Hello Lancaster! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: World Cup watch party, dinosaur crafts, and free family movie night + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Local companies get support: The state announced Monday nearly $4 million in low-interest loans for three Lancaster County businesses to buy or build facilities, including Reist Popcorn Co., Strickler Investments, and Volley -- see how the loans work.
Campus expansion underway: Thaddeus Stevens College in Lancaster began building a residence and dining hall amid rising enrollment, adding housing for 150 and dining for 500. Construction will take 18 to 24 months -- see the campus plans.
Weekend road work ahead: From Friday, June 26 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, the 500 block of Duke Street near Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital will close, with traffic detoured to North Prince Street -- see the full closure details.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
DIY plant therapy: Whether your windowsill needs a glow-up or your brain needs a quick reset, Gallery Grow Plant Bar lets you build your own terrarium, pick up easy-care houseplants, and get hands-on with creative plant projects. Perfect for a midweek mood boost, and your monstera will approve.
Weekend sanity saver: When the weather flips or the kids start climbing furniture, Go ‘N Bananas packs laser tag, a ropes course, XD Dark Ride, bumper cars and Ballocity to burn it off. Even littles get Nani's Playhouse and Nico's Sensory Room, so you can actually breathe for a minute.
Your easy local reset: Long's Park nails low-key bliss, with a lakeside loop for strolls, multiple playgrounds for the small tornadoes, a sweet little petting farm, and the amphitheater concerts that quietly become the highlight of your week. Bring a blanket, let Lancaster do its thing.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
⚽ World Cup Watch & Block Party @ Penn Medicine Park | Thursday (6/25) at 4:00 PM – Nothing beats yelling at the TV with a crowd that actually knows offside. Penn Medicine Park is throwing a free World Cup watch and block party, with big screens, plenty of neighbors, and a Stormers game weaving through the madness for extra hometown bragging rights.
🥁 Intergenerational Drum Class @ Kreider Cultural Center (Manheim) | Thursday (6/25) at 6:00 PM – Yes, the library is getting loud, and it’s glorious. Tammi Hessen leads an intergenerational West African drum class with dancing, singing, and a Lion King story you play in. Consider it a quick trip without TSA. Drums provided, bring a shaker, and the whole crew.
🦖 Dinotastic Fun @ Lancaster Public Library | Friday (6/26) at 10:30 AM – Bring your tiny paleontologists for a summer of dinosaur crafts, hands-on activities, and the kind of ROAR-ing fun that burns off energy faster than the playground on a hot afternoon. Ages 3-12, walk-ins welcome, you get the glory of supervising and the fridge art.
🎬 Free Family Movie Night @ Binns Park | Friday (6/26) at 6:30 PM – Bring your lawn chair to Binns Park for the free America 250 movie series, every fourth Friday. Food trucks and a beer garden keep the grown-ups happy, the kids get The Sandlot, Hidden Figures, and more, and everyone pretends the blanket counts as seating.
🚗 1st Annual Classic Car Show @ Kelly Cadillac | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Take a cruise over to Kelly Cadillac for their 1st Annual Classic Car Show, open to all makes and models. It is part shine parade, part bench-racing session, and fully sanctioned gawking at chrome, fins, and questionable factory colors.
🐾 Jr. Wildlife Rehabilitator - Inside the Wild @ Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation | Saturday (6/27) at 2:00 PM – Got an animal-obsessed kid itching to play vet without involving the cat? Acorn Acres lets them step in as junior rehabilitators with experienced educators, practicing intake, weighing, mock meds, and wound care, then taking their 'patients' home to keep the learning and compassion going.
🎨 Pokémon Paint Party @ Southern Market Lancaster | Sunday (6/28) at 3:00 PM – Trade spreadsheets for Squirtle at this beginner-friendly Pokémon paint party, where you pick your starter and leave with an actual masterpiece, or at least fridge art. Guided class, all supplies included, all ages welcome, and kids under 14 need an adult sidekick.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Lancaster report Weather forecastToday — High: 82°F — Low: 60°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind around 8 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 85°F — Low: 65°F — Precip: 10%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. West wind 0 to 12 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. This house is wildThis Magnolia Cottage Model Home in Lancaster pairs open-concept living with polished custom touches, from the chevron dining room accent wall to the wall of windows in the 2-story family room. The garden kitchen, covered rear deck, and finished basement café bring the fun, while the owner’s suite, wainscoting, and fireplace add serious style.
Take a peek inside → |
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