What are the first words that come to mind when you think of a small town? Is it charming and cool? Well it should be, especially if you are talking about Lititz Pennsylvania, voted the Coolest Small Town in America. It is a borough within Lancaster County of just about 9 miles packed with things to do, places to see, rich history and days of fun! 

Lititz was founded in the 1700’s when Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf arrived from Germany, a bishop within the Moravian Church. During the Revolutionary War Lititz Pennsylvania became a space to provide medical attention and quarter sick or wounded soldiers, it is said that this was an order from George Washington during his time as the General. The soldiers worked with members of the Moravian Church because during that time that is who was still settled in Lititz. With such an interesting history the town of Lititz works to keep sharing this background through their annual Fourth of July celebrations. Talk about keeping history alive! Annually Lititz is known for their wonderful Fourth of July festivities, due to COVID this year was virtual but they were still able to bring pride, excitement and fun to the residents in Lititz. Hosting house decorating contests, baby parades, a national bell ringing with the mayor, Queen of Candles pageant, decorations, music, games and fireworks are just a few examples. This event is always a crowd pleaser and a wonderful way to see community within Lititz. 

While the history is magnificent in itself that is not the only reason Lititz won coolest town in America. In 2013, Lititz was voted the Coolest Small Town in America by Budget Travel readers. While their small town charm and history help them stand out, it is the day to day life that truly made them the easy vote. With wonderful restaurants, shops and events the winner couldn’t have been clearer. Let’s dive into some reasons why! 

Do you enjoy fine dining, quiet evenings, intimacy, music, and fun nights out with friends? That is a mix of atmospheres and venues but don’t worry, downtown Lititz provides all of this and you could find a restaurant to enjoy no matter your mood. Craving something sweet? You must check out Dosie Dough Bakery for a pastry, bread or other homemade baked goods. When you arrive you can’t help but have your mouth water. It smells like heaven! This is also a wonderful place to meet up with friends for a cup of coffee or a quick lunch, the perfect spot for a nice chat or to enjoy a book and some serenity on your own. After something sweet you always need something salty to even it out. Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is the perfect spot to do that. Founded in 1861 as the first commercial pretzel bakery in America, it allows you to take a tour while enjoying a soft pretzel, hard pretzel, or one covered in chocolate! This is a fun way to spend your afternoon learning about the deep history of Lititz while enjoying a salty snack! Fine dining, brewing companies, and pubs as well as a wonderful farmers market are nestled in Lititz. As the months get colder you can continue to support locals by ordering take out from one of the many spots to find out which might be your favorite! 

While the dining could keep you busy during your time in Lititz there are wonderful shops and stores to meet your every need from jewelers to framers, book stores, antique shops and clothing boutiques. Aaron’s Books is a wonderful shop with new and used books to enjoy. The Mustard Seed Boutique has all locally made clothing and home goods – a wonderful way to buy thoughtful gifts for someone you care about. The town of Lititz offers wonderful ways to support local businesses and enjoy an array of cuisines and events that bring the community together. It may give you the itch to want to be a part of the community! 

Lititz Pennsylvania puts on multiple events each month and throughout the year aside from the Fourth of July festivities. A few of my favorites are Lititz Fire & Ice and Lititz Second Fridays. Second Fridays are literally just that, the second Friday of each month from 5:00pm until 9:00pm when you are given time to explore the town. Store owners and local merchants stay open later so you can enjoy the shops, art work, food, drinks and more! There is entertainment up and down the streets as well as inside and outside of shops. Sometimes you will see dancers or hear musicians! This is a great way to support local businesses and maybe get some Christmas shopping done in the beginning of December so be sure to mark your calendar! The Fire & Ice event is an annual free event over the course of 4 days in February. Throughout the four days you can participate in a chili cook-off, view breathtaking ice sculptures, witness ice-carving, view a fire show, enjoy music and a carnival! This is like a long weekend out of a Hallmark film, truly a way to stay in the holiday spirit and enjoy the end of the winter months (this year will be the 16th annual)! To stay up to date on all Lititz events follow Lititz Pennsylvania’s site.  

The small town charm you feel within Lititz is one of a kind. Full of great places to eat, wonderful events within the community and a rich history, Lititz is a place you will definitely want to add to your bucket list! Just over an hour outside of Philadelphia, it could be a day or weekend trip for you! Love your visit so much you want to experience the coolest town every day? Homes are for sale in and around Lititz – consider checking them out! Truly the Coolest Town in America!

 Contact Mary Sue Wolf to look at homes and properties that could bring you to experience the Coolest Town in America every day out your backdoor. You will love it here!
For more information on wonderful homes call Mary Sue at 717-333-9653 or visit her website at WolfandWebb.com