Annual Lititz Event Is Reimagined
Usually held in late May, the annual Taste of Lititz fundraiser for Venture Lititz has become a staple of the town's spring season. This year, however, planning the event was challenging to say the least. "As the pandemic and shutdown progressed, we tried to find an alternative way to hold our event," said Holly DeKarske, executive director of Venture Lititz. "It went through a lot of reiterations."
The reimagination of Taste of Lititz, sponsored by Listrak and Rohrer's Quarry, began on Aug. 17 and will continue through Saturday, Aug. 29. The two-week format was instituted to limit crowd size, encourage social distancing, and give those who wish to take part more time to visit downtown Lititz shops and eateries. During that time, area residents are encouraged to eat at one or more of the Lititz dining establishments in a variety of ways, including utilizing takeout or delivery or dining at an outside venue, among others. Masks are required in all businesses as per the state mandate, and restaurants are endeavoring to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols for the safety of guests and staff members.
Shopping at Lititz stores is encouraged as well. Many specialty stores are featuring online shopping and use of curbside pickup for safety and convenience.
Those visiting downtown Lititz will also have the opportunity to enjoy live music each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. On Thursdays, music will be available on the Melissa Otto Patio at the General Sutter. Other performers will be located near dining establishments on East Main and South Broad streets, along with a few other spots. DeKarske encourages interested residents to check https://lititzpa.com or search for "Taste of Lititz" on Facebook for details. "We will also have a special drive-around music truck to (visit) places outside of downtown," said DeKarske.
This year's Taste of Lititz will feature a new twist. A grant from State Farm funded a number of $20 gift cards to Lititz retail and eating establishments, which will be part of a drawing. "(To enter), they must take a photo to show they shopped or ate, and tag ... the shop or restaurant @DowntownLititz on Facebook, @LititzPA on Instagram," explained DeKarske, who added, "Use the hashtag #tasteoflititz2020."
"We will pick winners for the gift cards after the event," said DeKarske.
An art auction has traditionally been a part of the Taste of Lititz celebration. To put the spotlight on the talented artists in the Lititz community, an online art auction will be held by the Lititz Art Association. More information about the auction may be found at http://www.lititzartassociation.com.
DeKarske said the event planning committee, made up of Venture Lititz board members, merchants, and area residents, worked together to think creatively and come up with new ideas for the event. "Within the last two months we have planned and waited," shared DeKarske. "This has been tricky with changes happening every day. We knew it was best to wait until we hit green, but we also needed to allow restaurants more time to adapt to ... the rules and safety measures before we launched anything."
To enhance the sense of community during the difficult months of the shutdown, the organization launched Stand With Lititz. "(We are) encouraging our local folks to support local and keep our community as great as it has always been," said DeKarske. "Reinventing the Taste (of Lititz event) to encourage folks to come downtown to shop and eat seemed more important than ever."
DeKarske noted that the purpose of the event has always been community. This year, the committee worked to create a time when residents could venture downtown but not overrun businesses. "(We want) to allow for distancing and encourage folks to follow the safety protocols set up by the state," said DeKarske. "It is so very important to support all small businesses right now, and (Taste of Lititz) is one way for us to do that."
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