Maple Grove Raceway

Race season is officially upon us, and the track at Maple Grove, in Mohton PA, is heating up this summer! From now until November, events are held weekly, with many special events sprinkled throughout. On a weeknight you can catch some street racing, and even bike races, then on the weekends catch features from NHRA Drag Racing. This year marks the 50th year of continuous operation, so make plans to join them for their anniversary celebration the weekend of June 23rd.  

Adamstown Inns & Cottages is located just 15 minutes West of Maple Grove Raceway, allowing for a quiet night's sleep, after an exciting day at the track. The vacation home is perfect for family trips, or even a weekend away with the guys. If you’re visiting during the week, the raceway often has events in the evenings, so check the schedule for daily races. The following are some of the major events that you won’t want to miss; we hope to see you this race season!

ADRL Northeast Drags II: May 4-5

Part of the American Drag Racing League, this series is the third of ten races on the tour. Seven all professional classes will be competing this weekend.

Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series: May 24-27

An official drag racing series under the NHRA, featuring stock, dragsters, and sportsman.

Mega Mopar Actions: June 8-10

This weekend boasts six classes, including hemis, nostalgia, and electronics. A swap meet and car show conclude this weekends events.

VW June Bug Classic: June 16

With 5 series, a car show, and a flea market, this Saturday is sure to be jam packed!

Super Chevy Show: July 19-22

One of the biggest events held at Maple Grove, focused specifically on the Chevy! Part of a 12 event series, it showcases the best in drag race, car corral, car show, and swap meet.

Launch Music Conference & Festival in Downtown Lancaster

Lancaster County is soon to be jamming with hundreds of musical performances and thousands of people. The LAUNCH music festival and Conference is hosting its fourth year at the end of this month, April 26-29. This event features musical acts from every genre, as well as educational sessions, and a trade show. Downtown Lancaster will keep you entertained, but I recommend retreating to Adamstown Inns & Cottages for a peaceful nights sleep. This luxurious bed and breakfast has all the amenities to help you relax and energize you for a full day of music!

The conference is designed for musicians to network, learn tricks of the trade, and connect with mentors to help further their careers. Panel sessions range from information on touring and how to get signed to legal matters and performance techniques. With Q&A sessions from music industry professionals, this is a great opportunity for bands and musicians to connect with others who have experience in this career field.

If you just happen to be a lover of music, then the festival is where you want to focus your time! Bands will be performing at the Lancaster County Convention Center, the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, and the surrounding blocks. A plethora of artists, from beginners to headliners, will be performing rock, jazz, pop, folk, punk, and more. There will be a band for everyone at this festival, so check the schedule and start planning!

If you need a break from the music scene, spend your mornings perusing the antiques in Adamstown. The first Antique Extravaganza weekend this year is April 26-29. Stoudts, Mad Hatter, and Shupp’s Grove are a few of the more popular vendors, but there are so many shops to choose from that you’ll need to plan another visit just to see them all!

Lancaster's Secrets and Murder Mysteries

Do you love going away on vacations, but despise the planning and organization that takes place to make it a successful trip? Hopefully with the activities in these blogs, you’ll have a fun trip to Lancaster County planned for your significant other, or your family, in no time!

The first option has all the legwork done for you, and even comes with coupons and great deals! Lancaster, PA is hosting their best kept secrets tour April 13-28. Similar to a home or garden tour, you’ll receive a list of 35 unique businesses that you can visit at your leisure. The exact locations are not released until you sign up and pay a small fee ($7 per ticket), but some of the places will include dairy farms, greenhouses, wineries, art galleries, Victorian mansions, and more.

The tickets are good for the entire time the tour is running, so you don’t need to squeeze everything into one day. You’ll be given tickets to be entered into drawings, as well as coupons to use at each location. Discovering the best places to visit just doesn’t get any easier than this!

How about an option with dinner and evening entertainment rolled into one? The dinner theatre at Mount Hope Estate & Winery is performing a murder mystery Friday and Saturday nights until April 21. Set in the year 1870, you’re invited to the grand opening of a train depot. While the celebration is in full swing, a murder is discovered upon the train, and someone aboard is the killer! Through an interactive adventure, you’ll help the cast uncover clues to solve this mystery.

Hosted by the same group of the PA Renaissance Faire, this is sure to be a great show! And your bellies will enjoy the meal too, as the entree reflects the theme of the show. Be sure to reserve your tickets soon, as the shows are selling out quickly.

And I’m sure the obvious choice for lodging during your stay is the Adamstown Inns & Cottages!

April: A Month of First In Lancaster County, PA

Many people use New Years to start something new or change a habit. But I think that with the blooming of flowers and the warmer days, we should make April a month of firsts! Why not start with spending a night at a bed and breakfast if you’ve never done that before. Adamstown Inns & Cottages has 6 luxurious rooms to choose from, and you’ll wonder how you ever enjoyed staying  in a hotel before! You’ll get to start your day with a gourmet breakfast before venturing out to a mud sale, or browsing through antique stores. You could even make a game out of it by allowing a $30 limit to spend and see who ends up with the neatest, or weirdest item at the end of the day!

If you happen to be in town the first week of the month, then you’re all set to stop by First Friday in Downtown Lancaster. Focused primarily on the arts, you can visit galleries, theatres, and exhibits. This month features a quilting exhibit at the new Ware Center. On the other side of Adamstown, you can enjoy First Thursday on Penn Corridor or First Friday in Downtown Reading. Perhaps this might be your first block party, or your first time in a new restaurant! While you’re in Reading, take time to hike up Mt. Penn and take a tour of the Pagoda. It’s definitely a strange site to see here in the US, but it’s a great visit if you’ve never been to one!

And let’s not forget to mention that Lancaster County is known for its Amish heritage. So if you’ve never milked a cow, or toured a working farm, this is definitely the place to do so! And as you’re traveling through the countryside, why not get around just like everyone else, in a horse and buggy. Finally in Downtown Lancaster, take your first spin around town on a segway or eat your lunch at the Central Market. Don’t forget to stop by the creamery and try a new flavor of ice cream!

Start planning your adventure of firsts during April, and I bet you’ll fall in love with Lancaster County! Who knows, this could be the start of a wonderful tradition!