Crowds packed the 200 block of Main Street for Kutztown Community Partnership’s third annual Dinner on Main. The community came out to dance in the street to rocking music by Schools Out Band and to gather around tables set up in the middle of Main Street for dinner.
Kutztown Community Partnership presents its 3rd annual Dinner On Main on Friday, Aug. 4, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Main Street in Kutztown to bring the community together to celebrate Kutztown, the people, and businesses in it by shutting down busy Main Street and having dinner together with craft beer and wine, local food vendors, live entertainment, prizes and more.
“It’s getting the whole community out here. Lots of friends and fun. It’s a good thing,” said David Esser, Kempton, formerly of Kutztown, talking about what he likes about Dinner on Main between bites of mac’n’cheese from Pops Malt Shoppe,
When asked what he thinks an event like Dinner on Main says about Kutztown, he replied, “It says that we’re a pretty cohesive group I think.” Adding with a laugh, he said, “And it says we like to eat.”
“Dinner on Main has become vastly popular,” said Reno Unger of KCP. “People are asking us to run one a month but we don’t have the volunteers or the finances. Think of the impact we are having in knitting the community together and drawing outsiders to visit!”
“Dinner on Main is to get the community members out to sit at a table together,” said KCP Office Manager Maggie Stange. “A lot of times we will be in our own patterns. We don’t necessarily go see our neighbor down the street. We don’t cross paths often so is all about sitting down at a table together and enjoying your meal, talking and enjoying a great night with bands, music and dancing… We’ve got a really great food selection, the menu was created to be like Kutztown, honor Kutztown, like sauerkraut nachos. Really, it’s just about coming together and having a good time.”
Stange said KCP closed off the 200 block of Main Street with a Schools Out Band stage, sponsored by Action Track USA, set up at Whiteoak. A jam band stage was also set up in the alley near HIVE.
“The community can come out and play together and jam at the end of the night.”
New this year is the Silent Disco. Attendees were encouraged to put on headphones via smart phones and connect to an App to listen to Disco.
“Everybody’s going to be listening to the same song through their headphones and dancing. It’s going to be silent but a bunch of people having a time. We’re really excited about that.”
Beth Patten, resident of Fleetwood and Kutztown Middle School teacher, spread kindness at Dinner on Main with other volunteers at the Peace. Love. Kutztown table.
“There is so much beauty in sharing a meal together on Main Street. It truly is the embodiment of peace and love in Kutztown,” said Patten. “As an educator at Kutztown Area School District, my heart is overflowing. It brings me such joy to see Kutztown residents breaking bread with Kutztown University students and professors. It is lovely to participate in an event that gets our whole community to celebrate our most agreeable town.”
Katie Taylor and Kyle La Ferriere of Grateful Farmers, who lease land from Rodale Institute in Kutztown, sold organic produce at Dinner on Main.
“We came out to connect with our community… meet new people and share our produce,” said Taylor, explaining that though they’ve been farming for 15 years, they are new to Kutztown. “We’re passionate about growing good food and sharing it with our neighbors and family and friends and community, so we started our own business focusing on organics, regenerating soil and medicinal herbs.”
“I wanted to be healthy and do something good for the planet. That lead me to medicinal herbs and farming. Since then, it’s grown from that,” said La Ferriere. “It’s hard not to love living in a place like this.”
Participating businesses included HIVE, Camillo’s Italian Restaurant, Pizzeria & Bar, K’town Pub Taphouse & BBQ, Saucony Creek Brewery + Gastropub, Spuds, Spectators Bar & Grille, FOE 839 – Kutztown, Pop’s Malt Shoppe, and Kutztown Tavern.
Live music provided by Schools Out Band and The Wildlings, as well as Open Mic and Jam Band.
Stange credited the event’s success to Tiff Little who was the event chair for Dinner on Main. She also thanked the estimated 30 volunteers who helped with set up. Kutztown Fire Company, Trinity Church, Kutztown University, St. Christopher’s Church provided tables and chairs. She thanked sponsors Action Track USA and Citizens Bank and supporters like Kutztown University, churches and local organizations.
“It’s really the most phenomenal event. This is all about being in Kutztown and being together and making it work for each other,” said Stange. “Thank you to all of our supporters. Without the community’s help we can’t do it so we’re really happy to be part of a community that’s ready to give back to make sure this is a great night for everyone.”
Stange is excited to start planning next year’s Dinner on Main. She encourages the community to contact KCP with ideas and their helping hands.
