Lititz Spring Fling 2015

TO REGISTER - PLEASE CLICK HERE

Mid-Atlantic Fiero's Spring Classic 2015 will again be held this yeat at the LititzSpring Park and for anyone who has not been to this event in the past, it's a beautiful relaxed park setting with our own pavilion for the day. As in the past this event is a “bring-a-plate” picnic event oriented toward Fiero owners and family members and there is swap meet space available for buying, selling, and trading parts.

Date: Sunday May 24th, 2015 starting at 8:00 AM

Location: Lititz Springs Park, 24 N Broad St, Lititz, PA 17543

Theme: Fiero Upgrades and Enhancements

All Fiero owners are welcome! You don't need to be a MAFOA member to attend. The cost for registration is just $5 for club members and $10 for non-members and everyone should bring a dish and/or something to contribute to the prize table. Late registration the day of the show is $5 more.

The theme this year is "Fiero Upgrades and Enhancements" and the focus will be on showing and exchanging ideas, modifications, upgrades and personal enhancements. Methods of preserving "stock" elements are also very important. Planned details for the day are as follows:

Show-Off Upgrades and Enhancements:

8:00 AM to end. Cleaning / gleaming / streaming of ideas. Instead of competing for trophies, this year we ask all participants to make a list of enhancements, preservations and upgrades that they have made to their Fieros and post that list on their windshield. Placards for the lists will be provided at the registration table and the intent is to start conversations and sharing of ideas and modifications. Most will be interested in where to parts were obtained, costs and time involved, level of difficulty, etc.

Swap Meet:

8:00 AM to 2:30 PM. The MAFOA club will again be renting the large Reedy Pavilion towards the rear of the park. The pavilion has ample table space for both the picnic and for the display of Fiero parts, toys or literature to swap or sell. This is a good time to wheel and deal some of those unwanted or unused items that have been taking up space. It’s also a good time to pick up a few more desirable pieces for your collection.

Picnic:

12:00 Noon to end. Each participant should bring at least one dish to share on the food table. You may also bring as much of your "own” food as you like, but make sure you bring something that everyone can share. This sharing is what makes the picnic portion so enjoyable. Tom Derr (tom6derr@yahoo.com) will be coordinating the picnic tables, so please email him with what you would like to bring. Just use the subject line of “Picnic” and let him know so he can make sure we don't end up with ten pots of chicken stew and no bowls. As in previous years, the club will also be cooking dogs and burgers for a dollar donation each to help cover the expenses of the pavilion.

The Park Setting:

Lititz Spring Park is a gorgeous and historic setting. In spirit, the park began in May 1778 when its beauty and peaceful qualities were recognized by Tobias Hirte who laid out a special place for the town musicians to play. The park was also used by convalescing Revolutionary soldiers from the nearby Moravian Church. As early as 1811, Fourth of July celebrations were held at the park. These July 4th celebrations continue to this day as one of the oldest and best known celebrations in the country.

The park features a confluence of underground springs that emerge at one point. This point is enclosed by tall limestone walls and a stoned-banked oval is formed that creates a stream (Lititz Run) that flows through the park. The stream is fabulous with stone arch bridges and lots of ducks. The stream bank is lined with mature trees and the grounds are well groomed and include a band shell, toddler area, sand volley ball courts, a large gazebo, etc. At the entrance of the park, beautiful in its own right, is the old historic train station, now serving as a park and railroad museum. Behind the building is a restored caboose that may be toured as well. Check out www.lititzspringspark.org for lots of other details.

The Town of Lititz:

The town of Lititz is also absolutely fabulous. This town was founded in 1756 and is world renowned for not only the park, but also for the historic houses. You can step back to the 1700’s by touring some of these homes:

- The Sturgis Pretzel House, the first pretzel bakery in America still set up as in days of olde. You can even twist your own pretzels.

- The Johannes Mueller House which is maintained inside and out in that time era.

- The Schropp House next door which has become the home of the LititzHistorical Foundation and contains a collection of early Lititz artifacts.

- The Woerner (Community Cooper, Bleeder and Tooth Drawer) House which is "as built" except for the dormers added.

- The Zum Anker Inn 1764 (now called the General Sutter Inn) which is one of the longest continuous operating Inns in the US of A; the General Sutter House, built in 1871 by John Augustus Sutter. He’s the fellow that had a Mexican land grant (now the city of Sacremento) in the Sacramento Valley, he was deprived of his land when the US government did not recognize his claim (the fact the “California Gold Rush” was on his property might have had a little to do with it). In poor health and nearly bankrupt he moved to Lititz in hopes of finding some relief for his ailments in the park springs.

- The Linden Hall School for Girls founded in 1746 is the oldest girls’ resident school in the U.S, this school was and still is run by the Moravian Church; the Moravian Church which was deeded 491 acres in 1756 by John Klein for the purpose of organizing a church settlement to be named Lititz. For its first 100 years only members of the Moravian Church were permitted to live in town. The Moravian Square features the Brothers’ House, the Church, the Parsonage, and the Sisters’ House, as well as more modern building used in support of the church and Linden Hall.

There are a lot more historic homes to be viewed, but not to be missed is the fine array of antique stores, arts and crafts shops and small businesses throughout the town. Great shopping. There is much history to be absorbed, but rest assured this town is rich in history and tradition and is proud of its heritage. It is a walk back in time in a town filled with charm where folks all know one another and community is still alive. Check out www.ShopLititz.com for more details and directions.

All of the above is easily within comfortable walking distance as the Park is in the town itself. And hey... for you chocolate lovers... The Wilbur Chocolate Factory / Museum / Store is right beside the Park (admission free). Good place for the chocolate-philes to go while the Fiero folks talk car and shop. Check it out at www.WilburBuds.com.

So there's lots to do, both at the park and in town, and it's going to be a great event. Dust off the Fieros and here's hoping for another great Spring Classic!