ADA Venue Review: Freedom Hall at the Lancaster Convention Center

ADA Venue Review: Freedom Hall at the Lancaster Convention Center

For this year’s Christmas Burns Red 2024, I had the chance to visit Freedom Hall at the Lancaster Convention Center. As a venue in a convention center, I came in with high hopes that accessibility wouldn’t be an issue. For the most part, Freedom Hall did well, but there are still a few areas that could be improved.

Outside the Venue The sidewalk leading up to the entrance was mostly flat and easy to navigate. There were some uneven sections, but nothing too difficult for a wheelchair to handle. Overall, it was a decent approach.

Inside the Venue The wide hallways were a definite highlight. Once inside, it felt spacious, and getting around wasn’t stressful. Finding the elevators was easy after asking an employee, which is a big plus. There were also multiple pathways to get around the dance floor. This flexibility made it much simpler to move between areas without feeling like I was in the way. Their ADA section had great lines of of sight and allowed for easy access in and out of the seating area.

Food Stalls One downside was the line for the food stalls. From a wheelchair user’s perspective, it felt cramped. The layout created a bit of a maze, and the space could have been wider to allow for easier navigation. It wasn’t impossible, but it definitely added some unnecessary stress to grabbing a snack.

Bathrooms The bathrooms were another issue. Instead of doors, the entrance used one of those “maze-style” hallway setups like you’d find at Walmart. This design can be a nightmare for wheelchair users. Each time I tried to go in or out, I ended up running into someone. It’s awkward for everyone involved since they either have to squeeze past or back up to let me through. There was another bathroom that was not as bad, so I found myself going to that one instead. I understand full blown construction is usually out of the picture, however, maybe announcing there is other bathrooms available for people like me, instead of having to go on a search to find one.

Final Thoughts Freedom Hall has some great features for accessibility, like the wide hallways, great ADA section, and easy elevator access. However, areas like the food stall lines and bathroom entrances need work to make the experience better for wheelchair users. Personally if they could widen the line for food and make more bathrooms available the venue could truly stand out as a great accessible space for events like Christmas Burns Red.