LANCASTER, PA — The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum at LancasterHistory will host their 2026 Annual Dinner on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The evening of fellowship and fun will take place from 6-9pm at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Lancaster, 2400 Willow Street Pike in Lancaster. Proceeds benefit the care and conservation of the Tanger Arboretum.

The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum (pronounced “tan’-jer”) is an 11-acre arboretum featuring a multitude of plant specimens and garden features on the grounds of LancasterHistory and President James Buchanan’s Wheatland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Arboretum includes over 100 species of trees from all over the world as well as two Pennsylvania State Champion trees, pollinator gardens, and an American Conifer Society Reference Garden. The Arboretum is cared for and conserved by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary of LancasterHistory.

About The Event & Guest Speaker
The Annual Dinner of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum will begin at 6pm with cocktails, followed by a plated dinner at 6:30pm, and the main program, awards, and raffle drawings around 7:30pm. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum are excited to welcome Andrew Conboy (@andrew_the_arborist), a passionate urban forester and native plant enthusiast from Philadelphia, PA, whose creative, educational videos have earned him a devoted following on social media.

Conboy will speak on the fascinating variety of trees, from the lesser-known varieties to Champion Trees, that call the Tanger Arboretum home. From maples to magnolias, silverbells to sweetgums, discover which trees support the most wildlife, how trees from across the globe found their way to Lancaster, and the challenges faced by native species.

Andrew Conboy is an urban forester and ISA-certified arborist in the Philadelphia area who believes everyone needs more trees, native plants, and nature in their lives! His user-friendly content on social media platforms (@andrew_the_arborist) aims to educate and inspire people to reconnect with the living world. He founded an ecological restoration non-profit called Community Canopy Project, which empowers his community to participate in land stewardship. Through his work, he hopes to encourage a deeper integration of nature into the spaces where we all live, work, and play.

How To RSVP
Tickets to attend the Annual Dinner for the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum are $70 per person. Ticket purchase includes access to the event, a plated dinner (salad, sides, main entree, and dessert), and the main presentation by Andrew Conboy. Raffle tickets may be purchased during the cocktail reception at 6pm with cash. Proceeds from the dinner and raffle benefit the care and conservation of the Tanger Arboretum.

Dinner includes: Salad with sun-dried cranberries, garden vegetables, & balsamic vinaigrette, sides of wild rice and seasonal roasted vegetables, a main entree (choose one: Caprese chicken with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil; New England style baked haddock with blistered tomatoes and sauteed spinach, or grilled vegetables and pecorino cheese ravioli), and cheesecake with fresh berries for dessert. There will be a cash bar.

To purchase tickets to the Annual Dinner for the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, please visit our website or call 717.392.4633, ext. 133. Any food allergies or special dietary needs should be communicated before the event to Emily Miller at 717.392.4633, ext. 133 or emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org. RSVP by March 27, 2026. Reservations are held upon receipt of payment.

Thank you to our 2026 Annual Dinner of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum sponsor, Bartlett Tree Experts!

Join us for a wonderful evening celebrating the Tanger Arboretum on April 8!

About The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum
The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

About LancasterHistory
LancasterHistory is a community-based, not-for-profit organization established to educate the public on the history of Lancaster County and its place in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States, to advance the missions of regional historical organizations, and to promote the acquisition, preservation, and interpretation of resources representing the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania within the broader context of state and national history, including the homes of 15th US President James Buchanan and Congressman Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith.