Christmas village season is officially here, and the Lebanon Paper Box Company is set to deliver.
This weekend marks the first-ever Winter Wonderland Holiday Market at Boxie, the formidable structure sitting at the western edge of Downtown Lebanon.
The market opens Saturday, Nov. 30, with a full slate of vendors, artists, and concessions available to the public. The outdoor market will run from noon to 8 p.m. each Saturday through Dec. 28.
There are three places to park. The best way to enter the parking areas is from Willow Street, but access is also available from Cumberland and Jones Streets. There will also be signs directing traffic at the site.
It’s just the latest in a series of reinventions for the century-old building, which was home to an outdoor flea market this summer.
โThe whole idea of the flea market is just to let people know that this is not a vacant building,โ said building owner Bryan Donovan at the time, โthat itโs not a blight on the city.โ
The Holiday Market will be making much the same point โ but with 100% more hot cocoa, and a relaxing fire pit to boot.
Read More: Whatโs going on at the Boxie? A flea market for starters, maybe more
The schedule of entertainment for Saturday, Nov. 30 includes:
- 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Lebanon’s David Sears on acoustic guitar & vocals
- 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m Kutztown’s Michael Bordner plays & sings originals
- 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Harrisburg artist and musician Jonathan Frazier plays native flutes from around the world and other instruments
- 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Second set from Bordner
- 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Singer/songwriter Aaron Abercombie plays guitar and performs his latest originals
- 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Steitz City Players preview their upcoming holiday show
- 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Lebanon’s Dennis Easter Trio tops off the evening with cool and mellow jazz
Muralist Katie Trainer will be doing live ice sculpting starting at noon Saturday.
Find the schedule for the rest of the season below.
At the Holiday Market, there will also be an opportunity to pick up your live Christmas tree (and, don’t worry โ spotted lanternflies are not a concern there). Christmas tree sales begin Friday night, Nov. 29, at 4 p.m. with the tree stand being open daily 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. from that point on.
Lebanon’s newest brewery, Under the Bridge Cider, will be there Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. offering tastings and growler fills.
Read More: Under The Bridge cidery coming to Downtown Lebanon
Local artist, Re:Create Arts founder, and Spinstock organizer Jandi Lea Goshert has assisted Donovan with promotion and vendor/sponsor wrangling in the lead-up to the event.
Expect concessions at the market to include 717 Tacos, Tiki T’s Mini Donuts & Cookie Dough, The Important Thing, and more.
It might be the perfect chance to pick up your locally-made holiday gifts, too. Products on sale will include handmade arts & crafts, pottery, pet accessories & treats, holiday decor & ornaments, wood turned pens & bottle stoppers, jewelry, musician accessories, suncatchers, baskets, vintage & upcycled items, coffee beans, and more.
Lebanon-based interior design Danielle Gundrum of Red Couch Interiors will also be setting up a “Bring Your Own Camera Set” that might be the perfect place to grab a family portrait or (much more likely) some festive selfies for social media this holiday season.
For more about the Winter Wonderland Holiday Market, follow the Lebanon Paper Box on Facebook, and find the full entertainment schedule for the rest of the season below.
December 7
- 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Traditional Irish tunes by The Gansey Brothers
- 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Reading’s Joey Pahl on acoustic guitar and vocals
- 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Palmyra acoustic duo sensation The Neighborly
- 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Lancaster trio Electives, unplugged
Saturday December 14
Community Caroling and Ugly Sweater Contest – Caroling begins at 6:30 p.m., led by Abby Dupler. Ugly Sweater Contest begins at 7:00 p.m.
- 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Terry Strongheart on acoustic guitar & vocals
- 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Chris Laughery on a variety of instruments, performing genres from Renaissance folk songs to modern classic rock
- 5 – 6:30 p.m. Mt Joy’s Abigail’s Garden, a string ensemble featuring cello, violin, mandolin, and more
Saturday December 21
- 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. O’Callahan The Music Man performing traditional Irish tunes
- 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Luther Tyree
- 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Mt. Joy duo Muzette on flute & cello, providing new twists on classics
- 6:30 p.m – 7 p.m. Lebanon’s Amy Keller sings holiday favorites
Saturday December 28
- 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Mt. Joy duo Muzette on flute & cello, providing new twists on classics
- 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Terry Strongheart on acoustic guitar & vocals
- 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Home from the west coast, Ashley Cooper performs with her enchanting voice and acoustic strings along with Lancaster folk Americana favorite, Olds Sleeper
This post was updated with a new schedule and end time on Dec. 10.