Editing Lancaster, California (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Clear channel stadium-070125-01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Clear Channel Stadium|The Hangar]], formerly home of the [[Lancaster JetHawks]]]]
[[File:Awoh-06-8.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Boeing Plaza, Aerospace Walk of Honor with an [[F-4 Phantom]] jet fighter on display]]

===Lancaster Museum of Art and History===
The city has prioritized arts and culture as an economic driver, opening the Lancaster Museum of Art and History, or MOAH, in 2012 locating the new facility in its downtown district known as The BLVD. Originally founded as the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery in 1986, the MOAH operates four sites within the city, serving the Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, and parts of Kern and San Bernardino Counties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityoflancasterca.org/Home/Components/News/News/2809/1952?arch=1&npage=90|title=News List &#124; City of Lancaster|website=www.cityoflancasterca.org}}</ref> The museum contains over 10,000 art pieces about Southern California.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.lancastermoah.org/about|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=MOAH|language=en}}</ref>

===The BLVD Cultural District===
In 2018, downtown Lancaster was designated The BLVD Cultural District, one of fourteen California Cultural Districts recognized as a place where culture happens within the state. Within the district, BLVD Cultural District Family Days and the biannual POW! WOW! Antelope Valley mural and arts festival has added nearly 50 murals by both local and internationally known artists to the district. The BLVD project was completed in 2010 and consists of Lancaster Blvd from 10th Street West to Sierra Highway. The multiple festivals have attracted huge crowds in the tens of thousands. The BLVD project was largely accepted as a major success. The [[Western Hotel (Lancaster, California)|Western Hotel]] (1876) is the oldest standing structure in the city of Lancaster, which was converted to a museum under the California Historic Site program in 1992, is also located within The BLVD Cultural District.

The Lancaster Performing Arts Center, in addition to MOAH, is a cultural anchor within the cultural district, providing a varied array of fine arts from [[community theatre]] productions to [[classical music]] and various forms of dance. It also draws celebrity performers from across the country and around the world, including renowned singers, dancers and musicians of all genres as well as comedians and variety shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lpac.org/|title=Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Lancaster CA|website=Lpac.org|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref>

The BLVD Cultural District is also home to the Lancaster [[Aerospace Walk of Honor]]. Established in 1990 by the Lancaster City Council, the Aerospace Walk of Honor celebrates [[test pilot]]s who were associated with [[Edwards Air Force Base]]. Recognition is awarded for distinguished aviation careers marked by significant and obvious achievements beyond one specific accomplishment. The sidewalk monuments are dedicated to a distinguished group of internationally known experimental test pilots. Five honorees are inducted each year in a special ceremony held in September.

The city has changed from a railroad [[water stop]] of the 19th century to a city with many residents and visitors. Lancaster was the headquarters of the "[[International Flat Earth Research Society|Flat Earth Society]]" from 1974 through 2001.

===Musical road===
Lancaster has the first [[musical road]] in the United States. The [[Musical road#Civic Musical Road|Civic Musical Road]] "plays" part of the ''[[William Tell Overture]]'', also known as the theme to the 1950s television show ''[[The Lone Ranger (TV series)|The Lone Ranger]]''. It was first put in by [[Honda]] for a television commercial. After noise and safety complaints, it was paved over two weeks later. After complaints in favor of the road, the musical road was reinstalled in a new location, at 30th Street West and Avenue G, near Fox Airport and Apollo County Park, completed October 17, 2008. While it plays the same song, it is now two miles (3&nbsp;km) away from the nearest residence.<ref>{{cite news| last =Linebaugh| first =Kate| title =Good Vibrations? A California Road Plays 'The William Tell Overture' | work =[[The Wall Street Journal]] | pages =A1 | date =October 24, 2008 | url =https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122469915344259035?mod=todays_us_page_one }}</ref>

===Special events===
Each spring, the California Poppy Festival draws upward of 60,000 guests to Lancaster City Park to celebrate springtime. The [[California Poppy Reserve]], {{convert|20|mi|km}} west of Lancaster, boasts one of California's most abundant crops of the [[California Poppy|state flower]], and the Poppy Festival has become a popular event not only for Lancaster residents, but also for visitors from around the world.  The California Poppy Festival began as an [[Earth Day]] celebration and has grown into an event with over {{convert|55|acre|m2}} of activities and extensive [[wildflower]] information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.poppyfestival.com/|title=California Poppy Festival - April 21st & 22nd 2018|website=Poppyfestival.com|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref>

"Celebrate Downtown Lancaster", a street fair and farmers' market, is held multiple times throughout the summer and features family-friendly activities, street musicians and a variety of specialty vendors.

In October 2009, the city launched the first annual Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, a professional go-kart racing event, in downtown Lancaster.  In October 2010, the event was held along the newly revitalized BLVD and expanded to 3 days of festivities, boasting an attendance of 35,000. The event is accompanied by a street festival, live music, and a car show.

In April of each year the "Antelope Valley Gem and Mineral Club" hosts its annual gem and mineral show.  This show usually takes place the last weekend of April at the Lancaster High School grounds.  This event usually draws many visitors and local residents as it is a unique opportunity to see rare rocks, gemstones, specimens and hand made goods such as cabochons, faceted stones and hand made jewelry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/index.aspx?recordid=1977&page=20 |title=City of Lancaster : City News & Updates |access-date=April 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930101545/http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/index.aspx?recordid=1977&page=20 |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The Miss Lancaster pageant takes place every year in June. The winner represents her community at the Miss Antelope Valley Pageant in September and serves as an ambassador for the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. Notable recipients include Hannah Fernquist (2010), the first Miss Lancaster to be crowned Miss Antelope Valley since 1999 and the redhead featured on the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140820131912/http://avfair.com/index.php/miss-antelope-valley-more Miss Antelope Valley] banner.

BLVD Market is a farmers market held every Thursday year round on Lancaster BLVD between Fern and Ehrlich Avenues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityoflancasterca.org/about-us/departments-services/parks-recreation-arts/special-events/blvd-farmers-market|title=The BLVD Market &#124; City of Lancaster|website=www.cityoflancasterca.org}}</ref>

===Other cultural assets===
Today, the city has over {{convert|600|acre|km2}} of developed or planned parkland, including playground and picnic areas as well as tournament-level sports facilities at Big 8 Softball Complex and the Lancaster National Soccer Center. The Prime Desert Woodland Preserve, located in West Lancaster, is a facility dedicated to preserving the pristine beauty of the [[High Desert (California)|High Desert]] and educating residents about their environment through nature walks and educational programs at its unique Interpretive Center. Forrest Hull Park, located near the southern border of the city on its west side and across the street from [[Paraclete High School]], is a popular [[dog park]] where local residents frequently gather to allow their dogs to play and exercise together.

In 1996, the city built Lancaster Municipal Stadium (now [[Clear Channel Stadium|The Hangar]]). It was home to the [[Lancaster JetHawks]], a [[California League]] [[High-A]] minor league baseball team, from 1996 to 2020.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/lancasters-minor-league-baseball-hopes-190930572.html|title = L.A. County's lone minor league team is one of dozens of affiliates eliminated by MLB| date=December 9, 2020 }}</ref> As of 2023 it is home to the Lancaster Sound Breakers, a professional baseball team in the [[Pecos League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=2023 |title=Pecos League |accessdate=January 2, 2023 }}</ref>