Lancaster County Christmas memories through the years, from the 1940s to the 2000s | Entertainment [Video]

Lancaster County is a special place to be during the holiday season. 

We have 16 different community tree lightings, numerous Christmas light shows and plenty of places where you can cut your own tree.

But there’s also a unique culture specific to our area, from the time Santa arrived in a convertible to a “living” Christmas tree made out of choir singers. 

Take a yuletide walk back through the decades, from the 1940s to the 2000s, and see how many special-to-Lancaster County Christmas moments you remember. 

1940s: Santa shows how to make an entrance at Watt & Shand.

This year, LEADS honored the Watt & Shand building at Christmas in its 2024 Lancaster Landmark ornament. Look closely at the ornament’s details. Longtime Lancaster residents will recognize the three-story lighted Christmas trees on the building’s exterior, which were a beloved part of downtown Lancaster’s holiday decorations for years.

There’s a reason why folks feel so connected …