Lancaster has its own unique history, style, heritage and traditions. Lancaster also has its own distinct vibe and atmosphere. Lancaster Capital Day's goal is to highlight and nurture that culture-infused ambiance.

"It's a grassroots, community-led initiative," said Tim Austin, one of the organizers of Lancaster Capital Day. "It's a celebration of Lancaster. By investing in Lancaster culture, we have a chance to look at ourselves and celebrate what we love about the community. It's a cultural festival, but the culture is ours. It's an opportunity for the city to put on a show. The initial response has been really positive."

The inaugural Lancaster Capital Day will be staged from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, a date that is historically close to Sept. 27, 1777, when Lancaster famously served as the United States' capital for a single day. Lancaster Capital Day will be conducted in the closed streets and surrounding blocks of 1 Penn Square in the city, at the precise location where the Continental Congress convened an official session inside the Lancaster County Courthouse.

Lancaster Capital Day is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. With assistance from nearly 100 volunteers, the event is being produced by nonprofit Keystone Events Project, which has secured the blessings of more than 30 sponsors, public officials and the city of Lancaster.

"(Lancaster being America's capital for a day) is a local claim to fame," said Austin. "It was really important for us to be on an historic footprint of where history happened. Capital Day has never been celebrated quite like this. There was a desire to celebrate it in our own way. I think it's really cool to look at American history through a Lancaster lens."

That Saturday's street fair buzz will be highlighted by food trucks, craft vendors, historical reflections, artists, information about services from local nonprofits and all-day music performed by musicians on both a main stage and at the Fulton Theatre. Local brick-and-mortars like Lancaster Central Market will be offering extended business hours and specials.

During the festivities, Lancaster mayor Jaime Arroyo will address the gathering.

"People love coming out, having good food, shopping and hearing good music," said Austin. "It's things we love about our community. We think we can do better if we curate a mix of vendors, but we want to keep the sidewalks free. It'll be very inviting. In a way, it's like an open-air restaurant. We're trying to activate urban space and make it fun for people to be outside."

Organizers of Lancaster Capital Day are expecting as many as 20,000 visitors to attend.

"It's a really great time of the year to do festivals," said Austin. "It's a Saturday in September, and it's a market day. There are going to be a lot of reasons to come downtown. I think we'll be attracting a lot of the county crowd, and we're ready for it. The stage is set for a big event."

Much of Lancaster Capital Day's future will be determined by how the inaugural event comes off and ultimately how it is received by the community.

"I certainly hope it becomes an annual event. There's a lot of energy behind that idea," said Austin. "We really want to see it happen again. This is the year to start it, and year one is the year you set the tone. By year three, it's a tradition. I think it's very realistic that this will become an annual festival.

"Our dream as a group is that it would become a local holiday," concluded Austin. "If locals care about it, they can make it happen."

For additional information, go to http://www.lancastercapitalday.org.