Every Town Has a Special Place
Every Town Has a Special Place
Pull up a chair and sit awhile
July 13, 2026
Dear Friend:
After Mass on Sundays, we would hurry home to pack the cooler with lots of goodies. My brother would make sure the baseball bats, balls, and gloves were in the car. Then we'd all pile in and drive to the edge of town.
Our destination?
Long's Park.
We would set up our chairs and blankets and settle in for a relaxing day at the park. My dad would start the charcoal for supper while my brother and I headed off to play baseball. Later, we'd walk to the lake with my mom and sisters to feed the ducks. Another favorite stop was the petting farm.
Long's Park was a treasure trove of things to do. There were volleyball courts, tennis courts, walking paths, and even a snack shack. One of the best features was the amphitheater. Every summer, the Long's Park Amphitheater Foundation hosted a free Sunday evening concert series featuring every genre of music imaginable.
Families spread blankets across the hillside and unfolded lawn chairs as the music filled the evening air. One of my favorite memories was the Fourth of July concert, when Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture was accompanied by real cannons and a spectacular fireworks display.
Years later, Long's Park became home to the I-105 FallFest, bringing country music stars like Tammy Wynette, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, and Dierks Bentley to Lancaster.
The park also hosted some unforgettable community traditions. Long's Park holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest chicken barbecue. Thousands of people were served each year. Cars would enter one end of the park, pick up their barbecue dinners, and exit through the other.
Labor Day weekend meant the annual Arts and Crafts Festival. More than 200 juried artists displayed their work beneath white tents that lined the winding park roads. We loved wandering from tent to tent, admiring the artwork and searching for that one special treasure to take home.
Looking back, I realize it wasn't just the ducks, the concerts, the fireworks, or the craft show that made Long's Park so special.
It was knowing that every summer we'd return to a place that felt familiar.
A place where families gathered.
Where children laughed.
Where traditions were quietly passed from one generation to the next.
Every town seems to have a place like that—a park, a beach, a lake, a town square, or a neighborhood gathering place that becomes part of the story of growing up.
What was that special place in your hometown?
I'd love to hear about the place where your favorite childhood memories were made.
Until next time, stay well, stay safe, and stay connected to those you love.
Be well,
Emma
Emma is the voice behind Sharing with Seniors, where every story starts with a memory. Through stories of family, friendships, music, traditions, hometowns, and life's simple pleasures, she invites readers to pull up a chair, stay awhile, and remember the moments that have shaped their lives.