Right now, someone in your neighborhood is packing up the car, putting the cooler and a bag or two in the trunk, and going for it.
Artist Michael Buonaiuto displays some of his "laughing lady" sculptures
this morning at Long's Park,
...(more)
Artist Dale Rogers polishes his guitar sculpture
this morning at Long's Park.
But don't expect a traffic jam on your street — there aren't a lot of people traveling this Labor Day 2008.
Travel forecasters are expecting a small decrease for Labor Day weekend travel, which makes the third consecutive 2008 travel holiday with a decline in people actually heading out.
Tired of hearing about the economy and high gas prices?
Well, they're still main reasons why people are sticking closer to home this year.
While gas prices have fallen in the past few weeks, with the low below $3.40 a gallon here, they're still high enough to scare off some travelers, local travel expert Cindy Brough said today.
"There may be a few people who jump in their car at the last minute and take an unexpected trip due to the lower gas prices, but overall, we expect travel to be down," said Brough, AAA Central Penn's public relations manager.
So the extent of the weekend travel for many people may be up to State College for the Penn State game — or even closer, to major holiday-weekend events here, such as the Long's Park Art & Craft Festival or the Fall Antique & Collectible Show in Lititz.
And those who head to the weekend's big outdoor events in Lancaster County will almost face two different weekends, weather-wise.
The first half, as in tonight and Saturday, will be wet and sort of gloomy, weather forecasters are saying.
The second half, as in Sunday and then Monday, Labor Day. should be picture perfect.
The weekend will come at the end of an August that was cooler than normal and also dry.
Unless there's something unexpected before Sunday, mercury readings throughout Lancaster County will not have reached 90 for the entire month, the first August since 1998 without a 90-degree day.
Seven 90-degree days is the average for August, and while this month hasn't been a deep freeze, "it's certainly been cooler than normal," Millersville University meteorologist Eric Horst said this morning.
Along with being about a degree below normal, the county also has had just a half-inch of rain so far this August and is a good 4 inches behind for the summer, Horst said.
There may be a little sun on Saturday, but most of the day will be cloudy, with afternoon showers.
But Sunday and then Monday should be a pair of smash hits — sunny and into the mid-80s both days.
And the second part of the weather story is good news for organizers of the big art show at Long's Park, a weekend-long event, the two-day Hospice of Lancaster County benefit auction and other Labor Day events.
• Long's Park will host its 30th annual Art & Craft Festival today through Monday, featuring 200 exhibitors from a wide region.
Hours of the festival are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Sunday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday.
Admission is $10 a day and $12 for a multi-day pass, and children are admitted free.
Long's Park is at Route 30 and Harrisburg Pike.
• Lititz Springs Park will host its annual Fall Antique and Collectible show on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local and sports memorabilia and other items are being featured.
Lititz Springs Park is on Route 501 in the heart of town. Call 626-8981 or go to
www.lititzspringspark.org for details.
• Another day-long event Saturday is the 21st annual Heart of Lancaster County Arts and Crafts Show, at Root's Country Market off Route 72.
It features more than 170 exhibitors and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission.
Root's is at 705 Graystone Road, Manheim.
• The 24th annual Labor Day weekend auction for Hospice is being held Saturday and Monday at the Lampeter fairgrounds, Village and Lampeter roads.
A huge array of quilts, artwork, sports memorabilia and other items will be featured in the two-day sale, along with lots of food.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.
• Also, merchandise, gift cards and other items will be featured in a huge Labor Day sale Monday in Bareville to benefit an orphanage in Haiti.
It's at 309 E. Main St., Bareville, the home of Ben and Pamela Schminke, a local couple adopting two sisters from the orphanage, and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, call the Schminkes at 468-6990 or visit
MommySetFree@comcast.net.
Those who do travel this weekend will encounter some easier travel in one place.
The Route 30 project near Columbia is expected to be cleared for the Labor Day weekend, allowing for a full two lanes of travel in both directions.
Staff writer David O'Connor can be reached at doconnor@LNPnews.com or 481-6033.
(61)
