In 2013, the City of Latrobe was awarded a Pennsylvania Historical Marker for being the official birthplace of the banana split!  Dr. David E Strickler invented the first banana split dessert in the early 1904. His motivation was a desire to come up with a treat sweet enough to entice Saint Vincent College students to come into downtown Latrobe to patronize his shop.  From this determination in early 2013, City leaders were off and running in planning for how the community could properly celebrate this designation.  To help this happen, Dole Fresh Fruit partnered with us to create the Great American Banana Split Celebration (GABSC) and together the event began.  Arnold Palmer and other dignitaries helped the community dedicate and unveil the first festival and historic marker on August 23, 2013!  This event caught national media attention that included the Associated Press, National Public Radio, AOL.com, Fox News, Good Morning America, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Orlando Sentinel and countless other news outlets.  Today, the Greater Latrobe Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce have grown this event into something truly quintessential Latrobe!