- 31. Gaufest
- Hosted by: G.T.V. Edelweiss, Reading, PA
- July 8 ~ 11, 2027 in Lancaster, PA U.S.A.
German immigrants, known as Pennsylvania Dutch, from the German word “Deutsch,” were among the very first to settle in this region, arriving as early as 1709. Drawn by William Penn’s promise of religious tolerance, they came primarily from the Palatinate, Bavaria, and Switzerland, settling across southeastern Pennsylvania and bringing with them their farming traditions, craftsmanship, and community values. Lancaster was home to a large and thriving German community from its earliest days, and that heritage runs deep throughout the city and county to this day. Lancaster County has been known as the “Garden Spot of America” since the 18th century, a nod to the rich soil and agricultural legacy cultivated by those early German-speaking settlers.
Today, Lancaster balances that deep-rooted heritage with a lively, welcoming modern character that has something for every visitor. The city of Lancaster offers a fascinating cultural landscape where traditional farm life coexists with a thriving arts scene, innovative restaurants, and a growing farm-to-table food movement, while the surrounding county remains home to America’s oldest Amish communities, where tens of thousands still live a centuries-old way of life. Whether you spend your free time browsing an open-air market, riding through the countryside, or exploring a living history museum, you’ll find that Lancaster County is a place where the traditions that brought us all here to celebrate are still very much alive.
NOTE: All drive times are calculated from the Lancaster County Convention Center
Step into a piece of living history at Lancaster Central Market, America's oldest continuously operating public market, dating back to 1730. About 60 vendors sell everything from fresh produce and meats to baked goods and international cuisine, representing Amish, Pennsylvania Dutch, and German traditions alongside Greek, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern flavors. Open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6 AM to 3 PM, it's the perfect place to wander, sample, and soak up the heritage that makes this region so special.
Walk: 5 minutes
If you think you know what a hearty meal looks like, Shady Maple is about to raise the bar. The largest buffet restaurant in North America, this Lancaster County institution features 200 feet of Pennsylvania Dutch cooking — 46 salad bar items, 3 soups, 8 homemade breads and rolls, 8 meats, 14 vegetables, and a full dessert spread including pies, cakes, and a sundae bar. And when you've had your fill, the attached gift shop spans over 40,000 square feet of unique finds, from Amish-crafted furniture to quilts and collectibles. A true Lancaster County experience from start to finish.
Drive Time: 35 minutes
Amish Meals at Home with Samuel and Ruth Lapp
For a dining experience unlike anything else in Lancaster County, an evening with Samuel and Ruth Lapp at their farm in Paradise is one not soon forgotten. Ruth and Samuel host groups at their home, serving hearty Amish favorites made from family recipes passed down through generations, including pot roast with gravy, baked chicken or chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, homemade noodles, fresh-baked bread with fruit preserves, and seasonal desserts like cakes, pies, and ice cream. Groups of 15 to 45 are welcome, and smaller parties may be paired with an existing group. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (610) 593-1206. Ruth will return your call to discuss availability, reservations and dinner options. Open Monday-Friday. It's a warm, unhurried meal around a table full of strangers who leave as friends
Drive Time: 30 minutes
For a slower, more peaceful look at Lancaster County, a ride with AAA Buggy Rides is a must. Located in the charming village of Intercourse, this family-run operation has been offering horse-drawn buggy tours through the Amish countryside for over 20 years, with three routes to choose from. The 35-minute Country Ride winds past Amish farms, rolling hills, and a one-room schoolhouse, while the 55-minute Covered Bridge Ride takes you through a historic bridge dating back to the 1800s. For the most immersive experience, the 65-minute Amish Farm Tour brings you right onto a certified organic dairy farm, where you can tour the barn and see how an Amish family works the land together. No reservations needed, open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Drive Time: 20 min
All aboard for a ride through history! Chartered in 1832, the Strasburg Rail Road is the oldest continuously operating standard-gauge railroad in the western hemisphere and the oldest public utility in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Today it invites guests of all ages to step back in time on a 45-minute round-trip steam train journey through the beautiful rolling hills, fields, and farmland of Lancaster County's Amish Country. Choose from coach, open-air, or dining car accommodations, and keep an eye out for the Pint-Sized Pufferbelly miniature railway, vintage pump car, and gift shops waiting at the station. With annual ridership exceeding 300,000 passengers, it's the most visited tourist railroad in the country.
Drive Time: 25 min
Located at 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike in Bird-in-Hand, the Amish Experience offers one of the most thoughtful and in-depth looks at Amish life available anywhere in Lancaster County. Guests can tour the officially designated Heritage Site Amish Country Homestead and one-room schoolhouse, catch the compelling five-screen theatrical production of "Jacob's Choice" to understand what it truly means to live Amish today, or hop aboard a climate-controlled minibus for a 90-minute guided tour through back-country Amish farmland. For those who want to go deeper, the Visit-in-Person Tour takes small groups inside three authentic Amish properties not normally open to the public, including a working dairy farm and an Amish home where you can ask questions firsthand. Open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from 11:30 AM to 5 PM, with walk-ins welcome.
Drive Time: 20 min
For a fun-filled day rooted in the rhythms of Lancaster County farm life, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks is hard to beat. With over 60 attractions spread across a 200-acre working cattle, poultry, and farming operation, there's something for every age. Wagon rides, animal encounters, live pig races, and nine food venues round out a full day of good old-fashioned fun.
Drive Time: 25 min
Perfect for the littlest members of your Gaufest family, Tiny Town is Lancaster's beloved indoor play space located at 533 Janet Avenue in the heart of the city. Set inside a converted warehouse, the 11 imaginative playhouses let kids step into their own pint-sized world (Wikipedia) , complete with a firefighter pole to slide down, an x-ray machine in the hospital, a mail delivery route, and much more. Play sessions run Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to noon and 1 to 4 PM , and the spacious seating area means parents can relax and recharge while the kids let their imaginations run wild.
Drive Time: 10 min
Designed for children ages 2 to 10 and their caregivers, the museum features a series of self-directed exhibits where kids take the lead, exploring, creating, and experimenting in a safe, hands-on environment. A highlight for Lancaster County visitors is the Little Valley Farm exhibit, where children can collect eggs in a hen house, climb aboard a real tractor, pick pretend apples, and learn what it takes to milk a dairy cow, a fitting nod to the agricultural heart of the region. Open Tuesday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 or 7 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Drive Time: 15 minutes
