Christmas in Lancaster County
Bringing Back the Magic and Memories of Christmas
There is something about Christmas that has a wonderful way of taking us back.
Perhaps it’s the glow of lights on an old ornament, the smell of something baking in the kitchen, a familiar Christmas song, or simply the feeling of coming inside from a cold winter evening.
At The Inn & Spa at Intercourse Village, Christmas isn’t simply a season we decorate for. It’s something we love sharing.
Our decorating begins November 15, as the Inn gradually fills with greenery, lights, treasured decorations and pieces from a Christmas collection gathered over many years.
And every year, Christmas at the Inn is just a little different.
Christmas Is Meant to Be Remembered
Hospitality has been the cornerstone of my life, and somewhere along the way another passion became intertwined with it: antiquing, and more specifically, Christmas antiquing.
Over the years, my collection of “anything Christmas” has grown, but I’ve discovered that it isn’t simply the collecting that thrills me. These old ornaments, decorations and traditions have a wonderful way of bringing back memories of Christmases past.
Think back to being seven years old, lying beneath the Christmas tree and looking up as far as you could see. The sparkle of the lights. Your favorite ornaments. A child’s imagination making the whole thing seem almost impossibly magical.
That’s the feeling I try to bring to Christmas at the Inn.
Each year we decorate a little differently, filling the Inn with pieces collected over many years and Christmas memories both old and new. Around every corner, I hope you’ll discover something that brings back a memory of your own.
It’s simply my way of bringing together two things I love: hospitality and Christmas.
— Carl, Innkeeper
A Christmas Getaway
in Lancaster County
One of the things we love most about Christmas in Lancaster County is that there is no single way to experience it.
You can dress for dinner and a show in downtown Lancaster, wander through a Christmas market, spend an afternoon antiquing, browse the shops of Kitchen Kettle Village, or simply return to the Inn and enjoy a quiet winter evening together.
Two Nights of Christmas
Begin your getaway with dinner in downtown Lancaster. One of our favorites for a special evening is Josephine’s.
The following day, go antiquing, explore the shops and Christmas atmosphere of Kitchen Kettle Village, and then make an evening of it with a performance at the historic Fulton Theatre or American Music Theatre.
And somewhere in the middle of all that Christmas activity, leave yourself a little time to do absolutely nothing.
You are staying at an Inn, after all.
Stay a Little Longer
Give yourself a third night and Christmas becomes a little less about fitting everything in and a little more about enjoying it.
Spend the extra day wandering through Lititz or make a visit to the National Christmas Center in Elizabethtown before returning to Intercourse for another cozy evening at the Inn.
We’ll share more of our favorite itineraries as Christmas gets closer.
A Few of Our Favorite Christmas Traditions
There is much more coming as Lancaster County prepares for the holidays. Some of the traditions we look forward to each year include performances at the Fulton Theatre, Lancaster’s Christmas markets, holiday celebrations at the Lancaster Liederkranz, the Brass Tree lighting in downtown Lancaster, and the holiday festivities at Kitchen Kettle Village right here in Intercourse.
And, of course, our own village Christmas Market is one we’re particularly proud to call a neighborhood tradition.
Check back as the season approaches. We’ll continue adding our favorite events, dining suggestions and ideas for experiencing Christmas in our corner of Lancaster County.
Santa Isn't the Only One Making Christmas Plans
December reservations are already underway.
If a few days filled with old-fashioned Christmas atmosphere, wonderful meals, a show, a little antiquing and some quiet time together sounds like your kind of Christmas, we’d be delighted to welcome you.
Come discover Christmas in Lancaster County and perhaps make a few new memories of your own.
