Shady Maple is the best buffet in America. Again.

The Digest

Shady Maple is the best buffet in America. Again.

Lancaster County just swept a chunk of USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice list. Shady Maple Smorgasbord in East Earl took the #1 buffet in America for the third year running, Miller's Smorgasbord in Ronks landed at #3 (Florida's Der Dutchman snuck in at #2), and the rest of the county showed up in force: Kitchen Kettle Village at #4 best shopping center, Beiler's Doughnuts at #10 best doughnut shop, Lancaster Balloon Rides at #8 best balloon ride, and Boscov's at #6 best department store.

USA Today described Shady Maple as serving "delectable Pennsylvania Dutch dishes" and noted it "just might be the largest buffet in the country." Miller's got called "warm and homey." Sounds about right.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

Breakfast Quest: The People Have Spoken

The votes are in. 98.6% of you said YES to finding the best breakfast sandwich in Lancaster County.

One person voted no.

We don't know who you are, but I'm just going to assume you accidentally clicked the wrong button or something like that. No hard feelings.

The Breakfast Quest is officially on.

Next Wednesday, Issue Nº 60, THE HUNT IS ON. Submissions open. The form goes live. I'll need your nominations: the gas station you swear by, the bakery you found by accident, the diner where the same cook has been on the griddle since the '90s. Send them all. Every nomination puts another pin on the map.

Until then: start scouting. Take notes. Train your stomach.

What's happening

Friday

Riverfest Weekend Kickoff | Opening day of the Riverfest weekend across Columbia and Wrightsville with boat tours, river trail activities, and a walking tour. | 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM | Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St., Columbia | Most activities free; some tours ticketed

Terre Hill Days Festival (Friday Night) | Opening night of the three-day Terre Hill community festival with carnival rides, food, magic, and music. | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Terre Hill Park, 210 Lancaster Ave., Terre Hill | Free admission

63rd Annual Lititz Antiques Show | County's oldest country antiques show: 50+ dealers at Warwick Middle School. Runs through Saturday. | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Warwick Middle School, 401 Maple St., Lititz | $10 door / $9 advance

Full Moon Hike at Governor Dick | Naturalist-led night hike at Clarence Schock Memorial Park timed to the actual full moon. | 9:00 PM | Clarence Schock Memorial Park Environmental Center, 949 Pinch Rd., Mount Gretna | Free

Paint & Sip: "Let It Bee" | Bee-themed painting class at Nissley Vineyards with a glass of wine included. | 6:00 PM | Nissley Vineyards, 140 Vintage Dr., Bainbridge | $50 (via Eventbrite)

Saturday

Ephrata Cloister 250th Anniversary Celebration | Daylong America 250 event focused on the Cloister's Revolutionary War hospital history, with live Americana music, period displays, and food vendors. | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Ephrata Cloister, 632 W. Main St., Ephrata | $5 (free for members and kids under 3)

Celtic Fling & Highland Games | Two-day Scottish/Irish festival at Mount Hope with pipe bands, dancing, games, and traditional food. Also runs Sunday. | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Mount Hope Estate & Winery, 2775 Lebanon Rd., Manheim | $37.95 adult / $16.95 child

Bridge Burner Run & Paddle Challenge | Multisport race up the river trail to the Iron Furnaces, paired with a free outdoor recreation expo at the start/finish. | 9:00 AM start | Columbia River Park, 41 Walnut St., Columbia | Race registration required; expo free

Terre Hill Days (Saturday + Fireworks) | Full festival day capped by America 250 fireworks at 10 PM. | 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM | Terre Hill Park, 210 Lancaster Ave., Terre Hill | Free admission

63rd Annual Lititz Antiques Show (Day 2) | Closing day. Doors open early. | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Warwick Middle School, 401 Maple St., Lititz | $10 door / $9 advance

Theodore A. Parker III Natural Area Hike & Creek Wade | Lancaster County Parks–led nature hike with a creek-wade option. Wear sandals or water shoes. | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Theodore A. Parker III Natural Area, lower gravel lot off Stehman Rd., Lancaster | $3 per person

1st Annual Classic Car Show at Kelly Cadillac | Inaugural local car show on the dealership lot. Free for spectators. | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Kelly Cadillac, 1986 State Rd., Lancaster | Free for spectators

Lancaster Freethought Society: Consciousness-Raising Revisit | Discussion group meeting at the downtown library. | 3:30 PM | Lancaster Public Library, 151 N. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Comedy Night at Columbia Kettle | Touring stand-up comedy night at Columbia Kettle Works, part of a nationwide comedy tour. | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Columbia Kettle Works, 40 N. 3rd St., Columbia | Tickets via Eventbrite (price posted at the door)

Sunday

Riverfest Finale: Lighting of the 26 Bridge Piers | First time all 26 piers of the Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge are lit simultaneously since 2013. Veterans Memorial Bridge closes to vehicles for the show. | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | John Wright Restaurant Lawn, 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville | Free; VIP party ticketed

Celtic Fling & Highland Games (Day 2) | Closing day of the Mount Hope Scottish festival. | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Mount Hope Estate & Winery, 2775 Lebanon Rd., Manheim | $37.95 adult / $16.95 child

Terre Hill Days Community Picnic | Casual closing picnic to wrap up the three-day festival. | 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM | Terre Hill Park, 210 Lancaster Ave., Terre Hill | Free

Lancaster Hiking Club: Pinnacle Trail 10-Miler | Group hike up the Pinnacle Trail. Carpool meet at Buchanan Park. | 7:00 AM departure | Buchanan Park, Race & Buchanan Aves., Lancaster | Free

Golden Eagle Hikers at Governor Dick | Easier Sunday-afternoon hike at Clarence Schock Memorial Park. | 1:30 PM | Clarence Schock Memorial Park Environmental Center, 949 Pinch Rd., Mount Gretna | Free

Lancaster Bicycle Club Sunday Fun Ride | Casual Sunday morning group ride starting from Masonic Village. | 10:00 AM | Masonic Village, 1 Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown | Free

Swatara State Park Flora & Fauna Walk | Naturalist-led walk through Swatara State Park along the Trout Run Trail. | 2:30 PM | Trout Run Trailhead, Swatara State Park, Old State Rd., Lebanon | Free

Now Playing

West Side Story | Fulton's mainstage production of the Bernstein–Sondheim classic. Closing weekend. | Fri 7:30 PM · Sat 2 PM & 7:30 PM · Sun 2 PM | Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Tickets at thefulton.org

Mary Poppins (Opening Weekend) | Dutch Apple's summer musical opens Friday with dinner and a show. Practically perfect in every way. | Fri 6 PM dinner / 7:30 PM show · Sat 11:30 AM lunch / 1 PM show, 6 PM dinner / 7:30 PM show · Sun 11:30 AM lunch / 1 PM show | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster | $55 show only / $83 with dinner

Live music

Friday

Stone Horses w/ The Blues Vultures | Rock / Blues | 7:00 PM | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $20 advance / $25 day of show

Leo DiSanto & Friends | Variety | 8:00 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free

Kenny Mark | Acoustic | 6:30 PM | Big Dog Craft Brewing, 1559 Manheim Pike, Lancaster | Free

Rich Scott Project | Acoustic | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Smucker Village (Corner Coffee Shop), 3526 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse | Free

Kyle Hancock Trio | Jazz | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

DJ Buff Baby presents: The Party Before the Party | Themed DJ Dance Party | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Sickman's Mill, 671 Sandhill Rd., Pequea | Free

Saturday

Bit Brigade performs Mega Man X w/ Super Guitar Bros | Video Game Rock | 8:00 PM | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $20 advance / $25 day of show

Broadway Rave | Live-Band Broadway Sing-Along | 7:00 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | $34 advance

The Thompson Triplets | Rock | 10:30 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free

Phyllis Sands | Acoustic | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Smucker Village (Corner Coffee Shop), 3526 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse | Free

Jeff Miller | Acoustic | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Sunday

The Ringgold Band (Long's Park Summer Series Opener) | Patriotic Brass Concert + Fireworks + Drone Show | 7:30 PM | Long's Park Amphitheater, 1441 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster | Free

Sharp Pins (West Art + WXPN Welcome) | Indie Rock | 7:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $15 advance / $20 day of show

Irish Session with Paraic Keane | Traditional Irish | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free

Big Boy Brass Band (Riverfest Ignite Finale) | Brass | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | John Wright Restaurant Lawn, 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville | Free

Rumours with Clownvis Presley | Tribute Rock | 8:00 PM | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | Call venue for ticket info