Getting ready forthe Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.
America's first commercial pretzel bakery, in Lititz: a 25-minute tour of the original bakery and ovens, with a hands-on pretzel twisting lesson and a hard pretzel sample at the end. Tours are limited in size, so book ahead online.
Know before you go. The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery doesn't list sensory hours, a quiet room or sensory kits. Here's what it does say about the tour, the group size, the dough and the rules.
Hours
Store hours Monday to Saturday 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday noon to 4 pm. Tours start at 11 am Monday to Friday, 10:30 am Saturday and noon Sunday, and the last tour starts half an hour before closing. Tours run every day the bakery is open. Closed Thanksgiving Day (Thu Nov 26 2026), Christmas Day (Fri Dec 25 2026), New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. Every winter it's closed from January 1; the bakery gives the end of the break both as the Friday of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and as the Friday before that weekend, so call (717) 626-4354 to check the reopening day.
219 East Main Street (Route 772), Lititz, PA 17543
“Tours last about 25 minutes and begin each day when we open (11:00 am Mon-Fri, 10:30 am on Saturday and 12 noon on Sunday).”
“Tours are limited in size.”
“Walk-ins are welcome, but the number on each tour is limited, so we may not be able to accommodate you at your desired time without a reservation.” juliussturgis.com (Plan Your Visit, FAQ)
The bakery says all tours, whatever the size of your party, are by appointment only, and also that walk-ins are welcome when there's room on a tour; it strongly recommends an online reservation. Booking online ahead is the safe choice. The online booking is for up to 20 guests, and tours can be booked up to 180 days ahead.
If your kid has a food allergy: the soft pretzels baked on site, and the practice dough, have no nut, milk or egg ingredients. The packaged hard pretzels in the store are clearly labeled; the cheese varieties contain dairy, and the chocolate pretzels are coated in a facility that also processes nuts. Ask about the ingredients in the end-of-tour sample before your kid eats it.
The building dates from 1784 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The facility can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers.
Tours last about 25 minutes, with a hands-on twisting lesson using practice dough that is thrown away afterward, and a “Little Ones” hard pretzel sample for everyone at the end.
Tours are limited in size. Book online ahead; walk-ins are welcome when there's room.
Tour prices: ages 13 and up $6, military and seniors (65+) $5, ages 4 to 12 $5, 3 and under free. Pay when you arrive.
Booking: reserve a time online for up to 20 guests and pay when you arrive. Groups of 21 or more use the group tour request form and are split into two or more tour groups. For a same-day group reservation, call (717) 626-4354 instead of using the form. Groups are asked to call ahead if they will be even a few minutes late.
Parking: there's off-street parking beside the bakery; the lot entrance is on the left-hand side as you face the building. Free curbside parking is on both sides of East Main Street in front of the bakery. With advance notice, the bakery can reserve curbside parking for patrons with disabilities.
Soft pretzels: the bakery bakes old-fashioned soft pretzels on site and sells them in the bakery store. They use kosher ingredients but are not certified kosher; most of the hard pretzels sold in the store are OU-D kosher certified.
Closures: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday, plus the winter break from January 1 until around Martin Luther King Jr. weekend (call to check the reopening day). Call before going on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve.
Contact: (717) 626-4354 or info@juliussturgis.com.
