Ephrata: Culture, History and Outdoor Activities

Ephrata offers several ways to shape your stay: at Ephrata Cloister, religious history, art and architecture take center stage; a museum explores the history of the Cocalico Valley; and you can walk or cycle along the Warwick Ephrata Rail Trail. There is also a regular Friday market with a small-animal auction and summertime events downtown. When planning your trip, you can weigh whether culture, outdoor activities or a particular event date should shape your stay.

Ephrata Cloister and its tours

Ephrata Cloister is a religious community known for its art and architecture. Guided tours cover the grounds; nine buildings can be explored on self-guided tours. Guests can also take a tour of the two most significant original buildings: the Sisters’ House and the Meetinghouse. This gives you different ways to explore the grounds and their buildings. If you are especially interested in the original structures, you can focus your visit on a tour of these two buildings. If you prefer to explore independently, the nine buildings offer another way to get to know the Cloister.

Museum in the Connell Mansion

The Theodore R. Sprecher Museum is located in the Connell Mansion, built in 1868–1869 in the Italianate style of Victorian architecture. Visitors can explore the three floors, comprising 13 rooms filled with artifacts from the Cocalico Valley, free of charge. The museum pairs a look at the regional collection with a visit to an architecturally distinctive building. For a cultural stay in Ephrata, it can be considered a focus in its own right alongside the Cloister: here, the artifacts from the Cocalico Valley and the Connell Mansion take center stage.

Getting around on foot or by bike

The Warwick Ephrata Rail Trail (WERT) offers a 15-mile loop between historic downtown Ephrata and Lititz. You can walk or cycle the route. This gives you a clear choice of how to get around without having to combine different destinations: the trail itself is described as a loop. The Borough of Ephrata’s park system also includes hiking trails and nature trails. If you are interested in outdoor trails, you can consider these options alongside the cultural attractions when planning your stay.

Market, small-animal auction and summertime events

The Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction holds a small-animal auction in Ephrata every Friday. The market also offers fresh meat and produce from local sources, as well as gifts and other special treats. If you plan your stay for a Friday, you can add the auction to your itinerary; the market also offers a different way to experience local life than visits to the museum and Cloister.

In summer, the First-Saturday events downtown combine themed afternoon activities with evening celebrations on the Plaza each month. The program there includes live music, craft stalls and food trucks. These events add a seasonal touch and may be worth considering when choosing your travel dates.

Culture and the right focus for your trip

The Ephrata Performing Arts Center is a nonprofit community theater in Ephrata that offers residents and visitors a vibrant cultural experience. Alongside the Cloister and museum, it adds to the options for guests interested in culture. Each of these experiences makes Ephrata interesting in its own way, without requiring one single activity to define your stay.

If you’d like to explore more local pages: Millersville, Smoketown, Gordonville, Elizabethtown, Columbia, Narvon, Lancaster and Mt Joy.

Go to the main travel overview: Lancaster.