Downtown Lititz rolled out the red carpet in October 2014. Classic movie clips streamed overhead and music filled the air as guests arrived at the former gothic church at Orange and Broad streets, owned by Roy and Skip Clair, for “A Night in Hollywood,” the annual gala fundraiser of Venture Lititz.
Venture Lititz is the nonprofit organization that promotes and supports the town’s downtown businesses and events, and the community turned out in force, and in costume, to support it.
Hollywood glam and movie characters
Executive Director Kelly Withum, dressed as Nurse Ratched from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” said the costumes were amazing. Some guests chose general Hollywood glamour, while others went all out as specific film characters. It was hard to walk far in the crowded hall without bumping into a “star.”
Jerry Storey tipped his hat as D’Artagnan of “The Three Musketeers.” His daughter and son-in-law came as Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega from “Pulp Fiction.” Nearby stood a convincing Cleopatra, Bryna Freeman, owner of A Healing Touch of Lititz, who said she had so much fun the previous year that she knew she had to come back. She called the evening great for Lititz.
Outlaws, captains and villains
Thomas and Joanne Morton of Morton Fine Furniture came dressed as outlaw Butch Cassidy and his companion, Etta Place, complete with a leather vest, bowler hat and holster. Thomas said they came because they have a store in town and wanted to support Venture Lititz. Joanne joked that no one really knows what Etta looked like, but that night she looked like her.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard of “Star Trek” commanded one end of the room while Captain Jack Sparrow of “Pirates of the Caribbean” surveyed the other, perhaps keeping an eye on the bar.
Elaine and John Pfeil channeled “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” as Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak, with a stuffed striped cat perched on John’s shoulder. And Michael Tait was unmistakable in a lime-green Riddler suit covered in question marks, with his date dressed as Poison Ivy.
A unique setting
Clair Global co-founder Roy Clair circulated through the former church, greeting guests who enjoyed both the dramatic setting and the chance to gather for a local cause. The building, a landmark at one of downtown’s main intersections, provided a fitting backdrop for an evening built around the movies.
The party featured live music from local band Mama Tried, an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and prizes. Every guest went home with a movie ticket to Penn Cinema, a nod to the night’s theme and to another local business.
Why it matters
Events like the gala help fund the work Venture Lititz does year-round: organizing downtown festivals, marketing the town to visitors, and supporting the shops and restaurants that give Lititz its character. The organization has played a major role in the town’s reputation as one of the most charming small towns in America.
For guests, the evening was a chance to dress up, see neighbors in a new light and celebrate the downtown many of them work, shop and live in. As one returning guest put it, it was a great event and a lot of fun, and a good reason to come back next year.
Supporting downtown
Residents and businesses interested in getting involved with Venture Lititz can volunteer at events, become members or sponsor programs that keep the downtown vibrant throughout the year.
A town that shows up
The gala’s success reflected something Lititz is known for: residents who treat their downtown as a shared living room. Business owners came to support neighbors, longtime residents came to see friends, and newcomers came to find out what all the fuss was about. By the end of the night, the old church had been filled with laughter, music and more than a few movie quotes.