The buildings belonging to Bird-in-Hand’s Artisan Village have quite a history. Dating back to the 1890s, the eclectic village has served many different purposes, its most recent being a hardware general store.  

After sitting empty for some time, the owner of Bird-in-Hand Corporation John Smucker wanted to bring life into that part of town and include shopping as part of the destination. Soon enough, he purchased the property, putting it under the Bird-in-Hand umbrella.  

For ten months, the owners worked on securing about 40 different local artisans. Gathering artists was a grassroots effort for the team, which reached out to artisans through their network, other venues, and craft shows. Once the Village had a base of artists, they posted a public application on their website.  

In April, the Village opened its doors and quickly became 95 percent occupied. Now it’s heading into its first holiday season.  

The Christmas Village has been at Bird-in-Hand’s Bakery & Café for several years, and the organizers are planning to extend the event this year to the Artisan Village. The village will run on Friday, Dec. 8 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM and Saturday, Dec. 9 from 9 AM to 12:00 PM.  

There will be live artisan demonstrations throughout the month of December, including a make-and-take jewelry demonstration during the Christmas Village event on Dec. 9.  

The two-day Christmas event benefits the local economy, and people travel from various states specifically for The Christmas Village, says Terry Buda Moser, the Director of Sales and Marketing for Bird-in-Hand Corporation.  

The Artisan Village’s handcrafted holiday treasures are expected to attract even more visitors to the area. 

Locals and tourists alike are encouraged to explore what Bird-in-Hand has to offer than just the event.  Attendees are encouraged to visit the Kitchen Kettle Village up the street or see a show at The Bird-in-Hand Stage and enjoy a meal at the Family Restaurant either before or after the show.  

Through December, the theater is showing a Christmas-themed musical called “Our Christmas Dinner.” 

Food options are abundant for village goers, the Village Bakery & Café has baked goods all made from scratch, including the pumpkin pies. Other offerings include handcrafted sandwiches, salads, and in-house artisanal ice cream. The Whoopie Pie Fudge Swirl flavor includes whoopie pies from the Bakery. 

For a more full-service dining experience, the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord offers traditional Pennsylvania Dutch meals as well as Angus burgers that use beef raised on the owner’s farm. 

When it comes to lodging, there are five different venues that tourists can choose from.  

“We have something for everyone,” says Terry.  

The Bird-and-Hand Village & Suites offers a unique B&B experience, and the Family Inn is a family-style resort and the largest property next to the restaurant.  

For traveling on a budget, Amish Country Motel is five minutes up the road, and Traveler’s Rest Motel is within walking distance to Kitchen Kettle.  

South of the Family Inn is Country Acres Campground which offers tent camping along with “rustic” and luxurious cabins that come with a bathroom and TV.  

The Bird-in-Hand village offers a variety of festive activities perfect for spreading holiday cheer.  

To read more about what the town has to offer and keep updated with future events, visit Bird-in-Hand’s website.  

Remarkable Experiences in Lancaster County!