Latrobe Art Center's Yellow Tie Gala returns with banana splits, cocktails

Latrobe Art Center will be painting the town yellow once again, as its Yellow Tie Gala returns Aug. 20.

The party will spill out of the center at 819 Ligonier St., turning the street into a pop-up night club complete with seating and a stage on which Neon Swing X-perience will perform its signature blend of swing and other Americana music genres.

Gala hours will be 6 t0 9 p.m.

To pay homage to Latrobe’s distinction as the birthplace of the banana split, guests will be offered two ways to enjoy the sweet treat. Latrobe Dairy Queen will sponsor a banana split bar, while art center staff will create a signature banana split cocktail for the occasion.

The cocktail recipe will be revealed on party night, Executive Director Michael Tusay said.

“I’ve been taste-testing some concoctions for the last week or two, and they were quite good,” he said. “It will truly have a banana split flavor.”

Organizers are sticking to the tried-and-true formula for the gala, which went on hiatus in 2020 because of the pandemic.

“We tried to make sure we stuck to tradition as we’re getting back to normal,” Tusay said.

The eighth annual event also will feature an open beer-and-wine bar, hot and cold appetizers from Ricolita’s Café and the opportunity to view the gallery’s featured exhibition.

Dress is semiformal, with yellow party clothes suggested but not required.

While most of the seating will be outdoors, some will be available inside the center. In case of rain, the center will shift to a mostly indoor event, Tusay said.

The Yellow Tie Gala will be a precursor to a scaled-down version of Latrobe’s annual Great American Banana Split Celebration, which will be a one-day event this year, on Aug. 21 in Legion Keener Park. For information on that event, visit bananasplitfest.com.

A gala ticket is $60 or $50 for art center members. Reservations are required by Aug. 13 at 724-537-7011 or latrobeartcenter.org.