Winter History Class
January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2
9:00 a.m. – noon
Explore the history of the Ephrata Cloister and the area with this series of special lectures, workshops, and a field trip. Tuition chard, discount for members of the Ephrata Cloister Associates.

Charter Day
March 8
noon – 5:00 p.m.
Celebrate the founding of Pennsylvania at eh Ephrata Cloister, an example of America’s heritage of religious freedom. Admission is FREE. The Ephrata Cloister Chorus will perform in the Saal at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.

Community Days
April 24, May 29, October 23
9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Discover the activities of the Cloister during this special hands-on educational program. Stations present a variety of activities such as colonial clothing, printing, and the life of Ephrata’s earliest residents. Advance registration is strongly encouraged. Admission charged.

Ephrata Cloister Chorus Spring Concert
May 8, 7:30 p.m.
St. Peter's UCC, 816 Buchanan Avenue, Lancaster
The Ephrata Cloister Chorus presents music from Ephrata Cloister and early America in concerts celebrating the sounds of the past. Donations collected.

Ephrata Cloister Chorus Spring Concert
May 10, 4 p.m.
Bergstrasse Lutheran Church, 9 Hahnstown Rd, Ephrata
The Ephrata Cloister Chorus presents music from Ephrata Cloister and early America in concerts celebrating the sounds of the past. Donations collected.

Ephrata Cloister Chorus 50th Anniversary Concerts
May 31, 2 p.m., 3 p.m., & 4 p.m.
Join the Ephrata Cloister Chorus as they celebrate 50 years of preserving and presenting Ephrata's musical heritage. Short concerts to be held on the historic grounds of Ephrata at 2, 3, and 4.
Concerts included in site admission.

Building History
June 6
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Discover the history of old houses and learn how to care for your historic home. Craftsmen will be demonstrating a wide variety of building techniques including 18th-centiury wall construction, log hewing and shingle making. Special lectures will offer information on preservation and clues to researching old houses. Admission charged.

Sunday Afternoon Series
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon while exploring history at the Ephrata Cloister, one of America’s earliest religious communities. Each day provides fun for the entire family with activities from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., with a special presentation at 2:00 p.m. Programs are part of regular admission to the site.

Dressed for the Part
June 28
What did people wear in early Pennsylvania? Why did Cloister members where special white clothing? How was it made? Was it comfortable? Discover the “fashion” of the day as live models dress before your very eyes in a special presentation combining clothing and historic documents.

Colonial Afternoon Pastimes
July 26
Life in early Pennsylvania was not all work. The Brothers and Sisters of Ephrata found joy in music and art, while the children of the married members may have played with toys or games we might still recognize. Spend the afternoon trying your hand at these early activities with storytelling at 2:00 p.m.

A Taste of the Past
August 30
Sample the flavors, sights and smells of history with this afternoon of food. Explore the simple diet of Ephrata’s Brothers and Sisters by trying delicious pumpkin soup, thick crusted rye bread, apple butter and sauerkraut. Discover how to set the table in a Pennsylvania German fashion and the way to serve a meal Cloister style with a special program at 2:00 p.m.

Peace in War
September 19 and 20
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
As the American colonies sought independence, residents of Ephrata lived lives on non-violence and nonresistance. That changed when the American army used the Cloister as a hospital in 1777 and seized books from the printing office. Discover how the Revolution touched this small community and learn the answers to your 18th-century medical questions with a visit to the doctors of the Detached Army Hospital. Admission charged.

Apple Dumpling Day
October 9 and 10
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 each day
Enjoy a tasty treat: a warm apple with cinnamon and sugar wrapped in a flaky crust. Funds raised at this event help purchase original Ephrata Cloister artifacts.

Day of Music
October 11
noon - 5:00 p.m.
The Ephrata Cloister Chorus presents music from the Ephrata Cloister and early America in concerts celebrating the sounds of the past with special concerts in the historic Meetinghouse at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.

Christmas at the Cloister
December 14 and 15
6:30, 7:45 and 9:00 p.m. each evening
Spend a few moments in quiet reflection with seasonal readings and holiday music in the historic Saal. Seating is limited and advance tickets are required. Tickets are available to members of the Ephrata Cloister Associates in The Museum Store beginning November 1, 2009 or by mail with a post mark dated on or after November 1, 2009. Tickets are available for the general public in The Museum Store on November 8, 2009 or by mail with a post mark dated on or after November 8, 2009. Mail requests for tickets must include a first and second choice of program day and time, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, a daytime contact phone number and $4.00 for each ticket. Tickets for the 9:00 p.m. programs are FREE. Checks can be mailed and made payable to: Ephrata Cloister Associates and mailed to: Christmas at the Cloister tickets,
632 West Main Street, Ephrata, PA 17522. Requests will be filled in the order they are received. NO exchanges or refunds will be made.

Lantern Tours
December 26, 27, 28, 29
6:00 to 9:00 p.m. each evening
These tours take you back in time to visits the Cloister as it may have appeared in the 1700s. Each year’s story offers a cast of junior and senior high school students playing the roles that bring history to life. Reservations are required. Call the Cloister after December 1. Admission charged.

Ephrata Cloister is closed on Monday and Tuesday
in January and February.