At Elizabethtown Public Library, guests will swap books for bites during A Taste of Western Lancaster County, a culinary event happening Friday, Feb. 6, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at the library, 10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown.

Held throughout the library on all three floors, A Taste of Western Lancaster County will feature more than 20 vendors offering samples of food and beverages. Participants will include Luongo Barbecue, The Spot Hometown Deli, Troegs Independent Brewing and Grandview Vineyard.

The event is open to people age 21 and up.

"Attendees will enter the library from either the parking lot entrance (handicapped-accessible) or the Coffee Company entrance (one step), where they will be greeted and given a bag of goodies and their voting slips," explained Brandon Allen, library co-chair of the planning committee. "They will explore the library, sampling a wide variety of food and drinks from many different food vendors from around the area. Then, they will vote for their favorite drink, appetizer, entree, dessert and the best of show."

One person will also be randomly selected to receive two tickets to the 2027 Taste of Western Lancaster County, he said.

"All this takes place while enjoying live music, meeting up with friends and meeting new people," Allen commented.

This is the 18th year for the event, which began through a partnership between the library and the Rotary Club of Elizabethtown.

"One main reason for starting the event was to raise money for the library and Rotary Club," Allen explained. "Since people enjoy food, drink and a night out, it was a simple step to selecting a tasting event. This also allowed for the ability to ensure local restaurants, breweries, wineries and other vendors could receive greater visibility in the community."

The timing of the event - always the first Friday in February - was intentional, since this is often a slow time for both businesses and the library.

"All money raised through ticket sales and sponsorships is split 50-50 between the library and Rotary Club of Elizabethtown," Allen said. "The funds are used to support library services and the local projects of the Rotary Club."

Numerous sponsorships are necessary to pull off a successful event, he noted, adding that major sponsors include White Family Dental, DDMP Investment Advisors, B&G Lumber Co., Waste Hauler Support Services and Moo-Duck Brewery.

"This is a great evening where the community comes together to enjoy food, drink and fellowship," Allen said. "The money raised from ticket sales goes directly to the library and Rotary Club, so you are able to have a nice night out while also supporting local service organizations. The event has also been known as the 'Elizabethtown Reunion.' You don't want to miss out on a time where the community comes together in fellowship."

Tickets for A Taste of Western Lancaster County are limited. They will be available until Thursday, Feb. 5, or until sold out. To purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/TWLC2026 or stop by the Elizabethtown Coffee Company, located inside the library.

There is still room for additional vendors and sponsorships. Anyone interested may call the library at 717-367-7467 or email information@etownpubliclibrary.org.