A torrential storm swept through Lititz on the afternoon of Friday, October 9, 2015, but it did not wash away one of the most colorful nights on the downtown calendar. That evening’s 2nd Friday went ahead as planned, and its centerpiece was a Scarecrow Contest that turned shop fronts across town into a gallery of straw-stuffed characters.
Merchants compete for votes
Local merchants taking part in the contest stayed open for the evening, each hoping to draw in customers and win votes for a festive and original scarecrow. The idea was simple: shoppers strolling downtown could admire the entries, step inside the participating businesses, and cast a vote for their favorite.
For the businesses, the contest offered more than a prize. It gave people a reason to walk a little farther, peek into a shop they might have passed by, and linger downtown on an autumn evening. For visitors, it turned an ordinary stroll into something closer to a scavenger hunt.
An architect’s take on the scarecrow
One of the more playful entries came from Beers + Hoffman Architects, the design firm whose office sat at 55 N. Water St., above the Appalachian Brewing Company. The firm built a scarecrow with a professional twist and named it “T-Square Crow,” a nod to the classic drafting tool. A partner at the firm described it as “slightly scary” and invited anyone out and about that night to stop by and take a look.
Visitors who climbed the stairs to the firm’s office could do more than vote. Beers + Hoffman was also hosting a Lego night, inviting guests to compete for a building prize with their own designs or simply to have some fun snapping bricks together. The pairing of a scarecrow contest and a Lego challenge made the stop a natural one for families with children.
Music and late hours around town
The scarecrows were not the only attraction. Weather permitting, musicians were scheduled to perform at businesses around town throughout the evening, adding a soundtrack to the stroll. Some merchants offered specials, and many stayed open late, as they do each month for the event.
That combination of live music, extended hours and small seasonal touches is what has made 2nd Friday a fixture in Lititz. The monthly event gives residents a reason to come downtown after work, and it gives local shops and restaurants a regular opportunity to show off what they do best.
Why 2nd Friday works
Lititz has long had a reputation as one of the most walkable and charming small towns in Pennsylvania, and 2nd Friday leans into that. Each month organizers and merchants add a theme or activity to give people a fresh reason to visit. In the spring, a Lego building contest drew budding builders. In the fall, scarecrows took center stage.
The October edition showed how flexible the format can be. Even with a heavy storm rolling through just ahead of the start, the town did not cancel or postpone. Instead, as the skies cleared, shoppers filtered back onto the sidewalks to see what the merchants had created.
The spirit of the season
Scarecrow contests have deep roots in rural communities, and they fit naturally in a town surrounded by Lancaster County farmland. In downtown Lititz, the scarecrows took on personalities of their own, from traditional figures in flannel and straw hats to cleverly themed creations like the architects’ drafting-table crow.
The contest captured something essential about the town in autumn: a sense of humor, a love of handmade things, and a willingness to turn out for a neighborly event even after a soaking afternoon. For many residents, a walk among the scarecrows, a stop for a bite or a drink, and a few tunes along the way made for a fine start to the fall season.
Anyone who missed the scarecrows that year had only to wait a month. The next 2nd Friday would bring a new theme, new specials and another reason to spend an evening downtown.