Galentine’s Weekend, Fastnachts & Third Spaces in Hanover

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Valentine’s Day is Saturday.

Which means two things:

This week is for women who want connection without pressure. Community without pretense. A reason to leave the house that is not a grocery run.

And to the men reading this: you just stumbled into an easy win. Pick an event. Make the plan. You’ll look thoughtful and self-aware. I will not require credit.

P.S. Humble brag: my son made honor roll. We’re celebrating at Olive Garden, his choice. Which means I will, in fact, be holding a buzzer in a crowded lobby.

The good news? We’re ending the night baking cupcakes.

And speaking of baked goods… do you know what’s happening next week‽ (Yes, that is an interrobang…the best (but also most underused) punctuation mark in existence.)

If you know, you know.

If you do not know, a fastnacht is a dense Pennsylvania Dutch doughnut traditionally made the day before Lent to use up sugar and lard.

They are imperfectly round.
Slightly greasy.
Covered in powdered sugar.
Delicious.

If you want the full church-basement experience, drive to St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg and buy a dozen.

Go early…or better yet, order online:
🌐 https://stjamesgettysburg.org/event/order-fastnachts/

Because of these four, this work continues:

Darlene · Brian · Holly · Andy

You are not just supporting a newsletter. You are funding local infrastructure. Not “scroll and hope.” An actual community hub for Hanover.

I also started the application process for the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator microgrant through the Cultural Alliance of York County. If awarded, it will help build a real website with a searchable, functional events calendar.

If this newsletter has ever helped you find your people, this is how you keep it alive.

You have options. A lot of them.

🐦 Friday the 13th Flash Day
🥰 Galentine’s Self-Care Social
💐 Galentine’s Build Your Own Bouquet
🛍 Galentine’s Night Out Thrifting
🍷 Ladies Night Out
🧘 Valentine Partner Yoga
💕 Valen-Tour Downtown
🖤 Valentine’s Flash Tattoos
💘 Galentine Vendor Event
🎨 Galentine’s Paint & Sip (21+)
👩‍💼 Women of Hanover Network
🤠 Beginner Line Dancing

📍 Blue Bird Tattoo, 10 Baltimore Street
📅 Friday, February 13 | 🕑 2 PM – 7 PM
💵 $100 per tattoo | Cash only | Walk-ins only

Small flash designs by @tradcattatts and @jackie_tattoos. 18+ with physical photo ID. Arms and legs only. 3” or smaller. No alterations.

Flash designs released the day before.

Early access via email list:
🌐 bluebirdtattoos.com

📍 Fat Bat Brewing Company, 10 N Railroad Street
📅 Friday, February 13 | 🕔 5 PM – 9 PM
💵 Free entry

Permanent jewelry, esthetician services, spray tan consults, self-tanning products, flash tattoos, piercings, face painting, hair tinsel, bakery treats. Drinks available for purchase.

📍 Little Fox Coffee & Books, 125 Broadway
📅 Friday, February 13 | 🕔 5 PM – 8 PM
💵 $10 per bouquet | 🌐 RSVP on Facebook

Bring your own vase or purchase one there. First come, first served.

📍 Goodwill Hanover, 450 Eisenhower Drive
📅 Friday, February 13 | 🕔 5 PM – 8 PM

Snacks, swag, and thrifting with your besties. Tag @GoodwillKeystoneArea for a reshare.

📍 Back 2 Health, 1446 Baltimore Street
📅 Friday, February 13 | 🕔 5 PM – 7 PM
💵 Free entry

Wine tasting, silent disco, local pop-ups, giveaways, and mini photos.

📍 Life In Balance Yoga, 129 Broadway
📅 Friday, February 13 | 🕕 6 PM – 7:15 PM
💵 $35 (1 reservation = 2 participants) | 🌐 Register Online

All levels welcome. No prior experience required.

📍 Downtown Hanover
📅 Saturday, February 14 | All Day
💵 Free to attend | 🌐 Printable Itinerary

Monthly downtown celebration featuring pop-ups, specials, storytime, flash tattoos, mead tastings, and more.

📍 Cultivated Essentials Co., 28 Frederick Street
📅 Saturday, February 14 | 🕒 3 PM – 6 PM
💵 Cash or Venmo | Walk-ins only | 18+

Flash tattoos by Kelly Flynn of Green Witch Tattoo. First come, first served.

📍 Seventh Shelf, 9 Carlisle Street
📅 Sunday, February 15 | 🕚 11 AM – 6 PM
💵 Free Entry

Flash tattoos, tarot readings, chair massages, permanent jewelry, drinks from Little Fox Coffee & Books, flowers from Budding Fairy Tales, door prizes, and extended hours.

📍 Hanover Area Arts Guild, 32 Carlisle Street
📅 Sunday, February 15 | 🕓 4 PM – 6 PM
💵 $60 | $50 Members | 🌐 Buy Tickets Online

Painting: Gurlz Brunch. Includes artisan cheeses and desserts. BYOB.

📍 Sign of the Horse Brewery, 1015 Baltimore Street
📅 Wednesday, February 18 | 🕔 5 PM – 6:30 PM
💵 Free to attend | 🌐 Register Online

Networking event hosted by YWCA Hanover for professional women.

📍 Bourbon Mill, 4797 York Road, New Oxford
📅 Wednesday, February 18 | 🕖 7 PM – 9 PM
📅 Thursday, February 19 | 🕖 7 PM – 10:30 PM
💵 Free to attend

Beginner-friendly weekly line dancing and lessons — no partner required. Full food menu and bar available.

The current calendar lives here for now. A searchable, filterable version is coming if this grant comes through.

👉 View the Full Calendar

Guthrie Memorial Library had quite a week last week with their busted pipes. Thankfully they reported that the damage wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been.

But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. Instead, I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss this amazing offer:

All February, you can bring your York County Library card to any of the four Hanover Area YMCA location and receive a free one-week membership trial.

Yes. The same card you use for novels and audiobooks now unlocks treadmills, group classes, and strength training.

If you decide the YMCA is your new third space, make your membership official before your trial week ends and they’ll waive the joining fee.

Books and biceps. Community in two buildings.

Valentine’s Day can feel complicated.

Married.
Single.
Divorced.
Widowed.
Healing.
Thriving.

Whatever your situation, you deserve spaces where you feel seen.

Pick one.
Put it on your calendar.
Show up.

Community does not build itself.
It builds when you show up.

See you out there.

XoXo,
Megan

🧡 If you enjoyed this, tell a friend. Word of mouth keeps this little newsletter growing.

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