pamfritz's blog

The first weekend of December come play with us for the second annual Find Your Belsnickle Tour of Inns. In Lancaster County, we embrace the mischievous Christmas tradition of Belsnickle.

Who is  Belsnickle?

During the 18th and 19th centuries, immigrants from Germany seeking freedom of religion settled in Lancaster County which offered a mild climate and rich soil ideal for farming. The Pennsylvania German word for Lancaster is Lengeschder. The dialect is Pennsylvania Dutch which is a derivative of the German language. And, you can still see old-world farming on the many Amish farms throughout the county.

These immigrants also brought their German traditions such as Belsnickle. The traditional Belsnickle would make home visits one to two weeks prior to Christmas to check up on the behavior of the children. He was ragged and disheveled and carried a switch to rap on the windows and doors and swat naughty children. Often the children would have to answer a question or recite a song or poem. In exchange, he would toss candies and gifts onto the floor and if the children picked up the gifts in front of Belsnickle they would receive a swat. While it may seem like a scary and harsh character, the tradition of Belsnickle is meant to be fun and amusing.

By the early 20th century, this tradition transformed from a single Belsnickle to a group of Belsnicklers, no longer carrying switches. The group would travel from farm to farm, invited in, then once they were unmasked, the hosts would give them donuts, molasses cakes and coffee. The rowdy merriment would begin after dark and end before midnight.

In celebration of this tradition Authentic Bed & Breakfasts of Lancaster County has brought together over 15 member inns to create the Find Your Belsnickle Tour. You are invited to come to experience the beautiful homes and properties decked out for the holidays and enjoy Christmas treats during your visits. Be sure to look for the Belsnickle at each inn and be entered in a prize drawing for every Belsnickle you find.

Tickets offer you the opportunity to tour the participating bed and breakfasts Saturday, December 3, 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 4, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., and includes an entry voucher for the National Christmas Center in Lancaster County. This one-of-a-kind museum explains the history of Christmas where you can discover worldwide traditions, walkthrough indoor exhibits, view antique Santas and experience memories that bring the holiday to life for all ages. (Voucher redeemable for one visit throughout the month of December).

Contact us at B.F. Hiestand House Bed & Breakfast for more information and to get your tickets in advance for $15 or $20 at the door on the day of the tours. Proceeds from the ticket sales go to Make A Wish foundation.  We also have rooms available the weekend of the tour so you can enjoy a full weekend of Christmas tradition, Lancaster style. You never know when Belsnickle will come tapping at your window!

Getting to Know York Fair

Known as the first fair in America, the York Fair was first held in the historic old town of York in 1765, eleven years before the nation was founded. A charter to hold that fair was granted to the people of York by Thomas Penn, son of William Penn in recognition of “the flourishing state to which the town hath arrived through their industry.” Those early gatherings were reported to have been “the liveliest days of the whole year.”

The fair originally existed as a two-day agricultural market on the town commons, now known as Penn Park. The annual fair has persisted and transformed through the storms and blooming of history, reflecting changes in American culture and local economy.

In 1997, the fair expanded from what had evolved into a nine-day fair to become a ten-day fair that now includes two full weekends. It opens on the first Friday after Labor Day and closes on Sunday of the second weekend of September.

Fair Entertainment and Exhibits

When it comes to entertainment York Fair has the music covered. With headliners like Tyler Farr, Chase Rice, Alabama, “I love the 90’s Tour”, and the daily lineup on the Radio Stage and Heritage Hall there will be plenty of boot-tapping and hip-swinging.

This county fair takes its livestock and agriculture seriously. Check out the animal birthing center and be sure to stop by the Farm Animal Learning Center that benefits 4-H Clubs of York County. Then mosey over to the Horticulture Hall and experience fresh local produce, wines, flowers and delicious baked creations.

With so much to see and do at the Fair, you never know what or who you’ll run into wandering the fairgrounds. You can find the full story of entertainment and exhibits at the York Fair Website.

An easy 18-mile drive from our Bed & Breakfast, you can fill your days wandering the grounds of a long lineage of history at the York Fair. Feel the gentle breeze of the last days of Summer– which actually may not be a breeze at all but the brush of a ghost enjoying the festivities along with you!

Relax at B.F. Hiestand House Bed and Breakfast after a day or two at the York Fair and your ghost friends stay with you for free.  

Make your reservations on our website or phone in your room request or questions.

It’s August. You know what that means. Harvesting of Summer produce is in full swing.  Farmers' markets are displaying brilliant colors and overflowing baskets. Take part in the harvest yourself and pick your own fruit straight from the tree. Here are some local spots we think you might enjoy:

1. Cherry Hill Orchards - With over 2,500 trees, Cherry Hill Orchards is the largest pick your own fruit farm and farmers market in Lancaster, PA. This family-owned orchard has over 100 cultivars of the newest and best strains of fruit available today. Pick your own fruit basket or stop by their onsite outlet and assemble a basket from the abundance of seasonal varieties. This pick your own orchard is closed Sundays. Check out the approximate ripening dates for specific fruits to help plan your visit.

2. Masonic Village Farm Market - Pick your own apples and pumpkins August - October. In addition to their pumpkins, sweet cherries, tart cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, and pears, this orchard grows over 50 varieties of apples. The availability depends on the kiss of Mother Nature. Check-in with the Farm Market for specifics. The Farm Market and bakery is open all year. They not only sell the produce and delectable creations from their own orchards but curate a farmer's market that includes many other fruits and vegetables produced by local farms.

3. Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market - August 6th & 13th is the 10th annual celebration of all things peachy! During the celebration, visitors can pick peaches straight from the trees. Flinchbaugh’s Orchard is home to more than 30 distinct varieties of succulent tree-ripened peaches, nectarines and plums. Flinchbaugh’s Orchard is a fourth-generation family-run farm located on the eastern side of York, PA. The Farm Market is open year-round offering a fresh locally sourced stock of fruits and vegetables, baked items, and a wide variety of specialty foods, gifts and plants.

4. Brown’s Orchards & Farm Market - The peak month for ripe juicy peaches is August. Weather permitting, you can pick peaches Monday-Sunday. You might even find some blueberries. Just 3 minutes from Brown’s Farm Market is their Yellow Church Road Farm where you can pick the available seasonal fruit. If your visit to Brown’s Orchards coincides with August 26th, you may enjoy this month’s culinary dinner experience - it’s all about the peaches.

The incomparable flavor of tree-ripened fruit keeps fans coming back to Lancaster County year after year. It may just be that the juice of a freshly picked succulent stone fruit dripping down your chin is the definition of August.

After a hot day picking fruit, continue heating up your senses and stay with us. We’ll treat you to delicious temptations and healthy delights created in our kitchen from fresh, organic, local, seasonal fruits, and vegetables. Don’t let August sneak by!

Summer baseball season is in full swing in Central Pennsylvania. Fans from all over are arriving to take in a live baseball game! The small-town feel of the home-team stadiums on a warm July night, coupled with the big-game players (there’s no shortage of talent!) can make a fan out of just about anyone.

If it’s a rivalry you’re looking to experience, plan your trip when the Lancaster Barnstormers are facing off against the York Revolution. These two minor league teams have had a healthy rivalry for years. It is often referred to as “The War of the Roses”. The phrase was coined prior to 1959 when the teams were the Lancaster Red Roses and the York White Roses. You’ll find the teams battling for their wins today in the Atlantic League.

In the Eastern League, you’ll find two local MiLB teams:

• Harrisburg Senators have been phenomenally successful. Over the past 12 years, they have sent up more than 100 players to the Major Leagues. If you’re a Washington Nationals fan (or not!) you’ll certainly enjoy watching this talent pool in action.

• Reading Fightin Phils, a team that’s hard to beat with the best record in baseball! Root for the “Fightins” in the oldest ballpark in minor league baseball’s Eastern League. FirstEnergy is ranked as one of the top stadium experiences by Stadium Journey. If you go, we’d love to know if you agree.         

Where to stay, you ask?

The central location of B.F. Hiestand House Bed & Breakfast in relation to the stadiums makes it an easy choice for your accommodations during your visit. The difficult choice may be which games to attend! Click here for a map locating the four-team stadiums.

Customize Your Visit

While you may be all about baseball day and night, chances are not everyone you’re traveling with feels the same thrill watching the poetry of a game unfold...and unfold...and unfold. Rest assured, Central PA has lots of activities to choose from for all travelers. So, decide on your baseball tickets, and then click on our website Attractions tab or give us a call for a chat. We will fill you in on the latest happenings and suggestions for your visit. Make your visit a home run for the whole gang.

March was such a warm month here, and we were so excited to get outside to start cleaning up our flower and raised vegetable beds. Dallas started growing pansies,  spinach, and lettuce in the basement under the grow lights. He has since started tomatoes and peppers. The fruit trees were pruned. We purchased flats of alyssum, pansies, petunias, begonias, and geraniums at our favorite Amish greenhouse, Conestoga Valley Greenhouse in Lancaster. New cocoa mat liners for the hanging baskets were found at Rohrer’s Seeds in Smoketown as well as all of the organic seeds needed for our vegetable garden. We also bought 25 new everbearing strawberry plants to put in this year. We’ve been so busy!

A cold snap happened in the first two weeks of April that caused us to come to a complete stop. We even had SNOW on April 9th, which is so hard to believe! We are now scrambling to get everything planted. Dallas and Mike (our part time helper) spent the better part of the past two days cleaning up and planting the flower beds.  Dallas planted the spinach and lettuce in garden, but his pansy seedlings didn’t do too well.  We are worrying about our peach trees, as they had bloomed prior to the late freeze.  The apple and pear trees are just beginning bud break, so they should be okay. Guests can look forward to some amazing organic fruit, herbs, and vegetables coming from our garden over the next few months!

We are hoping to have a good crop of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, peaches, pears, cantaloupe, tomatoes, zucchini and yellow squash, peppers, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, (oops, that reminds me, I still have to order my sweet potato slips and organic potatoes!), garlic, basil, mint, thyme, rosemary, sage, chives and lavender!  If anything fails, we are so lucky to live in Lancaster County where there are many roadside stands and farmers markets to fill in the gaps!

Come and visit...we promise there will be plenty of variety and colorful plates here at the B&B this summer and fall!