LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Gear up for a fun, fall-inspired event in Lancaster County this weekend.
Starting Friday, Kitchen Kettle Village in Leacock Township will host its annual Tailgating Festival to celebrate all things fall and food. The event starts on Friday, Sept. 20 and runs for two days.
"It hasn't always been called Tailgate Festival," said Lisa Horn, 'Director of Fun' for Kitchen Kettle. "About 15 years ago, we went with tailgating because our Jam and Relish Kitchen, which is our signature store here at the village, makes so many jams, jellies and relishes, all perfect for tailgating."
The event is a celebration of food, with lots of tailgate-inspired dishes. Dietz and Watson will stop by the village on both Friday and Saturday to grill samples at the Jam & Relish Kitchen Patio. There will also be plenty of fall treats around the village, including at Pepper Lane Fudge and Sweets.
"Once the weather starts to change, caramel apples are something everyone wants," said Geoff Cordell, owner of Pepper Lane Fudge and Sweets. "We'll do a maple bacon fudge [with] that classic, salty sweet maple flavor with some bacon. Then for this weekend for the Tailgate Festival, we'll do chocolate covered bacon as well."
This year, there will also be Lancaster County nonprofit themed scarecrows throughout the village, which are part of the scarecrow competition. Festival attendees can donate to their favorite scarecrow to crown the best, with all of the money going towards the nonprofits.
Events like these are what Kitchen Kettle employees alike look forward to each season.
"One of the nicest things about working in this store and working at Kitchen Kettle is [that] you develop relationships with people," said Cordell. "We have generational families that come year after year, so we're on third and fourth generations of people that are coming here."
"We have lots of pumpkins and gourds and corn shucks. You can sit outside, enjoy snacks, enjoy your lunch and just go from one shop to the next. You get to enjoy the sunshine," said Horn when asked about fall at the Village.
For more information on the Tailgating Festival, click here.