Stuff to Do Fair brings Lancaster together
Sav (left) who hosted the Stuff to Do Fair in partnership with The Lancaster County Local Journalism Fund and Representative Ismail Smith Wade-El.
Photo Courtesy of Brian Nguyen
After an evening of linked arms and shared steps with strangers, Savannah “Sav” Thorpe Capizzi found herself imagining a different future for Lancaster.
There, the Stuff to Do Fair was born from a square dance she attended on a whim, despite having no experience and knowing almost no one there.
“Everything about the night felt magical,” Sav said. “I got to meet new people, learn a dance that required us all to work together, listen to live musicians, and take a little mental vacation from the horrors of my phone.”
Rather than letting that feeling disappear, she turned it into an invitation. The Stuff to Do Fair emerged to lower the barrier to connection and help neighbors find places where they could participate, not just observe.
More than 500 community members attended the Stuff to Do Fair
Photo Courtesy of Brian Nguyen
On January 31, that idea took shape for the second time, bringing together residents of nearly every age. The event resembled a college campus fair where attendees drifted from table to table as the room hummed with conversation.
In one corner, a hip-hop step aerobics instructor led a routine as participants tried out a few steps. At another table, representatives from Global Shapers, a network that connects young adults with leadership opportunities, spoke about ways to get involved.
With 50 organizations represented, the fair offered something for everyone. “It filled my heart to the brim to see attendees walking around with huge handfuls of pamphlets and ideas for how they could plug into their communities in new ways,” Sav said.
A participant joins a hip-hop aerobics demo from Soul Kharisma at the Stuff to Do Fair.
Photo courtesy of Brian Nguyen
Sav hopes the fair also makes building relationships feel more accessible.
“My goal with the fair is to lower the grade of the on-ramp for people,” she said. “So many of us are desperate for community, culture, and connection, but get overwhelmed by the onslaught of invitations in our Instagram feeds.”
That intention further showed up in how attendees experienced the event.
“I really enjoyed the Stuff to Do Fair,” said Gabi Kovalchick, a new resident of Lancaster. “I always hear about things happening in the city, but it was so nice for it to all be in one spot. A fair like this is a great opportunity to get people out, especially during this brutal winter.”
As she walked around, she saw familiar faces, made new connections, and stopped for demonstrations.
“The demos were a lot of fun!” Gabi added. “A ‘friend’ I made in the parking lot ended up being a part of the roller derby demo.” The live music, paired with the chance to dance, were also highlights.
For Nour Abuamsha, the fair opened the door to different parts of the community, from cultural celebrations to creative gatherings. “I was able to learn more about activities happening in my neighborhood,” she said. “My favorite tables were the art and sketch and Lancaster Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders. I’ll be attending their Lunar New Year celebration next week.”
The flow of people who showed up, many leaving with pamphlets in hand, plans forming, or perhaps newly inspired to create something themselves, suggested the fair is tapping into a need.
Sav envisions giving residents the chance to come alive by “finding an electrifying activity” to engage in with others, much like she felt walking out of that first dance session.
“Allowing people to come browse the clubs in real life, ask questions, try a demonstration, or simply picture themselves among fellow beginners makes it so much easier for folks to actually go to stuff.”
More Stuff to Do Fairs are planned across Lancaster County throughout 2026 in partnership with the Lancaster County Local Journalism Fund, with the next event scheduled for April 26 in Ephrata. Residents can follow @stufftodofair on Instagram for updates.
National Momentum
For every local profile we offer, we want to tie the work to similar efforts happening across the country, to show that there are way more of us than we realize who care about building community connection!
Photo Courtesy of Orangevale Live
For the past six years, residents in Orangevale, California, have gathered for the Orangevale Community Open House, a morning designed to help people connect with clubs, organizations, and volunteer opportunities in one place. At its most recent event, 38 groups were represented, with up to 300 residents present.
Like Lancaster, the Orangevale event resembles a campus-style expo, where attendees move from table to table, ask questions, and explore interests from riding clubs, local farms, and service groups.
The details vary. The impulse is the same: make connections visible, tangible, and easier to access. From the East Coast to the West Coast, organizers are lowering the barrier to belonging and creating environments where neighbors can see themselves taking part in the world around them.
Sav is on the map:
We’re working to document and show—not just tell—the places people are weaving throughout Lancaster County. Join us to see who is on the map, and suggest weavers for us to add!
