Gina Yoder, one of the co-chairs of the Lititz Historical Foundation (LHF) Lititz Spring Into History Festival, has fond memories of the inaugural event in 2019. "We held the first one, and it was so successful, we decided to duplicate it," said Yoder, who, along with brothers Melvin and Paul Miller, is organizing the 2022 event.

Paul noted that the 2019 event ran smoothly. "People couldn't believe it was our first one," he said, adding that seniors appreciated the compact setup and the ease in visiting the displays.

After a hiatus due to the pandemic, this year's LHF Lititz Spring Into History Festival will be held on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will take place inside the 1792 Johannes Mueller House and throughout the Mary Oehme Gardens, located at 137-145 E. Main St., Lititz. "It's a one-day living history event," said Yoder, who pointed out that the festival transforms the Mueller House and all the gardens into an 18th-century artisan market green, where artisans dressed in period clothing sell their handmade items. "More than 20 artisans are coming," said Paul, who noted that among those will be a milliner, who makes hats; a blacksmith; a whitesmith, who makes Colonial lamps and utensils; soap makers; and an herbalist. "We will have a Conestoga wagon, weather-permitting," said Paul, noting that Art Reist will bring the wagon and that Art's son will be the blacksmith. Additional artisans will demonstrate tin smithing, chair caning, bobbin lace weaving, tape looming, pottery, and wood utensil carving. Flax fiber experts will be on-site, as will members of the Lancaster Spinners and Weavers Guild.

"Everyone will be in period clothing," noted Paul.

"There will be close to 50 of us in period clothing, which makes it really fun," added Yoder.

Visitors will have the chance to learn to play old-fashioned games like graces, hopscotch, and roll the hoop. Yoder reported that locally known treats like Moravian sugar cake and meadow tea will be available. Brewster's Barb-B-Que will bring a food truck to the venue, and a local entity will provide coffee. The Lancaster County Folk Music and Fiddle Society will be on-site to play live music.

Yoder said that inspiration for the original festival came from a similar event that was attended by Yoder and the Millers, who serve as LHF tour guides. "We approached the board of directors in 2018 and asked if we could hold one," recalled Yoder. "Our town is all about history, and we have this great (historical) organization." The group received permission to hold the first Spring Into History Festival in 2019. "We had a limited budget, and we don't charge admission or the artisans (for space)," Yoder reported, adding that organizers hoped to attract up to 300 visitors, but they estimate that upward of 800 attended.

One addition from the first event is a fundraising opportunity that will involve prizes and giveaways of locally donated items.

Attendees may also visit the Lititz Museum and gift shop. The event will be held rain or shine. For more details, readers may visit http://www.springintohistory.blogspot.com or contact springintohistory@gmail.com.