Looking for the best dinner and a show in Lancaster County, PA? Bird-in-Hand offers a unique experience that combines farm-fresh Pennsylvania Dutch dining with live, family-friendly theater in the heart of Amish Country. Whether you are planning a date night, a family outing, or a group trip, this destination makes it easy to enjoy great food and unforgettable entertainment in one place.
What makes Bird-in-Hand dinner and a show unique?
- Separate dining and theater spaces for flexible scheduling
- Farm-fresh Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine made from local ingredients
- Live musicals, comedies, and family-friendly performances
- Convenient location in Lancaster County near major attractions
- Ideal for couples, families, and group outings
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Bird-in-Hand is a top destination for visitors looking for things to do in Lancaster County, including dining, entertainment, and Amish experiences.
LUNCH? DINNER? YOU DECIDE!
Bird-in-Hand offers more flexibility than traditional dinner theaters because dining and performances take place in separate spaces. This allows guests to choose when and where to eat before or after the show.
When is dinner and a show not “dinner theater”? When it offers more flexibility! The Bird-in-Hand Stage is only footsteps away from the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord. That makes the stage very easily accessible from the parking lot or directly from the restaurant.
Unlike traditional dinner theater, where the show is staged in the dining room, Bird-in-Hand offers many options to time your visit to suit your schedule. Before the 1 p.m. matinee, you could grab lunch from the restaurant—browse the smorgasbord, order from the menu, or select from the many farm-fresh offerings on our soup-and-salad bar. The nearby Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Cafe is another pre-matinee lunch possibility, with handcrafted sandwiches on fresh-baked bread and much more.
If you’re just taking a day trip to Lancaster County from the Philadelphia area, Wilmington, northern Maryland or Harrisburg, you might want to catch the matinee, then enjoy an early supper at the restaurant. If you’re going to spend some more time here, and want to have most of the day free for sightseeing and shopping (maybe check out the new Artisan Village), plan to dine at the restaurant before the 7 p.m. show. Allow yourself at least 90 minutes before showtime to enjoy an unhurried meal.
Can you eat before the show?
Yes. Many guests arrive early to enjoy lunch or dinner before their performance.
How early should you arrive?
Plan to arrive about 90 minutes before showtime for a relaxed dining experience.
FARM-FRESH, ALWAYS FLAVORFUL
The Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasbord offers a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dining experience with locally sourced, scratch-made dishes.
Torn between the baked ham and broasted chicken? At Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasbord, you don’t have to choose. Sample classic Pennsylvania Dutch dishes and other popular favorites from our all-you-eat family buffet. You’ll find hundreds of items, including many scratch-made dishes based on recipes that have been in the Smucker family for generations. Ingredients are always fresh—and they are sourced locally whenever possible.
For an authentic taste of Amish-style cooking, sample our pork and sauerkraut, homemade baked ham balls with pineapple sauce, broasted chicken and chicken pot pie, buttered noodles, hard-boiled red beet eggs, creamed corn and stewed tomatoes, apple butter, hot bacon dressing, and the sweet-and-tangy pickled relish or chopped salad known as chow-chow. On Fridays and Saturdays, the smorgasbord also includes a carving station with ham, turkey and tender roast beef.
In addition, a soup-and-salad bar is laden with homemade soups, garden-fresh greens and toppings, other sides, fresh-baked breads, assorted cheeses and more. If you prefer, you can select made-to-order dishes from our table-service menu, which includes a wide selection of hot entrees, all served with two sides and a fresh-baked roll. Whether you choose to serve yourself from our smorgasbord or order from the menu, remember to save room for dessert, including our artisan ice cream and sweet treats baked fresh in our ovens.
What shows can you see at Bird-in-Hand Stage?
Bird-in-Hand Stage features a variety of live performances throughout the year, including musicals, comedies, and family-friendly entertainment.
Whether your dinner-and-a-show is a date night, an evening out with friends, or quality time with the whole family, the Bird-in-Hand Stage is always an excellent choice for live entertainment. You can always count on a wholesome, high-quality show. Our curtain is up from April through the end of each year, with several different shows each season.
All shows are designed to be family-friendly and appeal to a wide range of audiences. We have staged original Broadway-style shows from Blue Gate Musicals ever since our very first season in 2011. As relevant and meaningful as they are entertaining, these musicals are often set in the heart of Amish Country and touch on themes of family, faith and community, and following Plain traditions and values in an English world.
Audiences have enjoyed their dramas, comedies, mysteries and Christmas shows, with powerful messages, music and even more memorable characters. They are brought to life by a gifted cast of professionals from across the United States and talented local performers.
Speaking of local talent, Lancaster County native Ryan Bomgardner’s hilarious Ryan & Friends shows are an immensely popular feature on the Bird-in-Hand Stage. Ryan began his career at age 12 when he tried out ventriloquism at his grandma’s church. By age 18, he was doing 80 shows a year. When he worked for Disney around the world, he did 175 shows a year. His multimedia variety shows on the Bird-in-Hand Stage combine a comedy routine with song parodies in styles ranging from country to Broadway presented by a cast of characters that—in any given season—can include wisecracking teens, wise grandparents and talking animal friends from farm and woodland.
Is Bird-in-Hand good for families?
Yes. Bird-in-Hand Stage is a popular choice for families visiting Lancaster County. Shows are designed to be appropriate for children while still engaging for adults, and the intimate setting makes it easy for all guests to enjoy the performance.
…IN A SPECIAL SPACE
The Bird-in-Hand Stage offers an intimate theater experience with seating for about 140 guests.
Another of the many great reasons to enjoy dinner and a show at Bird-in-Hand is the intimacy of the theater experience. With tiered seating for 140 and accessible floor seating, the theatre brings live entertainment up close and personal. Over the years, the space has been renovated and improved. Updates include stage elevations to improve line of sight and new seats for greater audience comfort.
Click here for information on current and upcoming shows.
