This Weekend in Lancaster PA: Oct 23-25
This weekend in Lancaster PA, Oct. 23-25, is all about Halloween fun, a little theater and one last great corn-maze weekend. Here are 10 picks across Lancaster County, from downtown stages to a river-town costume parade, with the day, time and place for each.
Dates and times below were checked against each organizer's listing. Weather and schedules can change, so give the source a quick look before you head out.
Friday, Oct. 23
1. Jeffrey Gaines with Meaghan Farrell at the Ware Center
When: Friday, 7 to 10 p.m.
Where: Ware Center for the Arts, 42 N. Prince St., downtown Lancaster
Two singer-songwriters with midstate roots in the Ware Center's atrium. Harrisburg native Jeffrey Gaines has toured as a supporting act for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Tracy Chapman, so this is a big voice in a small room. It's presented with WITF Music.
Details: discoverlancaster.com (search "Jeffrey Gaines")
2. "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" at the Dutch Apple
When: Friday 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 1 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 7 p.m.
Where: Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Road, just off Route 30 west of the city
Dinner and a show, Lancaster style. The Carole King story runs through early November, so this is a good weekend to catch it before the holiday shows take over.
Details: dutchapple.com
All weekend in Lancaster County
3. "Murder at Ackerton Manor" at the Fulton Theatre
When: Running Oct. 16 through Nov. 8; check the Fulton for this weekend's curtain times
Where: Fulton Theatre's Tell Studio Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., downtown Lancaster
Seven characters, three actors and one ridiculous whodunit. It's a comedy tribute to Agatha Christie in the Fulton's fourth-floor studio, with general admission seating. It's a fun, low-key alternative to a big mainstage night.
Details: thefulton.org
4. Corn maze and pumpkin patch at Oregon Dairy
When: Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rides and farm activities close at dark.
Where: The Farmstead at Oregon Dairy, 2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz
A roughly 12-acre maze, a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch and a long list of farm games for the kids. This is the next-to-last weekend of the season, which ends Oct. 31. Friday daytime admission is discounted at the gate before 4 p.m.
Details: oregondairyfarmstead.com
5. Field of Screams in Mountville
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in October; check the site for gate times and pricing
Where: 191 College Ave., Mountville
For the grown-ups and brave teens. Four haunted attractions, including the Haunted Hayride, plus food, games and a beer garden. Busy nights cost more, so check the calendar before you buy.
Details: fieldofscreams.com
6. Lancaster Central Market
When: Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 23 N. Market St., off Penn Square, downtown Lancaster
Grab breakfast, fall produce and something sweet at the country's oldest continuously operated public farmers market. Go early on Saturday. Seriously.
Details: centralmarketlancaster.com
Saturday, Oct. 24
7. Manheim Township Halloween Carnival
When: Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Overlook Activities Center, 301 Golf Drive, Manheim Township
The township recreation department's 10th annual carnival, open to the public, with a costume contest and parade. An easy afternoon for families with little ones.
Details: discoverlancaster.com (search "Halloween Carnival")
8. "Joshua" at Sight & Sound Theatres
When: Saturday, Oct. 24; check Sight & Sound for showtimes
Where: Sight & Sound Theatre, 300 Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks
Sight & Sound's 2026 original production follows Joshua from the Jordan River to the walls of Jericho. If you've had out-of-town family asking to go, this is the one.
Details: sight-sound.com
9. Marietta Halloween Costume Parade (Albert's Pick)
When: Saturday, 4:15 p.m.
Where: Starts at Marietta Square, 1 S. Gay St., heads down West Market Street and ends at the Marietta Community House, 264 W. Market St.
There's also a kid-friendly haunted house and food trucks, according to LNP | LancasterOnline's 2026 parade roundup.
Albert's Pick: Make a whole Saturday out of Marietta. Walk the river town in the early afternoon, pop into the MH Art Gallery on West Market Street for "The Peace of Wild Things" (it runs through Nov. 15), then grab a curb spot for the 4:15 parade. Small-town Halloween at its best. And if you've ever wondered what living along the Susquehanna is like, it's a great way to get a feel for it.
Sunday, Oct. 25
10. Witches Brew Makers Market at West Art
When: Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: West Art - City Hall, 816 Buchanan Ave., near Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster city
A local makers market celebrating Lancaster creatives. Get some early holiday shopping done, then grab a coffee at West Art's bar. Street parking is around F&M, so be a good neighbor.
Details: visitlancasterpa.com
Planning a Lancaster PA weekend? A few quick tips
- Downtown parking: For the Fulton, Ware Center and Central Market, plan on a garage or metered street spot and a short walk.
- Next weekend is Halloween: Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and several more Lancaster County parades are on the calendar next week.
- Hungry before a show? My picks for the best downtown Lancaster restaurants are all an easy walk from Prince Street.
New to the area? Read 10 things to know before you move to Lancaster.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Lancaster PA this weekend?
For Oct. 23-25, 2026: live music at the Ware Center, theater at the Fulton, Dutch Apple and Sight & Sound, the Oregon Dairy corn maze, Field of Screams, the Manheim Township Halloween Carnival, Marietta's costume parade and a makers market at West Art.
Are there free Halloween events in Lancaster County this weekend?
The Marietta parade is a public street event, and the Manheim Township carnival is open to the public. Check each organizer's listing for any activity fees.
Is Lancaster Central Market open on Sunday?
No. Central Market is open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When does the Oregon Dairy corn maze close for the season?
The 2026 season ends Oct. 31, with special hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day.
Love weekends like this? Get the local's guide
If you're curious what's happening in Lancaster or thinking about moving here, grab my free Living in Lancaster guide. It covers the neighborhoods, the towns and the stuff locals actually do.
And if a weekend like this has you thinking about making Lancaster County home, book a quick call and I'll help you figure out where you'd fit best.
About Albert Linsdell
Albert Linsdell is a Lancaster, PA real estate agent helping buyers and sellers across Lancaster County, including Lancaster City, Manheim Township, Lititz, Ephrata and Mount Joy. He's known for numbers-first pricing, creative financing strategies, and a trusted contractor network that helps sellers get top dollar. He's rated 5 stars across 22 Google reviews. Book a call with Albert.
