Wondering what to do on a summer Friday night? On August 14, 2015, Lititz offered plenty of choices for evening entertainment, all without venturing far from home. Here were five of the best.
1. Second Friday downtown
First on the list was 2nd Friday, the monthly evening when shops stay open late and the town fills with special performances, contests and events. The August edition had something for nearly everyone.
Beers + Hoffman Architects was hosting a Lego building contest at its office above the Appalachian Brewing Company on North Water Street. The band Strange Eden was scheduled to perform in front of the shops on Sturgis Lane, and a local artist was on hand at Lititz Framing and Fine Arts to meet visitors and talk about his work.
The beauty of 2nd Friday is that there is no single place to be. Visitors can wander from shop to shop, stop for dinner or dessert, and catch music on the sidewalks along the way.
2. A free movie in the park
As the sun went down, Lititz Springs Park hosted a free screening of the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” The choice was hard to beat: a film about a magical chocolate factory, shown in a park that sits right next to a working chocolate factory, the Cargill plant on North Broad Street that was long home to Wilbur Chocolate.
The movie was set to start at dusk, with free popcorn and a big screen under the evening sky. Families were encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs and settle in on the grass.
3. Build your own Lego creation
For aspiring builders of all ages, the Lego contest at Beers + Hoffman deserved its own spot on the list. The architects encouraged children and adults alike to come out for an evening of creative play, and the best builds had a shot at winning the contest.
It was a clever fit for a design firm. Lego bricks have long been a gateway for young people into architecture and engineering, and the contest gave the firm a friendly way to meet neighbors and show off its new office.
4. An alphabetical pub hop
On a hot Friday night, a cold craft beer had obvious appeal. With the second Lititz AMBUCS Craft Beer Festival coming up the following month, one way to warm up was a homemade mini festival: an alphabetical pub hop through downtown.
The suggested route ran from the Appalachian Brewing Company to the Bull’s Head Public House and then to JoBoy’s Brew Pub, which was releasing its new Gose that night. The brewery described the beer as a tart and fruity wheat ale with a slight coriander and salt character, a style well suited to a humid August evening.
The most important letters of the night, though, were DD. Anyone heading out on a pub hop was urged to line up a designated driver and never to drink and drive.
5. Wine and more on North Broad Street
Finally, the list pointed visitors north of East Main Street, an area some locals overlook. A stroll up North Broad Street revealed a cluster of shops offering wine samplings and retail goods including clothing, fine art and home decor. One favorite was EI Home, known for its candles, bulbs and tasteful furnishings.
A town made for summer evenings
Taken together, the list captured what makes a Lititz summer night special. There was music on the sidewalks, a classic film under the stars, a creative challenge for kids, a taste of the local craft beer scene and a reason to explore a less familiar corner of town.
None of it required a long drive or an expensive ticket. Most of the evening’s best offerings were free, and all of them were within walking distance of the town square. For residents and visitors alike, that convenience is one of the town’s great strengths.
As the summer of 2015 wound down, evenings like this one were a reminder to make the most of the warm weather while it lasted. Whether the plan was a movie, a Lego build or a leisurely walk with a glass of wine, Lititz had a way to fill a Friday night.