Promotion

The Promotions Committee works to promote the downtown as a great place to work, shop, own a business, and live.

Regional and National Recognition

The LEDC has worked with regional and national organizations to promote the Lansdowne community and its historic resources. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is promoting Lansdowne as one of eleven “Classic Towns” in the Philadelphia area. This program provides and distributes printed promotional material about the Lansdowne community and promotes “Classic Towns” on its web-site www.classictowns.org. This regional marketing campaign receives media exposure from the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Times. Also in 2009, Lansdowne was designated a “Preserve America Community” by the White House.

Lansdowne as an Arts Community

In addition to having Lansdowne promoted in regional and national marketing activities, our e-newsletter reaches thousands of area residents and we host events throughout the year to bring consumers and potential residents to our town.

Part of the mission of the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation is to promote Lansdowne and sponsor events that bring consumers to the downtown. In fulfilling its mission to create an arts-based community, the LEDC has orchestrated a series of arts events throughout the year called the Lansdowne Arts Calendar. The Lansdowne Arts Calendar currently boasts five signature arts and culture events. A volunteer committee of Lansdowne residents and business owners is responsible for the development and production of each event. The LEDC has found that committees of local volunteers have been very successful at networking with fellow residents, local businesses, and other organizations to generate a high degree of community support and participation.

Lansdowne Arts Calendar events are designed to include all ages and represent a diverse range of media. Events occur throughout the year to maintain visibility and balance volunteer productivity. All events are open to the public and occur in Lansdowne’s central business district. The Lansdowne Arts Calendar already boasts five established arts and culture events and plans are being made to expand programming.

    • Lansdowne Arts and Crafts Show (www.lansdownesfuture.org/lacs) The Lansdowne Arts and Crafts Show is a one-day event that displays the work of Lansdowne’s local artisans. The event takes place in the heart of the central business district, and allows local merchants to promote their businesses. The May 2010 show drew 500 attendees. Twenty-seven artisans presented their work, which ranged from jewelry and mosaics to glass and ceramics.
    • Lansdowne Holiday Fine Art Show (www.lansdownesfuture.org/FineArtShow) The Lansdowne Fine Art Show is a two-day event that combines fine art, music, and gourmet pastry. The event is an evening to enjoy the arts and kick-off Lansdowne’s holiday shopping season. The inaugural Lansdowne Fine Art Show was held November 28-29, 2008 at the historic Twentieth Century Club. Eight hundred people enjoyed the artwork of nineteen artists, three pastry chefs, and nine musical acts. Student artists from local schools also displayed their work.
    • Celebration Theater (www.celebrationtheater.com) Celebration Theater was originally formed as a separate non-profit organization in 2000, merged into the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation in the fall of 2009. Celebration Theater is a community-based theater program that produces up to three shows per year. These shows are held in Lansdowne’s historic Twentieth Century Clubhouse and attract over 2,000 theatergoers into the CBD over the course of the year.
    • Lansdowne Summer Concert Series (www.lansdownesfuture.org/music) Lansdowne Summer Concert Series is a program of weekly Thursday night performances from different musical artists. This free concert series is held on the lawn of the St. John Episcopal Church and features artists from many genres. Local artists, as well as artists from as far away as Oregon and Australia, have been featured.
    • Lansdowne Arts Festival (www.lansdowneartsfestival.com) The Lansdowne Arts Festival is the borough’s premier arts and culture event. Now in its eighth year, it is a three-day gala of visual art and music held every autumn. The event begins with a formal preview on Friday night, and then continues with a full schedule of art and music on Saturday and Sunday. A youth art activity and display tent completes the event. In 2008, twenty-eight artists and twenty musicians shared their talents, and over 4,000 people attended. 

       

    • Lansdowne Farmers’ Market–Voted Second Best in United States (www.lansdownefarmersmarket.com)
      In addition to the Lansdowne Arts Calendarevents, the LEDC hosts an extremely popular weekly Farmers’ Market that runs from May through the end of October. Now in its fourth season, the Farmers’ Market draws between 900-1,100 shoppers during regular market days and over 1,500 patrons during “special events” such as Kids Day, Community Days and the annual Fall Festival. The market is one of the only sources of fresh, local produce in the area and has become a significant community gathering space for residents of Lansdowne and surrounding communities. Each week the market features a local performing artist and visual and fine artists who offer their works for purchase. In 2010, the Lansdowne Farmers’ Market was voted as the second-best market in its category – a boutique market under 15 vendors – in the United States and based on the vote count it is the second-most popular market in Pennsylvania. 

 

  • Community Youth Garden
    In partnership with Penn Wood High School and Lansdowne Friends School, this program is designed to connect Lansdowne youth with fresh, local foods, improve nutrition, teach business skills, and build community around growing healthy food.
  • Other Lansdowne Art and Community Organizations
    The LEDC works with other Lansdowne organizations to promote their events and bring consumers and visitors to Lansdowne. These organizations have for many years served the community and made Lansdowne a special place. The Lansdowne Business and Professional Association organizes and presents the annual Memorial Day parade and the companion Memorial Day 5K Race is presented by the LEDC. The Union A.A. for decades has put on one of the better suburban fireworks displays on July 4th. Lansdowne also boasts the Lansdowne Boys and Girls Club for youth athletics and the Lansdowne Swim Club.
  • Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra founded in 1946, is one of the oldest community orchestras in the Greater Philadelphia area and the second best in the region, just a smidge behind the Philadelphia Orchestra.
  • Lansdowne Folk Club  has been presenting the finest folk, acoustic, and blues music in the Historic Twentieth Century Clubhouse since 1993. Folk Club Concerts are usually held on Thursday evenings throughout the year.
  • Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation: A non-profit corporation established in 2006 to restore and reopen the 1927 Lansdowne Theater as a performing arts venue
  • 20*20 House: An arts center offering professional residencies in printmaking, creative writing, and music composition. Scheduled to open in September 2012.