Four hundred stewards of more than 8,000 acres of the most pristine natural areas in Lancaster and York counties gathered last October to celebrate and raise funds to further the Lancaster Conservancy’s mission of providing natural lands and clean waterways, now and for future generations. Dine on Harvest Moon, now in its 16th year, is the Conservancy’s signature fundraiser, providing a festive night of dining, bidding on curated auction items and deepening patrons’ commitments to the cause.
The cavernous Freedom Hall at the Lancaster County Convention Center was transformed into a nature-themed setting for the 400 guests who attended Dine on Harvest Moon in support of the Lancaster Conservancy.
During its 55-year history, the Lancaster Conservancy has protected over 10,000 acres of land, including 50 nature preserves, giving the public free access to over 40 miles of hiking trails, educational opportunities and recreational pursuits like fishing, hunting and paddling waterways. As “progress” continues to impact woodland and farmland, the Conservancy has doubled down on its initiatives. “There is an urgency to our mission. If we don’t take action now to preserve what we grew up with in Lancaster County, it won’t be here for the next generation,” says Kelly Snavely, the Conservancy’s vice president of Development & Marketing. “It’s something we all can agree on.”
Katie Sina emceed the 2024 event.
The Conservancy is meeting its own issues that come with success – the need for a larger space to accommodate Dine on Harvest Moon’s record attendance. Having expanded to the Lancaster Marriott’s Heritage Ballroom in 2022, the 2024 event required even more space. The Convention Center’s Freedom Hall was the solution. But with 20,000 square feet of space comes a new challenge: how to bring nature – the Conservancy’s focus and the event’s traditional décor – indoors and not have it get lost in the cavernous expanse?
Nature-inspired centerpieces topped each table.
Tim Arpin of The Gilded Lily had some thoughts on the matter. Having served as the décor master of Dine on Harvest Moon since its inception, Tim has pulled together some magical settings for its guests. From installing a wallscape of woodlands, cattails and grasses to a rising moon that changed color as the event progressed, Tim’s meticulous approach has dazzled patrons in previous years. Now it was time to go big!
The production pros behind the party, Tim Arpin (left) of the The Gilded Lily, and Rod Shumaker, president/owner of Shumaker PDT.
As founder and owner of The Gilded Lily since 1999 (and Landscapes with Flowers for years before that), Tim has amassed a collection of props that embellishes his corporate and residential clients’ properties with unmistakable elegance and wit. Among the vessels, blooms and branches is a menagerie of dozens of bears – polar, black and brown that range from life-size to adorable cubs. They have become Tim’s signature, popping up in the Fulton Theatre’s holiday windows, the Hamilton Club’s festively dressed Peacock Alley, and many other venues. “Somehow, we must go bigger than my bears and props for the ‘WOW’ factor,” Tim mused with his committee in planning for 2024.
The Lancaster Conservancy’s president and CEO, Fritz Schroeder.
While arriving guests sipped bubbly in the reception area, surrounded by Tim’s traditional landscapes of custom-made dandelions, dried wildflowers, faux cattails, stuffed bears and other woodsy critters, the “go big” concept awaited in the ballroom. A 12-foot tree emblazoned with gold lights soared overhead, aglow in the center of the ballroom’s bar. Concealed behind a black curtain, to be revealed at the call to be seated in the dining area, 14-foot vertical banners displaying local photographers’ images of the Conservancy’s lands energized the stage, theatrically lighted by live event production professional, Shumaker PDT.
Borrowed from nature, a 12-foot tree illuminated the cocktail reception area.
On each table, a unique centerpiece celebrated the many creatures that are thriving in the Conservancy’s protected lands. Set atop a mix of green, blue and purple linens, Tim designed 41 centerpieces consisting of ferns, grasses, pinecones, moss and hand-painted ducks, birds and insects.
Tim further extends his support of the Conservancy through an annual auction item, Dinner of the Decade. At a professionally catered, private dinner for 20 in an ever-changing venue, Tim creates an elaborately decorated setting with a pre-determined theme. For example, glitz and glam in gold, white and sparkle defined a South Beach-themed dinner. Last year’s dinner featured a harpist, more than 30 trees and sculpted wooden deer as Tim transformed the Hamilton Club’s Crystal Room into a forest. This year’s dinner will offer a 360-degree view of natural lands – much of which the Conservancy has protected – from the hilltop estate, Roundtop Mansion, in York County. The item raised over $20,000 at the live auction, and sold not once but three times.
Conservancy VP of Development and Marketing, Kelly Snavely, and Board Chair, Eric Nordstrom, spoke during the event.
A surprise announcement by the Conservancy’s president and CEO, Fritz Schroeder, inspired guests to muster even greater support, sharing news of the addition of 43 acres of forest to the Conservancy’s preserved areas. Thanks to the landowners, Robert Pfannebecker and his wife, Nancy Fornoff, Kelly’s Run Nature Preserve will surpass 500 acres of forest with a streamside hiking trail for the public to enjoy near Holtwood in southern Lancaster County.
“We were left in awe of the dedication and passion in our community to step up to save and care for nature,” remarks Kelly Snavely, reflecting on the evening. “I hope each donor, partner, volunteer, sponsor and attendee knows that their support will have a lasting beneficial impact on our natural landscape and our community, and for that we are grateful.”
For more information on the Lancaster Conservancy and the next Dine on Harvest Moon (Friday, October 3, 2025), visit lancasterconservancy.org.
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