You can sip and sample at these spring food-tasting events around Lancaster County

Spring brings with it pleasant weather for outdoor activities. Some of those events will be food-related, with food trucks, sampling tours, wine and beer tastings and tasty fundraisers for Lancaster County nonprofits.

Here’s a menu of tasting and sipping events scheduled for Lancaster County in May and June. This LancasterOnline story will be updated as more events are announced.

General tasting events

GYROFEST

• When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

• Where: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 64 Hershey Ave., Lancaster

• Details and price: At the drive-thru lanes in the church parking lot, you can buy or a platter of a gyro, Greek salad and two pieces of spanakopita (spinach pie) for $12 (or the gyro sandwich only for $10), rice pudding for $9 or a box of Greek pastries for $7-$17. You can also preorder online for pickup.

• Benefits: The charities supported by the church.

• Info., menu and ordering: lanc.news/Gyrofest2024

RHUBARB FESTIVAL

• When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 17, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

• Where: Kitchen Kettle Village, 3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse.

• Details: A variety of rhubarb-based foods and beverages are available for sampling at this 40th annual rhubarb festival. The festival’s annual Best Rhubarb Dessert in Lancaster County Baking Contest returns at 9 a.m. May 18, with home bakers competing in various categories and baked goods sold as a fundraiser. There’s also live entertainment, a rhubarb-car derby, the crowning of a rhubarb king and queen, sales of fresh rhubarb and more.

• Benefits: Proceeds from baking contest, rhubarb and rhubarb cookbook sales benefit the Lancaster Farmland Trust.

• For info. or to register for the dessert contest: kitchenkettle.com.

TASTE THE WORLD

• When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 31.

• Where: Starts at Neighbors Community Center, 450 N. Prince St., Lancaster, and moves through city’s downtown. Tour participants will receive a passport for food and beverage samples from eateries representing international cuisines.

• Admission: $25.

• Benefits: Neighbors Community Center.

• Info. and tickets: neighborslancaster.com/#events.

LANCASTER VEGFEST

• When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2.

• Where: Buchanan Park, 901 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster.

• Details: There will be a food court with more than 35 vendors selling vegan meals, desserts and snacks. There will be a vegan farmers market; vegan-friendly vendors; a vegan beer garden featuring vegan beer, cider, seltzer and cocktails; farm sanctuary displays; kids’ activities; yoga; chef demonstrations; live music; and speakers.

• Admission: $5 suggested donation; VIP tickets are $35 (plus a $2.75 online fee), which gets you a tote bag of samples, coupons and early access to popular food vendors, from 11 a.m. to noon, on either day of the festival.

• Benefits: Lancaster Farm Sanctuary.

• Info. and VIP tickets: pavegfest.com.

FIRST SATURDAY IN EPHRATA/WINE WALK

• When: Free First Saturday events start for the season from 2:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1. Summer First Saturday dates are July 6, Aug. 3 and Sept. 7.

• Where: Main Street, Ephrata, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. and the Whistle Stop Plaza, 16 E. Main St., Ephrata, from 4:30-8 p.m.

• Details: The Main Street part of the day is a Wine Walk, featuring several wineries setting up pop-up tasting rooms in Main Street businesses. Then, the party moves to the plaza for live music, food trucks and adult beverages for sale (you’ll need to show a 21-plus ID for the drinks).

• Info.: For information on first-Saturday themed walks and evening parties for the season, visit lanc.news/Ephrata1stSaturday.

FARM TO FARE

• When: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 7-8.

• Where: Barn & Barrel at Mount Hope Estate, 2775 Lebanon Road, north of Manheim.

• Details: After a 6 p.m. cocktail hour at 6 p.m., a four-course, farm-to-table dinner will be served at 7 p.m.; recipe cards will be available to take home. A mixologist will create and talk about a cocktail before each course, and information about Lancaster County agricultural history will be presented.

• Admission: $85.

• Info. and tickets: parenfaire.com/farmtofare.

FETE EN BLANC

• When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 7 (rain date June 8).

• Where: Union Meeting House, 82 N. Waterford Ave., Marietta.

• Details: Fete en Blanc is a kind of outdoor dining party that’s celebrated around the world. Those attending are encouraged to wear all white attire, pack a picnic and join together with family, friends and neighbors. This is a 21-and-up event; no children or pets. There will be live music by Abigail’s Garden and a free wine tasting, with wine by the bottle available for purchase from Nissley Vineyards.

• Admission: $15-$200; you can bring your own table or pay for table seating of four or eight seats.

• Benefits: Marietta Restoration Associates.

• Info.: lanc.news/FeteEnBlanc2024.

TASTE OF LITITZ

• When: 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 7.

• Where: East Main Street, Lititz.

• Details: Hosted by Venture Lititz, this downtown block party features local restaurants and food and beverage businesses selling small bites for sampling. There will also be live music and family-friendly activities. East Main Street will be closed from Water to Broad streets.

• Admission: Free; buy samples and sips as you go.

• Info.: lanc.news/TasteofLititz2024.

CENTRAL MARKET STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

• When: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 8.

• Where: Lancaster Central Market, 23 N. Market St., Lancaster.

• Details: The alleys around the market will be filled with stand-holders selling strawberry-themed creations. There will be live entertainment and activities for the whole family.

• Info.: Visit Lancaster Central Market’s Facebook page at facebook.com/LancasterCentralMarket for updates closer to the event.

STRAWBERRY SOCIAL, ELIZABETHTOWN

• When: 1-6 p.m. Sunday, June 16.

• Where: Elizabethtown Borough Park, 1 Ken Lane, Elizabethtown.

• Details: Those attending the free community picnic, for Father’s Day, are asked to wear red and bring picnic items or just themselves. There will be free strawberry treats to sample, food trucks selling food and drink, pie-eating and cupcake-eating contests, a candy buffet, live music, a water battle, face painting, market vendors, a bounce house, the crowning of a Strawberry Social Princess, a pet fashion show and more.

• Info.: lanc.news/EtownStrawberry2024

Food truck events

FOOD TRUCK FRENZY, ELIZABETHTOWN

• When: 2-7 p.m. Saturday.

• Where: Elizabethtown Fire Department Station 74, 171 N. Mount Joy St., Elizabethtown.

• Details: Several food trucks will be serving up food for purchase. There will also be craft vendors.

• Admission: Free; buy food as you go.

• Benefits: Elizabethtown Fire Department.

• Info.: lanc.news/EtownFoodTruck.

WARWICK BANDS FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL

• When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19.

• Where: Lititz Springs Park, 18 N. Broad St., Lititz.

• Details: More than a dozen food trucks will serve up food and desserts. The Warwick Middle School and High School Jazz Band and High School String Synergy ensemble will perform along with the Warwick HS String Synergy ensemble.

• Admission: Free; buy food from vendors as you go.

• Benefits: Warwick Marching Band.

•  Info.: lanc.news/WarwickFoodTrucks2024.

FOOD TRUCK FRENZY, MANHEIM

• When: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 19.

• Where: Manheim Fire Department, 83 S. Main St., Manheim.

• Details: Nearly 20 food trucks will serve up a variety of meals, beverages and desserts. There will also be fire station tours, fire truck bucket rides, a cornhole tournament and activities for the kids including a bounce house.

• Admission: Free; unlimited bounce house is $14. Cornhole tournament entry fee is $40 per team.

• Benefits: Manheim Fire Department.

• Info. and tournament registration: manheimfire.com.

FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL FOR ODC

• When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1.

• Where: Stauffer Park, 1241 Lititz Pike, Lancaster.

• Details: Fifteen food trucks will be on site, serving up burgers, fries, pizza, dessert, waffles, chicken sandwiches and a variety of cuisines including Cambodian, West African, Mexican and Caribbean. There will also be raffles for local products and the chance for families to tour police and fire vehicles and big earth-moving equipment.

•  Benefits: The Occupational Development Center and the Manheim Township Recreation Department.

• Admission: Free to attend; buy food from individual trucks.

• Info.: news/ODCFoodTrucks.

FOOD TRUCKS FUR PUPS

• When: 3-9 p.m. Friday, June 14.

• Where: Furdunkin veterinary center, 1090 N. Charlotte St., Lancaster.

• Details: More than 20 food trucks and breweries will be serving food and beverages, and there will be vendors serving up treats for dogs. There will be a raffle and live music.

• Admission: Free; buy food and beverages as you go. VIP tickets, which include a package of pet-related products and are for people 21 and over, are $65.00 plus a $2.30 service fee.

• Benefits: Animal rescue organizations including Long Dogs and Friends Rescue, Domestic Violence Services Safe Pet Program, the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.

• Info.: lanc.news/TrucksFurPups2024.

Beverage events

BARON BREW FEST

• When: 3-6 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

• Where: Market Square, Manheim.

• Details: Beer, wine, spirits, cider and mead will be available for sampling and purchase from vendors. There will be food vendors and live music throughout the day.

• Admission: $40; few tickets remain. Those 21 and older who just want to come for the food and music (no adult beverages) can get in free.

• Benefits: The Manheim Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Info. and tickets: lanc.news/BaronBrewFest.

SPRING FEST

• When: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

• Where: Nissley Vineyards, 140 Vintage Drive, Bainbridge.

•  Details: In addition to lots of adult beverages being available — flights, bottles and glasses of Nissley wine, along with wine slushies and local craft beer — there will be food trucks, lawn games and local vendors.

• Admission: Free.

• Info. and registration: lanc.news/NissleySpringFest

FLAVORFEST

• When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26.

• Where: The grounds of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at Mount Hope Estate & Winery, 2775 Lebanon Road, north of Manheim.

• Details: More than 25 wineries and distilleries will be serving up samples, and there will lunch from on-site kitchens. There will also be vendors and a wine tent for buying bottles of wine and spirits. You must be 21 or over to sample adult beverages.

• Admission: Adults, $24.95 (includes a tasting glass); guests ages 12-20, $6.95; children 11 and under, free. Tickets must be bought online in advance.

• Info. and tickets: parenfaire.com/flavorfest.html.

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT BEER GARDEN

• When: Current May hours are 5-11 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

• Where: 595 N. Charlotte St., Lancaster.

• Details: In this spring and summer beer garden, there will be beer and cider to buy, tables with umbrellas, food and music. Visitors must be 21 to order drinks. Hosted by Rural City Beer Co.

• Info.: For a list of current hours, food vendors and live music providers, visit warehousedistrict.com/beer-garden.

LANCASTER REC BEER GARDENS

• When: Weekdays 4–10 p.m.; Saturdays 1-10 p.m. and Sundays 1-8 p.m., different dates and locations in June.

• Where: Thursday, May 30 through Saturday, June 1, and Wednesday, June 5 through Saturday, June 8, Musser Park, 135 N. Lime St., Lancaster; Thursday, June 13 through Saturday, June 15, and Wednesday, June 19, through Saturday, June 22, Buchanan Park, 901 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster.

• Details: In this traveling spring and summer beer garden, there will be beer, food vendors and tables; people can sit and sip, play lawn games and enjoy music. You must be 21 to order beer.

• Benefits: The programs of Lancaster Rec.

• Info.: lancasterrec.org/beergardens.