Are you familiar with the concept of performers singing for their supper? Well, this is kind of like musicians playing to connect with the community and seeking its support, only much more.

The Warwick Bands Food Truck Festival has truly morphed into a community happening filled with good will and fellowship and enhanced by a lively atmosphere. There's just something about music that seems to make everything better.

"Outside in the park, it's one of the best days of the year for the kids," said Matthew Tenaglia, the Warwick School District's band director. "We really get to see the community come together. They get to see people enjoying themselves in (the bands') presence."

The annual Warwick Bands Food Truck Festival will go down on Sunday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lititz Springs Park, 24 N. Broad St., Lititz. The event is free to attend, and everyone is welcome.

"It's like a summer block party," said Tenaglia. "That's the vibe we're going for. It's joyous from beginning to end. You see people talking to each other. For the kids, it's like the start of the summer season. It's like an ideal day, and you don't have to cook. I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than eating great food and listening to good music in downtown Lititz."

The festival will feature 16 food trucks serving everything from french fries to seafood, from brisket to funnel cakes, from pretzels to doughnuts. The event typically draws hundreds of band supporters, family members and community members, and all the proceeds from the event will help cover the extra expenses incurred by the Warwick band program's activities.

"It'll be used for the kids," said Tenaglia. "It'll go toward anything that enhances their experiences and opportunities with the band. The school provides so much, and everything we get takes it to the next level."

Perhaps the highlight of the day will be the performances of four separate Warwick musical groups. Each of the four groups will perform two 30-minute sets that will be presented throughout the event.

"It's a mix of kids," said Tenaglia. "We have kids from all walks of life. We have kids involved with science, and we have athletes. Every group in our school is represented in band."

More than 170 high school and middle school students are involved with the Warwick band program.

"(Band) teaches teamwork," said Tenaglia. "It teaches working toward an end goal. It teaches how to connect with others. Band teaches life lessons. It teaches high-level thinking and simple thinking. I think band is one of the best employment teachers out there."

The Warwick Bands Food Truck Festival was started during the pandemic as a way to gather outside, raise funds and bring the Lititz community together. From those modest beginnings, the event has taken on a life of its own.

"We weren't quite sure how people would respond to it," said Tenaglia. "Since the beginning, we've added trucks and extended the hours. It's something beautiful and keeps getting better. We're establishing it as an event that can compare with the other events in Lititz."