As expected, it was a busy Friday at the Lancaster Central Market, one of the best places to support small businesses. Since it's been some time since I last shopped here, it was a treat browsing all the vendor stands and seeing what foods are available. As a garden/flower enthusiast, you know I had to check out the flower stands like Perfect Pots and Inspirational Blossoms, both with fresh blooms. For lunch, after a taste test, I opted for Soulcialze, which provided generous portions of mac n cheese, collards, beef brisket, and cornbread. Tables are provided for lunch or snacks, but we had to wait a few minutes because none were available. At Lancaster Central, you can expect a friendly atmosphere in this beautiful historic building, where the local community shops and supports. I usually secure parking via parking apps at the Hager lot or one of the two nearby parking garages. read more

Lancaster Central Market - Beautiful historic Lancaster Central Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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"For it's always just a short walk To the oldest established permanent floating Crap game in New York" (Guys and Dolls) Well, we didn't exactly have a short walk to the oldest established permanent Farmer's Market in the United States. That's because on our visit, three of the parking garages bordering the market were full, and by the time we found street parking (you'd better polish up your parallel parking skills) it was close to a 30-minute stroll to this historic landmark. The market goes way back--all the way to 1730--when local farmers rolled into town with whatever they'd harvested and sold it in what was then just an open field in the center of the growing community. Today, it is home to over 65 vendors selling fruits & vegetables, meats, poultry, fish & cheeses, fresh baked bread, pretzels, pierogis, handmade dishes, smoothies, flowers, hot coffee, sweet treats, and even pickles. We had a blast wandering through the crowded aisles and picking up a few odds and ends. If you love jerky and meat sticks (as I do), you will walk out with a ton of goodies (as I did). read more

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Lancaster Central Market is an absolute gem and 100% worth the visit. It's open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, and we stopped in on a Friday morning after breakfast on Prince Street. Let's talk logistics first: Parking can be a little tricky. It's 2 hour street parking, and since it's right in the center of the city, spots are at a premium. Add snowbanks into the mix and yeah it takes a little patience. The market itself is wonderful. There are so many different vendors packed into one space fresh flowers, meats, seafood, pickles, baked goods, breads, candles, and plenty more. It's one of those places where every aisle has something that makes you stop and say, "Oh... I need that." I came home with pickles, bread, red beets, and doughnuts, and honestly could've left with twice as much. Everything felt fresh, local, and thoughtfully made. The vibe is lively without being overwhelming, and it's just fun to wander, browse, and snack your way through. Parking might take a little effort, but Lancaster Central Market is absolutely worth it. We'll definitely be back probably hungry, probably leaving with bags again. Highly recommend. read more

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Great little market with fresh produce, baked goods and crafts. Located near lots of food and shopping options. Parking can be a bit hard to find during peak hours. Lots of tourists and locals interacting with the friendly vendors. read more

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There was a great variety of local food and drinks. It was a cool place to check out. Many vendors offer samples which was nice. I bought dog treats, organic turnips, and goat milk yogurt. One thing that I found very surprising is that even the Amish stands do not have organic goods. There was only one organic stand. It was a hustling and bustling place. It is set back from the road but everyone was helpful to point us in the right direction. read more

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I always enjoy going to market. They have things I only get there. Goat milk, Esh family sweet dill hot pickles. Delicious! Fresh vegetables and fruit and such an array of things in that building. And I'm fortunate enough to be able to walk there. I'm a blessed man! read more

Parking is rough, it is what you would expect in a city setting. Either pay for a lot or find street parking and pay 2.50/hr. Tons of choices for everyone! Every vendor was unique and diverse. Central market bagel did not toast their bagels which was a bit odd, but they have amazing juice. Pretzel breakfast sandwich was tasty at Pretzels on Market! (Their actual soft pretzels were Philly Soft Pretzel which was misleading, I recommend the Amish pretzel location around the corner). The staff at all the stands were helpful and great! Maplehofe has an array of colorful milk including blueberry, chocolate and orange cream. They are always delicious! Egg nog flavor is in stock for the holidays! read more

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A friend had invited me and I thought it was just another farmer's market. It is so much more, fresh fruits, veggies, milk honey, herbs spices, all kinds of stuff to make you feel better inside and out. The service from all the vendors was welcoming and helpful! Such a good place to buy and sample fresh food. Very clean atmosphere! Great selection of all food types! Something for everyone! Good quality of desserts, fruits, veggies, it felt like everyone brought their "A"game. Cant wait to go back and explore some more. read more

Lancaster Central Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Sooo glad I was able to make it to the Lancaster Food Market! I had the pleasure to visit the beeyutiful Lancaster Central Market during Labor Day Weekened and boy was it crowded. Lancaster Central Market is a large building that offers an array of items such as clothing, food and candy from all over the world. It's similar to the Reading Terminal in Philly. The different vendors sold a variety of food such as empanadas, chocolate candy, dutch food like stroopwaffles and a variety of meats and seafood. I also saw flowers. You can defintely spend hours just walking, exploring and catching a vibe. Overall I left with a bag of different items such as empanadas, flowers, some snacks and I tried sugar cane juice for the first time which was pretty refreshing! read more

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Lancaster Central Market is a must do. It's located right in the heart of the city and is ALWAYS busy. A parking garage is available across the street or on the street, if you could find a space. Here, you'll find rows and rows of vendors with everything from apparel, produce, food, beverages, and souvenirs. Right outside of the market you'll have a few benches, in order to enjoy your purchase and you might, as we did, be entertained by a street musician. This is a nice area, that I'm sure will satisfy whatever you may desire and enjoy. read more

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Good time at the market - very nice for a early morning trip. You could easily walk through in 30min or so, so it's a smaller market but cute area and surrounding shops are nice too. Some of our favorite spots, coffee (mean cup), fresh pretzels (kom essa), and donuts / long john (shady maple) - would absolutely recommend, but you have to get there early and bring cash! Some spots are cash only. read more

Lancaster Central Market - Donuts - Farmers Market Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

This place was excellent. Lots of different vendors. Parking wasn't too hard to find. Probably need to go earlier in the day as some of the vendors ran out of food quickly. read more

Good selection of great vendors. The setting reminds us older folks of the markets we grew up with as kids. You will always find something for everyone there. read more

Lancaster Central Market is a large market that houses so many unique and different booths. There is everything from butchers to flower shops to pastries and spices! I ordered a sandwich from Farm2Table Creations and it was delicious. They also sold cheeses and Amish butter. The market is clean and has public bathrooms. There are a handful of small tables to eat at. Parking here can be a nightmare! I used the Hager Parking lot and paid $4 for an hour. read more

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This market is the mini me for the Reading Terminal Market in Philly. While you'd need to walk over to the Southern Market for a meal (more or less), this market is more traditional farmers market offering produce, baked good, coffees, and much more in an eclectic, vibrant and diverse package. Enjoyable from entrance to exit. read more

I loved this market. I was just in Lancaster for the weekend and was staying within walking distance of this market. We stopped by just to explore a bit and I was blown away by all of the options and the quality of the options. I ended up getting the pretzels and whoopee pies. Everything is made fresh. The pretzels are out of this world. Soft, buttery perfection. They had a deal on getting 3 for $5.50. Everything there is worth trying though. You can't get better quality or value. The whole market is just beautiful and unique. They offer candles, flowers, fresh produce and all kinds of other things. My only complaint is that it was crowded so you had to consistently be very aware of your surroundings to not run into someone. All in all, I loved my experience. read more

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I tend to find myself here every time I visit Lancaster. It's in a central downtown location and if I'm in a group of people then there is a something for everyone. There's coffee and food to eat there as well as produce, meat, and things to bring home for groceries. It gets packed, and even though there is food to grab and eat, it doesn't have a great amount of seating. Difficult to traverse with a stroller so suggest leaving that outside and carrying or having kids walk. read more

We were spending a nice summer day in Lancaster, visiting some of our favorite spots. Since it was not blistering hot, Lancaster Central Market was on the list. Why? No air conditioning, lots of stone, it can be hotter inside then outside on really hot days. Lancaster Central Market is the oldest continuously operating public farmer's market in the US, having opened in 1730. It's located in the center of downtown Lancaster, surrounded by other buildings, with a plaza winding around it's exterior. Inside there are a variety of merchants - from fresh produce to candies to prepared foods, a souvenir stand and even a local distillery - situated in long rows. We were there later in the day so some things were sold out, however there was still plenty. Booth/stand operators were friendly while also giving us space to browse. Once we had questions or decided to make a purchase they were all easy to do. It's a nice stop if you're visiting Lancaster. On Saturdays there seem to be lots of things going on outside the market too - like local music performances. Note that the market on Saturdays is WAY more crowded than on a Tuesday. This should be on your list of places to see in downtown Lancaster at least once, and we'll probably be going again on our next visit - as long as it's on a Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday. read more

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Something for everyone in such a historic building! One of the highlights of our trip to Lancaster for sure!

The Lancaster Central Market is the oldest outdoor market operating in the country. Lancaster is a truly special place and the market brings out the character and the personality of the town. Located in the historic downtown there are parking garages available for you to park. There are plenty of shops and restaurants for you to spend your time. There are plenty of options for you to grab a drink or food at the market. A lot of different Amish vendors as this town is heavily Amish influenced. This is an enjoyable time to spend your day while exploring Lancaster. read more

i've been trying to get to this place for several years now. It wasn't as big as I imagined it or I guess how it was presented on the Internet. But it was still nice. The stalls were all friendly. There were different types of ethnic foods available. Lots of meats and vegetables, typical farmers market type stuff. No one was offering free samples so I guess you would have to buy it to try it. I bought a lot of stuff just because I wanted to try different things. I only ended up liking 50% of the stuff that I bought. but I guess it was just my taste buds talking. BUT... CHRISTINA'S CRIOLLO and CALLALOO were a hit! Both places have excellent food. I'm an hour and a half away from this place, so I probably won't be going back anytime soon. But it is a good drive just to get away and have some place to go. But I'd definitely go back just to get CALLALOO and CHRISTINA'S CRIOLLO! DELICIOUS! Parking is a little strange. You have to find a parking garage. The streets are pretty crowded during the weekend. read more

Lancaster Central Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Came to explore the market on small business Saturday and it was surely packed! Whoever made a comment about this being a smaller version of Reading Terminal in Philadelphia was correct. There are rows and rows of vendors with a variety of goods such as meat, produce, nuts, baked goods, candies and chocolate, flowers, etc. We found that any line we waited in did move quickly and most vendors were able to heat up food for you, if you asked. We sampled a few pretzels and a spinach pie from one of the stalls. All were good! The one pretzel was definitely just picked up from the Philly Pretzel Factory which was a little disappointing. They have a small upstairs viewing/seating area, if you take the elevator. There are bathrooms on the first level and when we visited they were not clean and smelled awful. I'd suggest waiting to use a bathroom somewhere else. read more

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I visited the Lancaster Central Market for the first time - finally! - with my husband last weekend. I'd been to the market in York, but I had really been looking forward to visiting Lancaster's market! It's definitely larger and busier and more vibrant: lots of stands selling just about everything you can think of - produce, jams, tea, spices, sauces, breakfast, lunch, etc. We explored for an hour or so and took home some great products from a horseradish stand (freshly grated horseradish and a ton of sauces and mustards made with horseradish?!). It's definitely crowded (lots of traffic jams and generally hard to walk around), but we were there on a Saturday around 10/11 am! Pretty easy to find parking nearby and the area around the market has quite a bit of great shopping, too. Definitely worth exploring! Great market in a fun town to visit. read more

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If you've been to Reading Terminal Market in Philly, then Lancaster Central Market is similar but smaller. Farm Fresh to the max (after all you're in Lancaster Amish country!). I believe they are open every Tuesday, Friday & Saturday only from 6am-3pm. You can get meats, cheeses, noodles, spices, baked goods, flowers, crafts. It's a farmer's market in the best & most old fashioned sense. Definitely worth a visit. There are also food stands where you can get lunch of all different types to go & even vegan choices. Take it from a home town girl (who now lives in Pittsburgh), you gotta visit if you're downtown on a Saturday morning. read more

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Finally made it here!!! They are only open on Tues, Fri and Sat til 3pm. What a gem! They have everything from fresh flowers, fruits/veggies, donuts, cheese, pastries, grass fed beef. Some vendors take credit cards, some only cash. We bought pretzels, breakfast sandwiches, donuts and tchotchkes. Loved it and will be back! read more

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What a beautiful experience in the heart of Lancaster! Stepping into the central market is a step back into history, as you enter the oldest publicly owned continuously running farmers market in the US. In fact, it dates back over 300 years, back when the British were the ones running the show. Inside you'll find all sorts of options, from pastries and coffee to butchers and produce. I thought the aisles were very open, allowing for a good flow as you scanned each stand. In general the stand vendors were very friendly as well, smiling and offering samples or tips on their best products. The only downside to the whole experience is that it's only operating a few days a week (Tuesday and Friday as of summer 2024), so you need to time your trip right or face a load of disappointment. read more

I really loved this market, they have everything you could think of! There were rows and rows of different vendors. Fresh fruits, meats, cheeses, jams and even plants. Bought a lot of goodies here. Would highly recommend a visit! read more

There is something for everyone here. I've been going to the market since I was a child, and many of the popular stands--like the deli, candy stand, produce stand, and flower stand--have been there for years. The people are always so kind, and there is so much to pick from. I love the treats from the Shady Maple stand. Because I don't have the time to drive all the way there, I love getting my sweet treats, especially the bacon donut, from them. read more

I visit the LCM every so often. They offer some good quality meats and other goods. I also love the coffee shop at the back end of the market where you can even get flavored syrup in your latte or coffee. Everyone at the market is so friendly and if you want to contribute a little bit more, there is a stand that you can buy LCM merchandise! My other favorite spot is the pretzel stand and the fresh bakery stand. They sell freshly basked English muffins which we got this time on our visit and they were so soft and delicious! I will say some of the stands can be pricey! I recently saw "homegrown tomatoes" $3.99 each... I am not doubting the quality but other stands that sell homegrown were going for 3.99 for an entire basket of tomatoes. One thing to note is that I have only been there on a weekend but it does get very busy there especially in the morning. I would recommend leaving behind strollers if you can so that you don't get stuck in the congestion. There is also parking nearby for those that do not want to park on the street. Also, don't forget to bring your own bags!! read more

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Was in the area for a wedding and went strolling downtown. We found the Lancaster Central Market building and immediately wanted to go see what it was all about. The building itself is beautiful! And inside is filled with various vendors selling food, jarred items, drinks, candles, household goods, you name it. We tried pierogis for the first time! Taste tested so many different candies and foods. The amount of people inside can be overwhelming, as it isn't a very large space. And it's easy to miss things. I recommend going when you can take your time to really look at everything offered and take it all in! The vendors were all kind and super helpful! Definitely will be back if we ever come back to the area! read more

Lancaster Central Market - Inna's Pierogi Shop at The Lancaster Central Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

I came on a Saturday at 10AM and it was busy but the lines were not too long. It is certainly very lively in Central Market and there are 3/4 rows of stalls to explore! They range from breads to empanadas to soul food to candy shops to juice stands. It was mainly food (and there were some flowers/pet food/etc.) so don't come expecting that there are trinkets to buy. I bought The Passion smoothie from the Juice company ($6), a pretzel breakfast sandwich from the Pretzel shop ($4.50), and vegan mac n cheese from Soulcialize ($5). Passion smoothie: I would rate this a 3/5. A bit overpriced considering other stores were .5-$1 cheaper for juices. I was honestly a bit disappointed with my pineapple juice, mango, banana smoothie and felt like I've had waay better at Jamba Juice. Not sure why the Juice Company had such good reviews. I would recommend going a few stalls over and ordering the pina colada ($5) instead if you like pineapple/tropical juices. Pretzel breakfast sandwich 5/5: very very filling and I loved that it was on pretzel bread, which I feel like is rare to find. They served it hot and I got bacon egg and cheese on mine. This was delicious!! All the small businesses here were very cute and sold their own niche things. If you're looking for traditional lancaster food, they have it! If you're looking to try other cuisines like thai or soul food, they have it! I was pleasantly surprised by the selections, and everyone we talked to were so nice, friendly, and informative. A vendor even explained to us the history behind the central market. If you're in Lancaster, this is a MUST GO read more

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Great little market but I thought could have more variety of products. Crowds can be a problem as there is not space for lines and they block the aisle. Perhaps put the prepared food outlets in their own area for crowd control. Found some good prices but others were overpriced. Just need to shop around for best deal. read more

This was a cool experience. I typically don't even go to farmer's markets in my own city/state, but I do enjoy visiting other farmer's markets in different cities, states & countries. I like to check out food & items indigenous to the area. Not only is this market full of character, but it's historical as well! It's the oldest continuously publicly operating farmer's market in the country since 1730! Hours are limited : TUES,FRI & SAT 7am-3PM ( although on the doors it says (6am-3pm) call to verify. So plan accordingly. Some businesses take only cash, so come prepared with cash & credit! If you take pictures be sure to just ask before you do. Some allow it, some have signs not to. There are numerous stand holders ranging from trinkets, t-shirts, soaps,lotions, novelty items to fresh produce, seafood & meats, to baked goods, including gluten free to beautiful flowers & ethnic foods & sandwiches. Even treats & toys for your fur babies! Everything is primarily on the first floor, including restrooms. There is a set of stairs/elevators that lead to a very small indoor balcony overlooking the market. It has roughly 3 triangular tables for standing & eating. While there are some 2 person tables lining the perimeter inside the market, they tend to become occupied rather quickly. If you want an idea of the stand holders in the market, go to the LAncaster Central Market website & they list just about all of them, & their corresponding location. There's so many! My approach when I arrived was to go down every aisle quickly browsing each stand to see which ones I wanted to potentially patron. The aisles are tight & narrow & it gets busy & crowded. While strollers are permitted it is a tough squeeze as I saw others navigate through the crowds. I knew I wanted to try some Shoofly pie & found 3 stand holders that carried them. I went with Shady Maple & that was a good choice! They also had a smaller size pie (6"), in addition to the regular sizes. Which was helpful as I didn't want to commit to a larger size if I didn't like it. Thankfully I did! We also ordered a PB Long John, holy moly was that fantastic! In all fairness, all of Shady Maple's pastries looked delicious! They also offer a gluten free section at the far left of their counter. The young lady who helped me was so patient, friendly & kind throughout my barrage of questions. Ps I'm from the Mid-Atlantic, I have never heard of Long Johns. They looked more like eclairs to me, but I was explained that they are essentially elongated donuts. Other stands we thoroughly enjoyed were S. Clyde Weaver, they had some really good customized sandwiches that we consumed later at the Strasburg RR parking lot & Nord had absolutely delicious lemon frommage! With the market on my to do list, I came prepared with a cooler & ice packs with the intent to buy some goods & I didn't want to miss out! Plus we had other stops after & I didn't want anything to spoil. Street parking is available, but we parked in the Hager Parking Lot which is a quick walk. Parking is $4 an hour. Hold onto your ticket. It's better to pay at the kiosk before exiting the lot versus paying at the gate to exit. Plus even if you are over by a minute it will charge you another hour. I spoke to a friendly local who provided me that info. Payment is by credit card, cash (maybe) accepted as well. Definitely a place to check out whether a local or a tourist like me :-) read more

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While traveling through Central PA recently my family purposefully planned our itinerary around the days and times that the Lancaster Central Market were open. We have heard and read wonderful things about the market and wanted to experience it for ourselves. We were thoroughly impressed with the wide variety of wares being sold and happily purchased sweet and savory items, fresh apple cider, blueberry milk, and a bouquet of beautiful flowers for Mother's Day. Prices for everything were very reasonable, all the vendors were friendly and helpful, and we were able to find a quiet corner to eat and admire the architectural features of the market. When we're in the area again I sure do hope we're there at the right days and times to stop back in. read more

For me, this was a rainy day "thing to do". I've actually never been to "downtown" Lancaster so it was fun to check out. It was busy but not overly crowded. I think I went relatively early (10AM) and spent some time walking around. I only bought a cup of coffee but it looked like they had all kinds of goodies. Cool old building, as well. read more

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You will find this marketplace on many of the "must see" attractions for Lancaster. This marketplace has been around since the 1700s and is worth the stop. There are a variety of vendors with prepared foods as well as some vendors with produce, flowers, and other goods. We picked up a sub from one vendor and some empanadas from a different vendor. Even tried some complementary pickle shots. A nice place to stop and grab a bite to eat with indoor and outdoor seating. Also a good place to grab some local produce and goods! read more

Lancaster Central Market - Italian sub - Farmers Market Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

A little of this and a lot of that can be found here. The central market is simply that. It has everything you need! A farmers market of sorts offering Meats, fruit and vegetables, canned goods of varying food varieties, fresh cooked and baked goods, coffee, smoothies, arts, crafts and nuts you can eat and people who are just plain "nuts" walking around :) Love all the shops and energy of this place. I was told many of the items here are locally sourced and sustainable. There are limited tables for you to dine in to enjoy the diverse food offerings here. The market is not open everyday and you need to check the schedule. Finding Parking is a challenge but there are indoor parking lots in the area. Hours of Operation from the website: TUESDAY 6 AM - 3 PM FRIDAY 6 AM - 3 PM SATURDAY 6 AM - 3 PM A definite place to visit when you're in the Lancaster area. read more

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The Lancaster Central Market is an amazing collection of local business all under one (historic) roof. It's only three days a week (Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays) and it opens and closes on the early side (6am to 3pm). On the day we visited there were some street performers outside as well. It can be a bit crowded. Vendors range from hip and trendy to conservative Amish shops, and there's a bit of everything, especially if you come hungry. We brought a cooler along just to pack in all the good stuff we got. read more

Lancaster Central Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Just like any market it will be crowded. Take your time, be patient and shop away. There is a little bit of everything, but a good percentage is food. My daughter enjoyed an Oola Bowl from Oola Bowl. My mother picked up some cookies and my husband picked up some coffee. Seating is limited, so if it is cold out prepare. read more

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This is a fun market to visit on a trip to Lancaster. The city of Lancaster itself is fairly forgettable, but beautiful Central Market is located in an historic building and filled with wonderful vendors and great staff. Worth a stop before heading back out to the countryside. read more

Lancaster Central Market - Farmers Market Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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