When the COVID-19 pandemic restricted indoor gatherings last year, Gettysburg residents and organizations came together to provide a space for outdoor entertainment for Adams County residents and tourists. The Gettys Square Art Oasis, sponsored by the Adams County Arts Council (ACAC), provides a variety of outdoor programs ranging from musical and theater groups to live cooking and painting demonstrations.
The events, which occur throughout the year, are held on the parklet on the southwest corner of Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square.
“Our community is brimming with talent, and there can never be too many spaces for people to share those talents,” said ACAC Events Coordinator Kylie Stone. “The square is such a high-traffic area that it really helps to bring these local artists to light and encourages people to stop, listen, and grow those followings.”
Stone said her degree in music industry studies and past experience with entertainment venues helped her as she promotes artists in the Adams County area.
“Supporting local musicians, artists, and businesses has always been important to me, but even more so because of the economic impacts that the pandemic has left behind. Now that we’re starting to creep back into the idea of ‘normal,’ the best thing we can do is keep that momentum up,” she said.
Stone said interested artists may reach out to the ACAC for an opportunity to perform.
“All of our events are free, so it makes a great stop for people while they’re out and about shopping or getting a bite to eat,” said Stone. “I’ve noticed that we have an even bigger group in attendance during our summer tourist months, so it’s definitely working.”
Stone says she tries to pick dates and times that will have high traffic in the square, and that the borough’s noise ordinances are always followed.
Stone said a favorite event of hers was “Gettysburg in Color,” presented in collaboration with the Gettysburg Historical Society last October. Photos of pre-Civil War Gettysburg and Adams County were projected onto a screen while a narrator explained the location and significance of the events.
“It was amazing to see some of the pictures of downtown Gettysburg directly in the same location and get a glimpse into what it would have actually looked like at the time. It was a great way to combine the history and art of our area for the community,” said Stone.
The Gettys Square Art Oasis is free and open to the public. A monthly schedule can be found on the ACAC’s website with additional information and updates pertaining to the events.
Laken Franchetti is a senior at Gettysburg College pursuing a B.A. in English with a writing concentration and history. She serves as Editor in Chief for The Gettysburgian and the online magazine Her Campus and has been a contributing editor for the literary magazine The Mercury.