With a gorgeous weekend in the forecast for August 22 and 23, 2015, Lititz offered a lineup of great outdoor events. From vintage aircraft to antiques, classic British cars to a polo match, and a peaceful worship service in the park, here were five top picks.
1. Community Days at the Lancaster Airport
The Lancaster Airport, located in Lititz, hosted its free Community Days event for families. The highlight was a chance to fly in the B-25 bomber “Panchito,” a World War II-era aircraft that draws aviation fans from across the region.
The event also featured a daily parade of planes and an air show. Thanks to platinum sponsor Keller Bros. Ford, which partnered with local businesses, community baskets packed with local perks and prizes were given away each day, and ATV rides were offered.
Admission was free, with a suggested $5 parking donation. The airport is located at 500 Airport Road, Lititz.
For many visitors, seeing a B-25 up close is a powerful experience. The twin-engine bomber played a major role in World War II, and only a small number remain airworthy today.
2. Lititz Springs Park Antique Show
The annual antique show in Lititz Springs Park brought treasures from days gone by, including many items connected to Lititz history. In past years, pieces from local estates had been popular finds among collectors interested in the town’s past.
Admission was free, and the park’s shady setting made browsing a pleasure on a summer day.
3. “A Taste of Britain” Car Show
The LANCO MG Club brought a bit of Britain to the area with its 26th annual “A Taste of Britain” car show, held in conjunction with a Lancaster Polo Club match. The show featured MGs, British motorcycles and other vehicles from across the Atlantic.
Registration opened at 11 a.m. at Forney Field, 70 Church Road, Rothsville. Spectator admission was $5, and children 12 and under were admitted free. Pre-registration for exhibitors before August 15 was $15 for two people.
British car shows have a dedicated following. MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars and Austin-Healeys, with their distinctive styling, are favorites among collectors, and owners often enjoy sharing the quirks of their cars.
4. Polo Match: Battle for the Britain Cup
After the car show, spectators could stay for the polo match, which began at 2:30 p.m. Polo offers a rare chance to get close to the action: the pounding hooves, the flying turf and the athleticism of horse and rider.
The match was a family bargain, with adult and teen admission at $5 and free entry for children 12 and under. Arriving early allowed time to see the cars before the match began.
5. Evening Vespers in Lititz Springs Park
To close the weekend, local churches hosted evening vespers at the band shell in Lititz Springs Park. Each week a different congregation leads the service, bringing its own style of worship music and pastoral reflection.
The services are not formal or traditional in the way some might expect. Instead, they offer a fresh, uplifting time of worship amid the stately trees surrounding the band shell. Vespers began at 6:30 p.m. and were free.
A weekend of variety
The five events captured the range of what Lititz offers in late summer. There was history in the air at the airport, history on the tables at the antique show, British style at Forney Field, the excitement of polo and a quiet close to the weekend in the park.
Best of all, most of the events were free or very inexpensive, and all were close to home. For families looking to make the most of one of the last weekends before school started, the choices were plentiful.