The city's Christmas tree might come from your yard, plus a trick-or-treat street closure in Marietta

The Digest

Lancaster's Christmas tree could come out of your yard

The city of Lancaster and Lancaster's Economic Action for Downtown's Success are looking for the evergreen that will stand in Penn Square this holiday season. They want a healthy conifer at least 30 feet tall and full on all sides, from a property owner who was already planning to take it down. Send your name, address, phone number, the tree's location and a photo to city arborist Rick Anderer at randerer@cityoflancasterpa.gov or 717-291-4846 by Oct. 31.

The city cuts the tree down itself and mounts it in Penn Square shortly before Thanksgiving, and the donor gets recognized at the Mayor's Tree Lighting on Friday, Nov. 27. After the holidays it becomes mulch for city parks, which beats paying somebody to haul it away.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

Marietta is closing Market Street for trick-or-treat

Marietta Borough Council voted Oct. 13 to close Market Street between New Haven and Perry streets for the borough's trick-or-treat night, 5:30 to 8:30 PM on Saturday, Oct. 31. The idea came from council member Jill Gagliano, who lives on West Market and says her house got 300 trick-or-treaters last year. "It was a hot mess," she said. "Someone's going to get hit. Kids cross the street wherever they want."

The borough will announce the closure with signs and through Savvy Citizen, the app council recently started using to reach residents. If you live on West Market, plan on buying candy for 300.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

What's happening

Wednesday

Cooking for Tweens: Spooky Treats | Kids 10 to 12 cook up treats with a Halloween twist | 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM | Ephrata Public Library, 550 S. Reading Road, Ephrata | No admission listed

Cultivate Lancaster: Money, Money, Money! | An evening for founders and small business owners on how Lancaster startups get funded | 5 PM to 8 PM | Cultivate Lancaster, 2500 Columbia Ave., Lancaster | Free with RSVP

An Evening with Alix Harrow | The Hugo-winning author of witchy, folklore-soaked fantasy talks about her new story collection, hosted by Pocket Books | 6 PM to 8 PM | The Imperial, Grand Ballroom, 26 E. Chestnut St., Lancaster | $40, every ticket includes a copy of the book

Worldbuilding 101: Character Design & Visual Language | A one-night adult workshop at PCA&D on building your own world, lore and characters | 6 PM to 9 PM | Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, 204 N. Prince St., Lancaster | $50

Bad Art Club | Drop the perfectionism and make bad art on purpose, this month an Exquisite Corpse drawing, 18+, registration required | 6 PM to 8 PM | Lancaster Public Library, 151 N. Queen St., Lancaster | No admission listed

Trivia Night at Southern Market | Team trivia in the old market hall, $1 off beer and wine and gift cards for the top three teams | 7 PM to 9 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | No cover listed

Thursday

Fall Farm Day at Cherry Crest | The corn maze, pumpkin patch and farm play areas on a weekday without the weekend crowds | 10 AM to 5 PM, last admission at 4 | Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks | $25.95 online, $32.95 at the gate

Autumn Moss & Magic | Build a fall moss wall with preserved moss and air plants, BYOB | 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM | Gallery Grow, 320 N. Queen St., Lancaster | $55.20 on Eventbrite

Horror Book Club: Back for Blood | Pocket Books' October horror pick, no sign-up needed | 6 PM to 7 PM | Pocket Books, 903 Wheatland Ave., Lancaster | No admission listed

Strange Tales from the Southern End with Adam Zurn | Uncharted Lancaster's Adam Zurn on the strange secrets of southern Lancaster County, best for older kids, teens and adults | 6 PM to 7 PM | Quarryville Library Center, 357 Buck Road, Quarryville | Free

A Taste of Science | The Science Factory's 21+ fundraiser with science trivia, a Frisco's dinner, Thistle Finch cocktails and the exhibits after hours | 6 PM to 9 PM | Lancaster Science Factory, 454 New Holland Ave., Lancaster | $70

Library After Dark: Halloween Trivia | After-hours adult trivia on horror novels, spooky movies, haunted history and urban legends | 6:15 PM to 8:30 PM | Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster | No admission listed

Field of Screams | The haunted hayride, Den of Darkness, Frightmare Asylum and Nocturnal Wasteland, plus a free live band from 7 to 10 | Gates open 6:30 PM, ticket booth closes 9:30 PM | Field of Screams, 191 College Ave., Mountville | $40 Scream Pass, $23 hayride, $18 per attraction, cash only at the booth

Columbia Mardi Gras Halloween Parade | Bands, floats, fire companies and a steam calliope, this year celebrating Columbia's 300th | 7 PM, steps off at the Columbia Borough Fire Department | 10th and Manor streets, Columbia | No admission listed

Now Playing

Murder at Ackerton Manor | A three-actor Agatha Christie spoof in the Fulton's studio theater, through Nov. 8 | Wed 2 PM & 7:30 PM · Thu 2 PM & 7:30 PM | Fulton Theatre, Tell Studio, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Prices vary, call the box office at 717-397-7425

Spring Awakening | The Tony-winning Duncan Sheik musical about teenagers in a town that won't answer their questions, recommended for 17+, through Oct. 25 | Thu 7:30 PM | Ephrata Performing Arts Center, 320 Cocalico St., Ephrata | $38 to $57 including fees

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical | The Carole King story over dinner, through Nov. 7 | Wed dinner 6 PM, show 7:30 PM · Thu dinner 5:30 PM, show 7:30 PM | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster | $83 dinner and show, plus a $3 fee

Dear Soldier Boy | The Amish musical comedy about two friends writing letters to troops in 1990 plays its final show | Wed 1 PM | Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike #A, Bird-in-Hand | Show only $47 adults, $18 children

Joshua | Israel's journey from the Jordan River to the walls of Jericho, through Dec. 31 | Wed 11 AM & 3 PM · Thu 11 AM & 3 PM | Sight & Sound Theatres, 300 Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks | $82 to $104 adults, $44 ages 2 to 12

Live music

Wednesday

Perfect Harmony: Inspiration! | The Lancaster County vocal trio with a live band, folk to Broadway to gospel | 6 PM to 8 PM | The Barn at Paradise Station, 312 Paradise Lane, Ronks | Ticketed, price not listed

Acoustic Open Mic with Andrew Pauls | Local songwriters play two or three songs each in the Art Bar, originals encouraged, sign-ups at 6:30 | 7 PM to 9 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | No cover listed

Bisking Studios Acoustic Open Mic & Jams | Bring an instrument and sign up in person, or come for dinner and listen | 7 PM to 9 PM | Hillside Spirits Co., 333 N. State St., Ephrata | No cover listed

Thursday

Then Sings My Soul | Lancaster County vocalists and a live band sing more than 30 hymns tied to Billy Graham's ministry | 7:30 PM to 9 PM | The Barn at Paradise Station, 312 Paradise Lane, Ronks | Ticketed, price not listed

Daikaiju with Mid Rats | Daikaiju headlines a 21+ Thursday show with Mid Rats opening | 8 PM, doors 7 PM | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $15 advance, $20 day of show