Lebanon
Around Lebanon
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Metro area · Pennsylvania · 145k people
Lebanon
Locals say Lebanon Valley
Local rooms for Lebanon Valley.
Navy blue
Welcome to Lebanon Valley! Whether you're here for the farmers markets, the rail trail, or the rich iron history, you'll find a friendly community ready to share its favorite spots. Grab a whoopie pie and settle in.
Clubs for Lebanon
No clubs for Lebanon yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Lebanon. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Lebanon. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Cornwall Iron Furnace A well-preserved 18th-century iron furnace and state historic site.
- Lebanon Valley Rail Trail A multi-use rail trail running through the valley, popular for biking and walking.
- Mount Gretna Lake & Beach A popular swimming spot with a sandy beach and family-friendly atmosphere.
- Lebanon Farmers Market A bustling market with local produce, meats, and baked goods.
- Swatara State Park A large park with hiking, fishing, and picnicking along the Swatara Creek.
- Memorial Lake State Park A small park centered on a lake, great for fishing and boating.
- Outdoors Bike the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail
- Outdoors Swim at Mount Gretna Lake
- With kids Bike the rail trail with the kids
- With kids Swim at Mount Gretna Lake
- Evenings Local brewery taprooms
- Evenings Live music at small venues
- Locals love Farmers markets
- Locals love Farm stands
Through the year
- Lebanon Valley Fair August County fair with rides, livestock, and food.
- Iron Heritage Festival June Celebrates the region's ironmaking history with demos and activities.
- Mount Gretna Art Show July Outdoor art show featuring local and regional artists.
Lebanon Valley has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, winters are cold with occasional snow. Best: Spring and fall are mild and pleasant, making them the best times to be outdoors.
Getaways
- Lancaster Amish country, shops, and dining.
- Harrisburg State capital, riverfront, and museums.
- Reading Outlet shopping and the Pagoda.
- Pottsville Historic coal region and Yuengling brewery.
Local flavour
Rooting for Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia 76ers, Penn State Nittany Lions
Eat and drink
- Lebanon bologna A smoked, fermented semi-dry sausage, a local specialty.
- Whoopie pie A Pennsylvania Dutch dessert of two chocolate cakes with a creamy filling.
- Shoofly pie A molasses crumb pie, a Pennsylvania Dutch classic.
- Scrapple A pork and cornmeal mush, often served at breakfast.
Where people go
- Farmers markets Local markets like the Lebanon Farmers Market, offering PA Dutch goods.
- Farm stands Roadside stands selling produce and baked goods.
- Historic iron furnace Cornwall Iron Furnace, a preserved 18th-century blast furnace.
Heritage and traditions
Lebanon Valley is proud of its Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, historic iron industry, and local specialties like Lebanon bologna and whoopie pies.
This time of year in Lebanon
- Apple picking September-October Visit local orchards for apples and cider.
- Fall foliage drives October Colorful drives through Lebanon Valley countryside.
Say it like a local: “Wonder” — Think, suppose
Landmarks with a story
- Mount Gretna Chautauqua A late-19th-century summer resort community with a historic lake, theater, and cottages.
- Lebanon Historic District Downtown Lebanon with 19th-century architecture and a courthouse square.
- Annville Historic District Well-preserved 18th- and 19th-century Pennsylvania Dutch buildings.
- Lebanon County Courthouse A grand 1860s courthouse with a distinctive clock tower.
- Union Canal A 19th-century canal that connected the Susquehanna and Schuylkill rivers; remnants and trails remain.
Food traditions
- Fasnacht Day Shrove Tuesday tradition of eating potato doughnuts, a Pennsylvania Dutch custom.
- Chow-chow A pickled vegetable relish, often served as a side or condiment.
- Pot pie Not a baked pie, but a stew with square noodles, a Pennsylvania Dutch staple.
- Smearcase A cheesecake-like dessert made with cottage cheese, often served at holidays.
- Hog maw Stuffed pig stomach, a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dish, especially around New Year's.
Music and arts
- Pennsylvania Dutch folk art Hex signs, fraktur, and painted furniture are traditional crafts.
- Mount Gretna Playhouse Summer theater and concerts in a historic Chautauqua setting.
- Lebanon Valley College performing arts College productions and music recitals open to the public.
- Local bluegrass and country music Live music at fairs and community events.
A little history
- 1742 Lebanon laid out and Cornwall Iron Furnace established
- 1827 Union Canal opened, boosting trade
- 1866 Lebanon Valley College founded
- 1885 Lebanon incorporated as a city
- 1880s Mount Gretna developed as a Chautauqua resort
Rivalries
- Lebanon Valley College vs Albright College Conference rivalry in basketball and football.
- Lebanon vs Palmyra high school football Local bragging rights.
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Lebanon Valley College basketball
- Outdoors Hunting deer in season
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing at Swatara State Park
- With kids Mount Gretna Playhouse
- With kids Lebanon County Historical Society
Locals speak a neutral American English with a few Pennsylvania Dutch expressions, like 'outen the light' for 'turn off the light' and 'redd up' for 'clean up.' The accent is generally mild, but you'll hear these Dutch-isms in everyday conversation.
Only here
- Hex signs decorate barns throughout the Lebanon Valley, a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.
- Mount Gretna is a Chautauqua community with a summer theater and a lake.
- The Cornwall Iron Furnace is a National Historic Landmark, one of the best-preserved iron furnaces in the US.
- The Union Canal's towpath is now a trail, a reminder of 19th-century transportation.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for four distinct seasons; winters can be cold and snowy, summers warm and humid.
- Try Lebanon bologna at a local butcher shop – it's a sweet, smoky sausage you won't find elsewhere.
- Learn to say 'redd up' – you'll hear it for cleaning the house.
- Take a bike ride on the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail; it's a local favorite.
- Visit the Lebanon Farmers Market for fresh produce and Pennsylvania Dutch treats.
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Part of Harrisburg area
Nearby
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Lebanon, PA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.