Valley Forge tourism group could help promote town events
A busy summer is fast approaching for the nation’s birthplace, and the borough is hoping to tap into that excitement.
Borough officials recently heard a presentation from the regional Visit Valley Forge tourism board, and previewed an event they’ll hold to help mark the nation’s birthday.
“Our team basically tries to help our members with everything they need, in getting their message out and getting more people into their businesses,” said Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board communications specialist Tessa Robinson.
In mid-April, Robinson gave council an update on the regional events the tourism nonprofit is promoting, and how they can help Lansdale and vice-versa, in a presentation similar to one she made in North Wales late last year. The organization represents all of Montgomery County but carries the Valley Forge name due to the internationally-known park and historical events there, compared to the dozens of other Montgomery Counties nationwide, Robinson told council.
“We want everybody to know that we are marketing the entire county as a whole, not just the Valley Forge and King of Prussia area,” she said.
Marketing Montco
The organization aims to inspire travel to Montgomery County and promote destinations and events throughout the region, using social media channels with hundreds of thousands of followers, digital marketing tools, in-house staff capable of producing videos highlighting local towns and events, and a membership program with over 500 members across the county. Joint marketing efforts include a shared site where local residents and visitors can see special offers and events, and get access to exclusive events with other members.
The tourism board also produces print and digital publications that reach hundreds of thousands of readers in hotels, malls, parks and other public spaces throughout the county, with members featured in those publications. The group’s website lands over three million views per year, with roughly 17,000 subscribers to their e-newsletter, and about 25 million virtual views on the group’s social media channels per year.
Robinson showed one example: a video highlighting SKR Sim Racing Center, a digital speedway located in the former newsroom of The Reporter on Derstine Avenue, highlighting the virtual racing chairs and the deals they offer.
“We go all throughout the county and feature businesses like this on our social media pages, all the time, every week,” she said.
Events listed
Regional events coordinated by the group include an annual jazz fest, a fall food drive, and the upcoming ‘Retreat to Valley Forge’ campaign highlighting events tied to the America 250 celebration marking the nation’s birthday this summer. The group is still taking venues for a ‘Houses of Declaration’ event where local towns will feature readings of the Declaration of Independence on and around July 4, with nearby North Wales already on board, and over 20 confirmed sites so far — and preliminary plans in the works to highlight the 250th anniversary of the historic encampment of General George Washington’s army at Valley Forge in 2027 and ’28.
“While the country might slow down this year, we are just amping up to go into more next year,” she said.
Lansdale is among those highlighted to out of town visitors for national events, with local events listed on the group’s calendar for those looking to venture outside Philadelphia.
“If you’re in Philly for some of these major events, like the FIFA World Cup or the MLB all star game, or the PGA championship, you need to come to Montgomery County: We have hotels, we have trails, we have parks, we have shopping, we have everything that you need to have a great time,” Robinson said.
Local Declaration reading
Former councilman Bill Henning announced Lansdale will be among the towns hosting a reading of the Declaration on the big weekend.
“If you go on their website, we are listed: it’s July 3rd, Friday evening, 7 o’clock, we will be reading the Declaration of Independence,” he said, at the Lansdale Historical Society’s Jenkins Homestead at 137 Jenkins Avenue.
“Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to put your own John Hancock on our giant Declaration of Independence, and it’s also an ice cream social. We are reaching out to the community to get different readers, because it is a long document, and I think it means a lot to have a lot of different people reading it,” he said.
For those interested in the area’s history, the Lansdale Historical Society will host ‘America 250: The Fight For and Celebration of Independence in the Lansdale Area,’ at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, at Borough Hall, 1 Vine Street. Discover the Lansdale area’s role in the Revolutionary War, and how our borough has commemorated our independence through the years. Admission is free with donations gratefully accepted.
Local nonprofit Discover Lansdale is also planning a USA 250-themed Old Time Baseball and Barbecue night on July 11 at Memorial Park, the town’s annual Beer Tasting Festival on Sept. 12, and monthly First Friday celebrations; for details visit www.discoverlansdale.org or follow Discover Lansdale on Facebook.
