Living the Experience’ Brings Lancaster’s Underground Railroad to Life
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Asia Tabb
Aired; July 17th, 2025.
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For more than two decades, Living the Experience has invited audiences to take a powerful walk through history—right into the heart of Lancaster’s role in the Underground Railroad. What started as a church initiative has grown into an immersive reenactment that’s now drawing new attention under the direction of Ondra Haywood.
“I actually started as a cast member when it first began back in…1999,” Haywood shared. “Recently, the end of last year, I took over as the director of it.”
Living the Experience is staged at the historic Bethel AME Church, founded in 1817. The reenactment puts attendees into the shoes of freedom seekers navigating the Underground Railroad in 1800s Lancaster. Through stories of historical figures like Thaddeus Stevens, Lydia Hamilton Smith, and those involved in the Christiana Resistance, audiences witness the harrowing, hopeful journey toward liberation.
“You get to step inside the shoes,” Haywood emphasized. “It is not a play—we let people know that. It gives you an opportunity to experience what a worship service would be like at that time period.”
The production also includes southern-style meals and unique vendors, making the event both educational and sensory-rich. Lasting about three hours, it’s designed to stir reflection, emotion, and connection.
“People come, they laugh, they cry,” Haywood said. “We just had a church camp yesterday that came because we opened it up to the public every first Saturday.”
The setting is as meaningful as the message. Haywood said reenactments at Bethel AME Church—where the experience was born—resonate deeply with guests.
“It’s not the same feeling as being on the grounds and sitting in the pews and walking through the graveyard,” Haywood explained. “It gives you…it’s a full circle. We’ve had folks who saw the production elsewhere, and then when they come here, they say, ‘I was moved the first time, but this was something else.’”
The inspiration for Living the Experience came from Bethel’s then-pastor, Reverend Edward Maurice Bailey, who wanted to highlight the city’s rich Black history beyond what tourists traditionally see. After learning about Lancaster’s Underground Railroad activity from historian Dr. Leroy Hopkins, the church began hosting groups alongside the city’s more well-known Amish and entertainment attractions.
Now, the program continues on the first Saturday of every month, with meals and tickets coordinated through Eventbrite.
Haywood encourages anyone interested in history, community, and personal growth to attend: “It’s definitely something that all walks of life should check out.”