As fall draws closer, and the temperatures start to decrease, it’s the perfect time to plan out a night filled with new exhibitions, demonstrations and perhaps even a horror flick.
September’s First Friday in Lancaster city has 25 events to check out, including new exhibitions in galleries like Third Story Art, Lancaster Art Vault, David Lyall Home & Design and EsoArts, among many others.
Lancaster Print Crawl also returns for this First Friday. Attendees can buy a blank poster and walk around Lancaster city, learning more about printing processes and getting a neat poster out of it, too.
Don’t forget about the First Friday trolley, which runs in a loop from 5-7:30 p.m. and includes locations like Ewell Plaza, Sweetish Candy, Gallery Row, the Ware Center and Southern Market.
Here are 25 events to check out for September’s First Friday.
READ: 7 events in Lancaster County this weekend, from Lancaster Print Crawl to One World Festival
Baldwin’s Gallery
Baldwin’s Gallery will continue to display works from its exhibition, “Bringin’ the Heat,” featuring works from artists Kat Monster, Jazmine Gabriel, Chelsea Graham, Bashae Josephs, Lee Shannon, Karen Schory and Eric Tonzola. There will also be a few discounted items throughout the gallery.
More information: Baldwin’s Gallery in Altana (second floor), 26 E. King St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-9 p.m. | More info
Covenant United Methodist Church
For this month’s concert, part of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Concert Series, the American Guild of Organists will perform at Covenant United Methodist Church.
More information: Covenant United Methodist Church, 110 N. Mulberry St., Lancaster | Hours: 6-7 p.m. | More info
Curio Gallery & Creative Supply
Curio will debut its latest rendition of its annual collection, “Pocket Art Swap.” The swap, themed after memories, features 240 miniature pieces of art from 16 local artists. The gallery configures them into new displays, and at the end of the exhibition, participating artists take home 16 artist-made works.
This exhibition will be on display through Sept. 28.
More information: Curio Gallery & Creative Supply, 106 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster | Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., opening reception runs from 5-8 p.m. | More info
David Lyall Home & Design
David Lyall Home & Design will host works from photographer Bryan Thomas’ collection, “Through My Lens: Iceland.” Thomas has visited Iceland six times since 2017, and has taken photos of his journey.
More information: David Lyall Home & Design, 241 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m. | More info
Demuth Museum
The Demuth Museum will continue to show its collection called “Fresh Focus,” featuring works from Charles Demuth’s still-life painting collection. It was inspired by the museum acquiring Demuth’s painting, “Apples.”
The exhibition will be on display through Oct. 20.
More information: Demuth Museum, 120 E. King St., Lancaster | Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | More info
EsoArts
EsoArts will feature works from photographer Charlie Valentine Grae. Half of all proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the RASE Project, which helps people struggling with substance abuse. There will also be flash tattoos on site, as well as crafted cocktails from Lancaster Distilleries.
More information: EsoArts, 317 N. Queen St., Lancaster | Hours: 6-10 p.m. | More info
Ewell Plaza
“Markets & Makers” returns this First Friday, featuring several local makers with wares for sale. This makers market continues monthly on First Fridays through October.
More information: Ewell Plaza, 123 N. Queen St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m. | More info
First Reformed Church
The First Reformed Church will host guest organist Ken Krause as he performs a selection called “Organic Reflections: The Lighter Side from Living Composers.” Krause will perform songs like “Procession” by Russell Schulz Widmar and “Grand Choeur in d-Minor” by Paul Fey.
The church’s courtyard will host an “Art in the Garden” event featuring local artists, some of whom will paint while others will show and sell their works.
More information: First Reformed Church, 40 E. Orange St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m., Art in the Garden; 8-8:30 p.m., concert | More info
READ: Lancaster MusicFest returns this weekend; we caught up with Dimestore Dolls before the festival
Friendship Heart Gallery
The Friendship Heart Gallery will debut a new exhibition, “Vibrant Expressions,” which features colorful and playful works. Gallery Manager Leah Scheib describes it as the gallery’s “most vibrant and detailed exhibition to date.”
All works of art are created by artists with intellectual disabilities or autism.
More information: Friendship Heart Gallery, 118 N. Water St., Lancaster | Hours: 4-8:30 p.m. | More info
Historic Preservation Trust
The Historic Preservation Trust will host works by two artists, ceramicist Kimberly Reddinger-Weit, of Studioweit, and painter Evanna Morris, of Evanna’s Original Artworks.
More information: The Sehner-Ellicott-Von Hess House, 123 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m. | More info
Karen Anderer Fine Art
Karen Anderer Fine Art will continue to show the complete collection of Robert A. Nelson’s artwork, on display through Sept. 9.
More information: Karen Anderer Fine Art, 146 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. | More info
KelSas Sweet Box
KelSas Sweet Box will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a weekend of events. It starts Friday with samples and sales from Grandview Vineyard, demonstrations by Handcrafted by Grace, a build-your-own floral bar with Longbourn Blooms and a photo booth.
More information: KelSas Sweet Box, 25 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Hours: 5:30-8:30 p.m. | More info
Lancaster Art Vault
Lancaster Art Vault will debut two new exhibitions — “Rhythmic Impressions: Art of Jazz, Roots and Blues” and “Emotional Alchemy: Identifying with the Color of Music.”
“Rhythmic Impressions” will showcase works from artists Tim Ellis, Al Moretti, Dane Tilghman and Aubrey Maurer, featuring vivid and expressive works of art.
“Emotional Alchemy” focuses on works from artist Marcy Stone that are inspired by music.
Lancaster Art Vault will also have refreshments from Spring House Brewing Company.
More information: Lancaster Art Vault, 100 N. Queen St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8:30 p.m. | More info
Lancaster Galleries
Lancaster Galleries will debut a new exhibition featuring works from artist Jeff Geib’s collection, “Sculptures and Drawings.” This exhibition will be on display through Sept. 28.
More information: Lancaster Galleries, 34 N. Water St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m. | More info
Lancaster Museum of Art
The Lancaster Museum of Art will continue to host works from its latest exhibition, the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society 45th Annual International Juried Exhibition.
The exhibition will be on display through Sept. 15.
More information: Lancaster Museum of Art, 135 N. Lime St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m. | More info
Lancaster Print Crawl
The eighth-annual Lancaster Print Crawl event returns this Friday. Attendees will start with a blank poster and travel to several different print shops in Lancaster city, all within a .75-mile path. At each stop, participants will add a component to their Print Crawl poster. Some of the processes attendees will see include screen printing, stamping, laser cutting and more.
Visit Lancaster Print Crawl’s website for a full list of participating locations.
More information: Pickup begins at Ewell Plaza, 123 N. Queen St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-9 p.m. | Cost: Pay-what-you-can, between $5-$20 per poster | More info
READ: Sight & Sound’s next film will be about George Whitefield, a founder of the evangelical movement
Mulberry Art Studios
Mulberry Art Studios will display works from artist Jeremy Lee Rebuck’s collection, “Isolation.” Rebuck created these abstract paintings in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I share it with the world in hopes of helping, connecting and inspiring others while raising awareness for mental health,” says Rebuck in an artist’s statement.
The gallery will also host works from artist James Hecker’s collection, “A Decade Plus of Texture,” which features highly textured abstract works.
More information: Mulberry Art Studios, 19-21 N. Mulberry St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m. | More info
The Parrot Gallery
The Parrot Gallery will display works from two artists in a collection called “Floral Fantasy.” Artists Carmalena Stoltzfus Iyengar and Kelli King collaborated for this collection, with Stoltzfus Iyengar creating watercolor paintings and King creating embroidered works.
This exhibition will be on display through Oct. 27.
More information: The Parrot Gallery at Community Mennonite Church, 328 W. Orange St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m. | More info
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design
The Pennsylvania College of Art & Design will host works from artist Karim Gavins’ collection, “Finding Karim.” Gavins was one of PCA&D’s resident artists, and he graduated from there in 2020. This exhibition will be on display through Oct. 4.
PCA&D will also host works from 2014 alumni Rachel Yinger’s collection “Re Union,” with pieces of art Yinger has created in the last 10 years.
More information: Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, 204 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-8 p.m. | More info
Red Raven Art Company
Red Raven Art Company will primarily showcase works from artist Susan Gottlieb’s collection, “Joy.” There will also be works from artists Gaylen Bray, Jeff Schaller, Lynnette Shelley and Steve Wilson.
More information: Red Raven Art Company, 138 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.| More info
Third Story Art
Third Story Art will show works from two collections for First Friday. Artist Mimi Shapiro will show 20 collaged works in a collection called “conTINue to iCloud.” This event runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In the evening, from 5-8 p.m., works from Third Story’s invitational exhibition, “Color & Texture” will be on display, featuring works from Beverly Gattorna, Stephanie Gibson, Nichole Madonna, Tracy Male and Scott Sneddon.
More information: Third Story, 44 N. Christian St., Suite 300, Lancaster | Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | More info
Tiny Town
Want to spend the night out for First Friday? Consider dropping your kids off at Tiny Town for a Kids Night Out, which will have food, snacks, drinks, games, crafts and playtime. Tiny Town recommends this event for children ages 3-10 years old.
More information: Tiny Town, 533 Janet Ave., Lancaster | Hours: 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Cost: $35 per child | More info
Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy
Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy will host an open house event during First Friday, where potential students could meet the teachers and tour the studio. There will be ballet demonstrations at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
More information: Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy, 214 W. Grant St., Lancaster | Hours: 5-7 p.m. | More info
The Ware Center
The Ware Center will host the 6th annual Peace Kids to the Rescue Art Show and Silent Auction, where auctioned works are created by children ages 4-19. Proceeds from the event will go toward Church World Services and the Arch Street Center.
Additionally, the Ware Center will show an exhibition, “Flowers need time to bloom” by Afghanistan-native artist Roohafza Emami. This exhibition will run through Sept. 27.
The Ware Center will also be a stop on the Lancaster Print Crawl.
More information: The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Hours: 6-8 p.m. | More info
Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse
As part of the theater’s monthly First Friday Fright Night series, Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse will show 1985 comedy-horror film “Hard Rock Zombies.”
More information: Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, 112 N. Water St., Lancaster | Hours: Starts at 9 p.m. | Cost: $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and students | More info