law with the utmost zeal to lead our municipality." Congrats, Chief. 

Lancaster County's biggest concert venue is about to get its most famous inductee yet. Taylor Swift — born in West Reading and raised in Wyomissing before moving to Tennessee as a teenager — will be inducted into the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame in 2027. The ceremony is held annually at American Music Theatre in Lancaster, which means Swift's induction night will likely be the hottest ticket AMT has ever sold.

Other 2026 inductees include LIVE, August Burns Red, Halestorm, Bret Michaels, Martie Maguire, and The Ocean Blue. Founder and executive director Brandon Valentine has confirmed the Hall is planning Swift-themed open mics, concerts, and a compilation album. The Central Pennsylvania Youth All-Star Band already shot a music video for "You Belong With Me" partly at Swift's childhood home and former high school. We are calling it now: Wyomissing is going to be unbearable for the next two years.

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Stevens & Smith Center — Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony | The new $24M museum officially opens. 9 AM ribbon-cutting on Vine, 12:30 PM awards program at Shreiner-Concord Cemetery, 1:30 PM tour of the Stevens School Residences. Saturday's free public block party noon–6 PM. | 9:00 AM ceremony; programs through afternoon | Stevens & Smith Center, 13-15 E. Vine St., Lancaster | Free (donor gala that evening is ticketed)

Lancaster Central Market | America's oldest continuously operated public market — 60+ standholders. | 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Lancaster Central Market, 23 N. Market St., Lancaster | Free to enter

Good Dads of Lancaster — Dads Grab Coffee | Monthly Friday-morning coffee meetup for dads (kids welcome). | 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM | West Art Bar, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Free (pay for your coffee)

Mother's Day Gift and Jewelry Sale (final day) | Friends of the Quarryville Library — gift items, baked goods, jewelry. | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Quarryville Library, 357 Buck Road, Quarryville | Free admission

Watercolor Club at West Art | Weekly low-pressure watercolor session led by Jo Davis. Bring your own materials or use what's there. All skill levels. | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | West Art (Art Bar), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $15/class via Venmo

First Friday in Downtown Lancaster | Galleries, performances, shops, and restaurants stay open late. Free open-air trolley runs 5–7:30 PM (May–Oct, first one of the season). Ewell Plaza becomes an artist marketplace. Salsa & Bachata at Binns Park 5–8:30 PM, Lancaster Improv free show 7 PM, poetry at Lancaster Public Library 6–10 PM. | 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM | Multiple downtown venues | Free (most galleries and programming)

Lititz Pretzel Fest | Stroll through Lititz tasting sweet and savory pretzel samples from local makers, plus alcoholic tastings and live music. Tickets pick up at the Lititz Springs Park train station. Rain or shine. | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM | 18 Broad Street, Lititz | $35

Stevens & Smith Center Grand Opening Block Party | All-day free community block party celebrating the museum's grand opening. Live music, art, history-themed vendors, food trucks, kids' activities. FREE museum admission Saturday — but advance timed-entry tickets strongly encouraged. | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM | 13-15 E. Vine St., Lancaster (street closed between Queen and Christian) | Free

Maytown Mayfest | Maytown Historical Society's annual celebration of the town's 1760 founding. Maypole dance, makers market with 100+ vendors, food trucks, live art, home and garden tours. | 10:00 AM – afternoon | Maytown Square + Fuhrman Memorial Park, Maytown | Free

Vagabonds Super Cruise | 350–500 cars, trophies, live entertainment, food trucks. Some proceeds benefit Hospice & Community Care. | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Amos Herr Park, 1700 Nissley Road, Landisville | Free to spectate; $15 pre-register / $20 day-of

Lancaster Central Market | Saturday market day at America's oldest continuously operated public market. | 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM | 23 N. Market St., Lancaster | Free to enter

Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market | Indoor Amish market. Saturdays year-round. Produce, fresh meats, cheeses, baked goods, handmade quilts, leather. | 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | 2710 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | Free to enter

West Art Flea | Indoor/outdoor flea market — vintage, handmade, vinyl, art, weird stuff. | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | West Art (City Hall), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Free admission

Tarot Masterclass at West Art (4-week series begins) | Four-week course with Philip Malin (college professor, tarot reader since age 12). Covers Rider-Waite Smith and Thoth decks, history through advanced readings, weekly handouts and homework. May 2 is session 1 of 4 (continues May 9, 16, 23). | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | West Art (Art Bar), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $100 for the 4-week series (via Humanitix)

Community Yoga w/ Alax at West Art | Weekly Sunday Vinyasa yoga, all levels. Bring your own mat. | 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | West Art (City Hall), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $10–$15 suggested donation (pay-what-you-can; cash or Venmo)

Hairspray at Fulton Theatre (CLOSING SUNDAY) — 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster. Final performances of the mainstage run, closes Sunday May 3. Last chance. | $20–$74

Treasure Island at Fulton Theatre (Family Series) — 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster, through May 9 | $20–$74 (~$44 avg)

Dear Evan Hansen at Fulton Theatre (Castagna Hall) — 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster, through May 17. Only Castagna Hall show of the season. | $20–$74

Oklahoma! at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre — 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster, through May 10. Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun showtimes. | $55 show-only / $78 matinee / $83 dinner + show

Joshua at Sight & Sound Theatres — 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks. Tue–Sat showtimes. | From $115 (~$190 avg)

Friday High 63°F, low 38°F.

Saturday High 54°F, low 42°F.

Sunday High 58°F, low 36°F.

STOMP | International percussion sensation — matchboxes, brooms, garbage cans, the works | 7:30 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Highway E., Lancaster | $44 / $54 / $64 / $84

First Friday Live Music at South County Brewing (outdoor season opener) | Local artists. First Friday of each month. Outdoor performances start tonight. | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | South County Brewing Co., 26 W. King St., Lancaster | No cover

Corty Byorn & The Light | Indie / Singer-Songwriter (Lancaster local with full band) | 8:00 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | No cover

High Fever: Babes On Bikes | Rock / Alternative | 8:30 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | No cover

FILTH! with Inferious and Monochromatic Black | Hip-hop-influenced extreme metal | 7:00 PM doors | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $5–$25

Soporus, Tyler Pursel, and Tom Gluibizzi | Indie / Singer-Songwriter triple bill | 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM | West Art (Sanctuary), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Tickets via Humanitix (check westartlanc.com)

Live at Stoner Grille (weekly Saturday) | Rotating weekly lineup — check @StonerCommons for week's act | Evening (typically 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM) | Stoner Grille, 605 Granite Run Dr., Lancaster | No cover

Love Rocket | Funk / Soul / Rock | 10:30 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | No cover (late show)

Bluegrass Jam Session with Jordan Rast | Bluegrass open jam — bring your instrument or just listen | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | No cover

Big Cricket String Band with Andy and the Dandy (CD Release) | Old-Time Appalachian String Band from Baltimore — raucous, rollicking, double-fiddle. CD release party. Standing in City Hall; reserved balcony seats available. | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM | West Art (City Hall), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $20 advance / $25 door (all ages)

Thanks for reading The Lancaster Ledger today. If you found something useful, please share it with that one friend who reads every historical marker, plaque, and museum placard all the way through, every time. This is their weekend.

Cheers!

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