WinterFest and Tree Lighting in Downtown Lancaster

Downtown Lancaster celebrates the start of the holiday season with WinterFest and Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from noon to 5:30 p.m. around North Broad Street. Destination Downtown Lancaster organizes the day, and the free activities make it an easy drive down U.S. 33 for families on the southeast side of the metro.

Plans include free horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown, visits with Santa, family activities, a scavenger hunt, and holiday music, with the town Christmas tree lit as the afternoon winds down. Broad Street's shops, cafes, and restaurants stay busy with holiday shoppers, so it pairs well with an early dinner.

The event is part of Visit Fairfield County's Tinsel and Traditions Trail of holiday happenings, and it comes the weekend after Lancaster's Small Business Celebration Weekend. Organizers note that more details will post on the Destination Downtown Lancaster social channels as the date gets closer.