The Lancaster Ledger Edition #1(!!!)

Good morning, Lancaster. A 13-year-old kid just solved his neighborhood's problem by pointing out what was missing—a small corner store where kids could buy snacks. Meanwhile, a local flower farmer spent seven years waiting for seasons to turn just to photograph the perfect garden book. That's the energy we're running with today.

In today's Lancaster Ledger:

Let's get on into it.

— Collin

Lititz Fire & Ice Festival Returns Feb. 13–22 With Ice Sculptures, Live Carvings, and Winter Heat

The 10-day Lititz Fire & Ice Festival officially opens Friday, Feb. 13, at 4 p.m., when the town will glisten with freshly carved ice sculptures along Main and Broad streets, Juniper Lane, and the entrance to Lititz Springs Park. Thursday night starts us off with "Winter's Coolest Night Out," a special launch party from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Lititz Shirt Factory (5 Juniper Lane) featuring live ice carving, Big Boy Brass on the stage, and specialty drinks. This event is sold out.

Throughout the 10-day event, you can browse ice sculptures, grab warmth at downtown restaurants, or hit the Food Truck Court (Feb. 13–15 and Feb. 20–22 at Lititz Mutual Insurance, 2 N. Broad St.). There's also a Hot & Cold Crawl at participating restaurants with Fire & Ice-themed specials, a family scavenger hunt, a Lititz Ice Cream Festival (Saturday, Feb. 14, noon–4 p.m. at Lincoln Shoe Co., 100 W. Lincoln Ave.), and live music from pyrotechnics artist Molly Dazzle on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Lititz Springs Park and downtown Lititz, February 13–22, 2026

Gems Bodega & Cafe Opens Monday, Feb. 17 in Lancaster City—Inspired by a Kid's Good Idea

Emily Gonzalez, owner of Gems Catering and co-owner of Inna's Pierogies (which has a stand at Lancaster Central Market and a cafe near Lititz AND some of the best Pierogies in the entire world as far as I’m conerned), is opening a corner store and takeout cafe at 155 E. Ross St. in Lancaster city this Monday, Feb. 17. The 850-square-foot shop will sell candy, snacks, drinks, pastries, salads, ready-to-heat meals, subs, and coffee. It's taking over a space that was most recently a barbershop.

The idea came from her 13-year-old son, Michael, who noticed a lack of small corner stores in the neighborhood where kids could buy snacks. She said he encouraged her to open one, and she listened. I hope Michael also agreed to pick up some shifts at the Bodega! Gems Bodega & Cafe will serve as a new sales outlet for food she makes for her catering company, bringing convenience and community to the area. She doesn't initially plan to sell pierogies at the new location.

155 E. Ross St., Lancaster city — Opens Monday, February 17, 2026

Lancaster Roots & Blues Festival Celebrates 10 Years Feb. 27–Mar. 1: 50+ Concerts, One Wristband, "Spring Break for Adults"

The Lancaster Roots & Blues Festival returns to downtown Lancaster for its 10th anniversary February 27 through March 1. This intimate, artist-forward festival transforms the downtown core into a three-day, multi-venue music experience featuring 50+ concerts across indoor stages within a three-block radius—all accessible with a single wristband. The close-knit layout offers fans rare proximity to world-class performers.

Featured artists include Albert Cummings, Billy Price, Lamont Landers, Charlie Apicella & Jimmy Reed, The Yard Birds, Curtis Family C-Notes, Amani Burnham, Jimmy McClean Band, True Loves, and Sean "Mack" McDonald. The festival spans blues, soul, funk, Americana, jazz, roots, rock & roll, reggae, and zydeco. It's affectionately known as "Spring Break for Adults" and organizers expect thousands of attendees from across the Mid-Atlantic. Tickets range from $60 (single day) to $120 (three days), with VIP experiences at $175. Two dollars from every ticket goes to the U.R.G.E. Foundation's Jamaica hurricane relief efforts.

Downtown Lancaster, February 27–March 1, 2026

First Friday This Friday: 18 Events, 15+ Galleries, One Full Night Downtown

First Friday returns to Lancaster city this Friday, Feb., with 18 events, exhibitions, concerts and more. The Demuth Museum debuts "Demuth Student Salon," featuring works from students in the Demuth School of Art and other local schools, inspired by museum namesake Charles Demuth. The exhibition runs through March 22. The Lancaster Art Vault showcases three new exhibitions: "Expressions of Strength: A Celebration of Black Art and Identity" (featuring nine visual artists and 13 poets), "Grandma's Walls" (curated by late historian Lenwood Sloan, featuring Black art from talk show host Beverly Smith's private collection), and "Yes, And - A Very Fine Art Show by Soop!" (mixed media works from resident artist Soop).

Gallery highlights include Fescue Gallery's "Other Worldly" (Peter Mollenkof's collection), Holy Trinity Lutheran Church's "Trinity First Friday Lecture Series" with historian Tanya Kevorkian discussing G.H.E. Muhlenberg (a botanist, pastor, and farmer from 1753–1815), and The Ware Center hosting Korean folk-fusion band Sangjaru with two new exhibitions: "Vietnamese Boat People" (interactive storytelling about Vietnamese-Americans) and "Passages" (works by six local Asian-American artists). Curio Gallery offers an interactive "Free Space" installation where visitors can draw on the walls before the gallery moves to Prince Street.

Downtown Lancaster galleries and venues, Friday, February 14, 2026

Flourish Flowers Founder Trish Snyder Publishes "Backyard Cutting Garden"—A 200-Page Love Letter to Small Spaces

Trish Snyder, founder of Flourish Flowers in East Earl, has released her debut book "Backyard Cutting Garden"—a 200-page, beginner-friendly guide for flower lovers with small garden spaces. The book includes vibrant photography (all shot over seven years of waiting for seasons to turn), soil prep advice, composting guidance, plus profiles of over 40 common flowers and plants presented in bloom-time order.

Snyder started writing the book in 2019 after being inspired by questions from gardeners. She spent years writing in blocks and waiting for blooming seasons to get the right shots. Her goal: help gardeners grow easy, reliable cut flowers from late March through Christmas using small spaces. It all began with just 50 tulip bulbs in her own backyard cutting garden in East Earl in 2001. The book also includes 20 step-by-step projects with supplies and difficulty levels noted, from spring wrist corsages to Christmas wreaths. Snyder earned a Floral Design Certificate from Longwood Gardens' Continuing Education Program and now teaches classes at Flourish Flowers. As she says: "With a little garden, you can do a lot."

Released February 2026

Today (Tuesday, Feb. 11): High 34°F, low 27°F. Overcast skies. Bundle up if you're heading out.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 12): High 38°F, low 12°F. Mostly cloudy. Slightly warmer but still coat weather.

Coming up this week 📅

Thursday, February 13
Lititz Fire & Ice Festival officially opens at 4 p.m.

THANKS!

Thanks for reading Lancaster Ledger today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who loves Lancaster as much as you do.

See ya next time.