6 Gettysburg Experiences to Enjoy This Fall

Fall in Gettysburg is refreshing, relaxing and really amazing. It’s hard not to anticipate the crisp air, gorgeous pastoral views of the Battlefield, surrounding fiery-colored vistas and crunchy leaves under your feet as you walk downtown. It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t highlight some special events that welcome all that comes with the fall harvest season. Here is a highlight of the area’s fall happenings:

Festivals

The National Apple Harvest Festival is always held during the first two full weekends in October. Join the celebration of apple everything that has been going on for 51 years. If you haven’t tried apple sausage, fried apple slices, freshly pressed cider or apple pizza, then you must attend. The festival has something for everyone, with hundreds of arts and crafts dealers, demonstrations, contests, food stands and entertainment.

The festival takes place in the heart of Pennsylvania Apple Country at the South Mountain Fairgrounds, near historic Gettysburg, and within a two-hour drive of Washington DC, Baltimore and Harrisburg. Special attractions include performances in the Apple Auditorium, antique cars and steam engine displays, orchard tours, a petting zoo, craftsman demonstrations and even appearances by the Pennsylvania Apple Queen. The National Apple Harvest Festival is located at the South Mountain Fairgrounds, 615 Narrows Road in Biglerville—rain or shine!

Farmers’ Markets

The Adams County Farmers’ Market is a wonderful way to experience our abundant agriculture. Look beyond the battlefields for rolling hills of endless orchards, wineries, dairies and farms. You may know Pennsylvania for apples and peaches, but don’t miss the fresh fruits, berries, produce, flowers, herbs, artisan cheese, farm eggs and pumpkins; scenic vineyards; and hand-crafted skincare.

The Adams County Farmers’ Market can be found on Thursdays from 2–6 p.m. on Historic Lincoln Square in downtown Gettysburg and on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg. Hurry! Both markets close for the season at the end of October.

The Gettysburg Farmers’ Market is creating community thanks to a unique group of individuals with a passion for their products: family-owned businesses, farms and nurseries. Dining in and around Gettysburg, you’ll be pleased to also discover that many restaurants source their ingredients locally. We definitely take pride in all that there is to offer agriculturally!

Check it out Saturdays from 7 a.m.–noon in Historic Lincoln Square in downtown Gettysburg through October 29.

Food Tours

Remember those locally sourced ingredients we mentioned above? Well, at Savor Gettysburg, we offer a 3-hour food tasting experience and walking tour to show off Gettysburg’s culture and history. Our tours are suitable for all age groups and fitness levels. Be prepared to delight your taste buds on our history-infused explorations. We have a few tours from which to choose:

• Try our Historic Downtown Food Tour, offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. We unite food and fun noshing at Gettysburg’s finest ethnic eateries, historic taverns, family-owned bistros and wineries, all within about a mile of non-continuous, history-soaked walking!
• Want to discover Gettysburg’s food and wine scene? Join our Wine, Cider and Dine Tour and savor four distinctive wineries nestled downtown joined with an artisanal food experience. Tours start at 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
• Check out a farmers’ market with a chef AND learn how to prepare a gourmet recipe with your bounty in our Gettysburg Farmer’s Market Tour and Cooking Class! You’ll wander the market with one of our local chefs, who will show you how to select the highest quality produce and teach you new techniques for an inspiring kitchen experience. There are just two more classes: September 17 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (with Knob Hall Winery executive chef Jeremy Jones) and October 15 from 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. (with Food 101 chef Jennifer Williams). Register today!

We hope you’ll check out all there is to do and see in Gettysburg this fall. Come join us—and don’t forget to pack a sweater!

—Erin Phelps

Photo credits: apple, Michele Kornegay; shepherd’s pie, Savor Gettysburg; remaining photos: Ed Williams

September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 by lakorczyk Categories: events, experiences, Farm To Table, Farmers Market, festival, Food, Food & Wine, Food Tours in Gettysburg, fun, UncategorizedTags: adams county farmers market, Beech Springs Farm, farmers market tour & cooking class, farmers' market tour and cooking class, farmers' markets, Gettysburg Farmers' Market, historic downtown food tour, Knob Hall Winery, national apple harvest festival, wine, Wine tour Leave a comment

An Insider’s Look Behind the Tour

Did you ever wonder what it takes to put together an all-encompassing food tour that delivers an unmatched experience for each and every guest that visits Gettysburg? At Savor Gettysburg, we strive to be the best and to seek out ways to be more effective, inspiring and unique. In fact, our goal is to make each guest feel comfortable, showcase this wonderful town that we call home and leave them saying, “WOW, that was amazing, informative, delicious and fun!”

We do everything we can to create a lasting memory for each and every guest on our tour. We thought we would share with you some of our owner Lori Korczyk’s favorite ways to make your experience memorable.

Here for you.

“From the first meet and greet, I try to develop a social connection. I learn names, find out where people are from, and smile and acknowledge each guest. I start with the basics of making them feel comfortable, like offering a shaded area to sit before we begin the tour or providing umbrellas on a rainy day. I want to know whether our guests have visited Gettysburg before because that makes a huge difference in what their interests may be.”

Like a (food tour) virgin.

“90–95% of my guests are first-time food tour participants. This is great! But I am establishing the bar, so I feel a deep sense of responsibility to deliver an exceptional experience. If they have a great experience with me, hopefully when they travel anywhere else in the world they will consider taking a food tour and experiencing another town’s rich history and culinary delights. Not only am I introducing guests to our food establishments and local owners, but also to Gettysburg in general.”

There is so much to do here! Call out of work.

“I feel it’s my duty to help introduce our guests to something new, to go above and beyond as far as delivering a great experience and to offer each guest as much information as I can about Gettysburg. Most guests say at the end of the tour, ‘Wow, I only planned on staying two days, but with so much to do here, I need to stay a week!’ I want them to walk away feeling that they got so much more than just a food tour.”

Hey, wanna see something cool?

“Along the tour, I like to point out places that are off the beaten path (something they wouldn’t have found on their own and is not publicized), like the tucked-away bistro seating behind Ragged Edge where guests can relax and unwind away from the hustle and bustle, the flight of beer for only $5 at One Lincoln, museums, a walk through our Farmers Market on Saturday morning and free Song and Stories of the Civil War shows that truly deliver a unique Gettysburg experience. I feel that exceptional service is always in the details. Those are the things my guests remember most.”

Say cheese!

“When I travel, it’s all about the experience for me: who I engage with, what I learn, what I take away and how I feel. Most of these experiences are delivered by frontline staff and tour guides. With that said, I’m always honored to be photographed during my tour and to know that I’m a part of someone’s vacation experience.”

Savor Gettysburg Food Tours strives to be the highlight of your trip—check us out this fall as Gettysburg shifts gracefully into autumn. There are only two Farmer’s Market Tour & Cooking Class outings left where you learn to cook like a chef from the area’s best chefs—September 17 and October 15. Don’t miss them! Then, continue to celebrate fall with our Historic Downtown Food Tour, our Wine, Cider and Dine Tour, many local festivals and happenings, Farm-to-Table dinners and more. We will be your path forward to explore and fall in love with our little town. Come join us!

—Erin Phelps

September 2, 2016 by lakorczyk Categories: experiences, Farm To Table, Farmers Market, Food, Food & Wine, Food Tours in Gettysburg, travelling, Uncategorized Leave a comment