Organizers announce 'Ladies Love Lebanon' weekend in downtown Lebanon, July 11–13

LEDE: Organizers of a first-time downtown festival called Ladies Love Lebanon said the three-day event will run July 11–13 in Lebanon, Indiana, with ticketed packages, classes, and free public components designed to draw visitors and support local businesses.

NUT GRAF: The event, spearheaded by the Heart of Lebanon and partnered with the Lebanon library, will mix literary programming (an escape room at the library, audio-book strolls, literary trivia and a book swap) with creative classes, a cocktail-making session, and a family-friendly, Rosie-the-Riveter–themed Friday evening. Organizers said tickets are being offered in tiered packages so attendees can “choose your own adventure.”

BODY: Sarah Howell, event coordinator with the Heart of Lebanon, said the committee based the weekend on similar women-focused events in other Indiana Main Street communities and chose a book theme to appeal across ages. “We were like, well, we have a really great place. We wanna show it off. We wanna give an excuse for people to come up here and spend a weekend and shop local with our businesses in the district,” Howell said.

Jesse Fleming, a Heart of Lebanon board member and a representative of the Lebanon library, described the library’s role in the program. “The library was so excited to partner with the Heart of Lebanon on this,” Fleming said. Fleming said the library will host an escape room written by volunteer Taylor Hassle and will run VIP programming and other ticketed experiences.

Organizers said the event program mixes literary-themed activities with wider creative offerings. Planned items listed on the event page include an audiobook stroll, an escape room at the library, literary trivia, a book-swap (attendees may bring up to three books), a candle-pouring class, cocktail-mixing classes, canvas painting, a “book boyfriend” bracket and a Rosie-the-Riveter costume contest tied to a Fannie Flagg title referenced as inspiration.

Howell and Fleming described three ticket packages designed to let attendees pick how much of the weekend they join. Howell said the VIP package “includes pretty much everything except for the classes. The classes are are just simply add ons,” and that VIP merchandise will include a tote and a shirt. Fleming said limited-capacity activities such as the escape room and literary trivia will be reserved for higher-tier passes or sold as limited add-ons.

Organizers named a corporate partner and a downtown venue during the podcast: Fluor is listed as a sponsor and a downtown restaurant referred to as “4 Finger” will host a catered Sunday breakfast tied to VIP packages and a cocktail class. Howell said VIP pricing covers the cost of included items: “that’s just to pretty much cover our costs on all of the free stuff that you're gonna get.”

Event planners emphasized local-business participation and out-of-town visitor incentives. Howell said the weekend is intended to showcase downtown restaurants and shops and that participating hotels are offering a visiting-from-out-of-town discount. Fleming said the committee worked with downtown merchants and volunteers to slot activities across multiple businesses and shared spaces.

Organizers noted several low-cost and a la carte options. Fleming described a shoppers pass that offers access to Friday-night activities and a bag of coupons, while other events and classes can be added on for attendees who do not buy the highest-tier pass. Producers said a blind-date-with-a-book add-on will let ticket-holders select a genre and receive a surprise book in that category.

ENDING: Organizers said the event’s goal is economic and cultural: to bring visitors to Lebanon’s downtown and introduce them to local businesses. Tickets and activity details are listed on the Heart of Lebanon website and the event landing page; organizers encouraged interested attendees to review package inclusions and book limited-capacity activities in advance.