3 Ways to Spend Memorial Day 2009 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday held annually on the last Monday in May. This year the dates are May 23 - 25, 2009. Parades will be sprinkled throughout the county to honor those who died in the service to their country. These parades often end at one of the local cemeteries where flags are placed on war veteran's tombs and memorial services follow.

There is plenty of fun to be had in the midst of Pennsylvania Dutch County on Memorial Day weekend besides
attending the parades:

Lancaster Barnstormers Baseball Game: http://lancasterbarnstormers.com/index.cfm

Address: Clipper Stadium
650 N. Prince St.
Lancaster, PA
Phone: (717) 509-4487
Dates & Game Times: May 23 @ 6:35 pm
May 24 @ 1:35 pm
May 25 @ 1:35 pm
Tickets: Prices vary with seating location

Baseball has been called America's favorite past time; so what better way to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with the Barnstormers! On Saturday, May 23, 2009 there will be special fireworks to help make this weekend an especially festive event. The game that night and on Sunday, May 24, 2009 will be played against the Bridgeport Bluefish. On Memorial Day it will be the Newark Bears against the Barnstormers. It should make for an exciting weekend.

While at the park you can enjoy traditional American cuisine from the vendors and enjoy hot dogs, peanuts, cheese steak, barbeque, Turkey Hill ice cream as well as Annie Ann's soft pretzels. On Memorial day Kunzler will be sponsoring Dollar Day hot dogs. The Picnic Area will be available for traditional Memorial Day food. For $28.00 per person you can enjoy:

Onion Rings
Chili con Carne
Cole Slaw
Pit Beef
Roasted Chicken
Kunzler Hot Dogs
Baked Beans
Watermelon Slices
Assorted Soda and Water

To make reservations for this delicious picnic faire call (717) 509-0880 to make your reservation today.

FlavorFest: http://www.parenfaire.com/index.html

Address: Mount Hope Estate and Winery
2775 Lebanon Rd.
Manheim, PA 17545
Phone: (717) 665-7021
Dates: May 23-24, 2009
Hours: Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tickets: $16.95 Adult (ages 12 and up)
$6.95 Children (ages 5-11)
FREE for children under 5

Start off your holiday weekend with sampling the flavors of Pennsylvania from culinary delights, wines and brews
available at the second annual Flavor Fest. Local restaurants will have their chefs on hand to provide cooking
demonstrations throughout the day. In the Crafty Kid Area, children will have the chance to have hands-on
experience in cooking, enjoy demonstrations and have cooking lessons. Adults can take advantage of learning form the chefs and brew misters how to pare wine and beer with meals. There will also be cooking lessons for adults and even a workshop on organic foods. Sampling from the variety of foods offered will prove a challenge, as each is absolutely yummo. Since there is no such thing as a great meal without great music, the festival will feature a fix of Folk, Jazz, American and Bluegrass as performed by local and national musicians. A soundtracks of the music presented will be available on CD; what a wonderful souvenir to plan on buying at the event. Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen will be on hand to sell one-of-kind items to the fair goers.Click here for a money saving coupon to this years' FlavorFest.

Lancaster Symphony Orchestra:http://www.lancastersymphony.org/
Address: Fulton Opera
12 N. Prince St.
Lancaster, PA 17608
Phone: (717) 397-7425
Dates: May 22-24, 2009
Hours: Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tickets: Prices range from $25.00 -$62.00 dollars depending on the location of your seats. Student discounts are
available.

For the musically minded, Rachmaninoff and 1001 Arabian Nights is being played by the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra from May 22-24, 2009. This may be the ticket for your holiday celebration. Allow yourself to be swept away on the strings as the maestro, Stephen Gunzenhauser, to transport to Russia with Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1: Santiago Rodríguez, piano are played. Then sit back and enjoy Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade. The music is hauntingly beautiful at times evoking images of nights of adventure in Arabia as the love story unfolds. "Carpenter, Krazy Kat - Jazz and Tin Pan Alley combine in a playful, sweeping musical pantomime of the classic comic strip".

Strasburg Rail Road:http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/wine-and-cheese.php
Address: Strasburg Rail Road
Route 741
Strasburg, PA 17579
Phone: (717) 687-7522
Dates: May 23, 2009
Hours: 6:00 pm
Tickets: Adults $30.00 (photo id is required to board the car)

Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as you travel the rural countryside in this picturesque part of Lancaster County. The train to Paradise with First-Class accommodations in the Parlor Car takes a leisurely 45 minute ride along the rails as you enjoy the sights of Amish children playing or farmers working their fields. Enjoy the complimentary wine, cheese and crackers while enjoying the scenery. Additional beverages such as beer, mixed drinks, premium wine and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. Tickets for this event sell out rapidly so if this is what you want to do Saturday, May 23, 2009 to help celebrate Memorial Day, get your tickets soon so you won't be disappointed.

There are many more events planned throughout the county to make you holiday weekend special. There is always so much to do and see in Lancaster. Life is never dull here; so come to Lancaster County, make some memories.