Kutztown again invites its community members and its neighbors to celebrate summer at what has become its annual “Dinner on Main” on Aug. 5.
“Last year, Dinner on Main was initiated as a nice addition to the Borough’s bicentennial celebration,” said Mayor Sandy Green. “My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but when we tried to leave we almost couldn’t get out of the place. People kept stopping me to urge that we do it again.”
As a result, the job was delegated to a committee supported by the Kutztown Community Partnership, which has sponsored this year’s event.
The 200 Block of Main Street, between Whiteoak and Noble, will be blocked off to traffic from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Tables will be set up in the street and dinner will be served by the many restaurants in town. Each restaurant will have a serving station out front, where they will offer specials of the day. A wide variety of choices will be available including Italian, home-smoked meats, 50’s malt shop fare, creative pub specials, PA Dutch cuisine and Saucony Creek Brewery Gastropub’s creative offerings.
Smaller portions will be served at a commensurately lower cost by each restaurant to encouraged browsing and sampling of food from several sources. Alcoholic drinks will be available from the taverns and a wine store along the block. All ages are welcomed to the event and wrist bands will be provided to those over 21.
Four area bands will offer music with dinner on a stage set up just off the street. Dining will continue until 9:30 p.m., but the band will play on until 10:30 p.m.
The Allentown and Auburn Railroad will offer a dessert run to Topton and back at 7 p.m. The tourist train will be made up of a restored diesel engine, several cabooses and an open gondola car rigged with benches, which will depart the Kutztown train station and travel through farm fields to the Topton Train yard. During the trip, a stop will be made at the railroad line’s picnic grove where dessert will be served. Such delicacies as strawberry cheesecake, pudding, pie, cake and sugar free items will be served by Janelle Hall Catering.
Reservations are recommended, since these excursions often sell out. Tickets may be purchased online at www.allnrr.com, or by calling 570 778-7531.