Back for its sixth year and larger than ever before, West Reading’s 2012 Fall Fest (formerly known as the Fall Festival on the Avenue) promises no shortage of groovin’ music, good beer, food and good times for visitors both young and young-at-heart.
What better way than to spend a gorgeous fall day strolling and exploring the diverse shops, restaurants and businesses on Penn Avenue, with the sounds of live music, sipping a seasonal beer, and browsing artisan and craft vendors on the street. But that’s not all the Fall Fest has to offer...
The Oktoberfest Beer Garden specializes in local, autumnal, craft beers in a tent EVEN BIGGER than last year’s. Local and regional artists display their vast array of eclectic wares and children’s activities such as face painting, a pumpkin patch and Ozzy’s Family Fun Center area will keep the little ones happy. The Ferrari Club of Reading will showcase cars along the street and local shops and restaurants will offer event specials and sidewalk sales.
“We are really amping up the music this year,” says co-event organizer Deborah Hutcheson, owner of Charles Hutcheson Fine Jewelry on Penn Avenue. She and co-event chair Rebecca Doubek, owner of Firefly on Penn, started the event six years ago. “There will be a variety of local and national acts on hand, including the Barren Wells Band, Chris Kasper (a favorite from Philadelphia), The Morning and The Philadelphia Jug Band. And returning to headline as they did two years ago, Philly band, The Great Unknown. This is definitely a music, beer and food event,” explains Hutcheson.
“Fall Fest is a wonderful hang especially if you love good original live music,” explains music organizer Daniel Bower of Moonlight Forest Productions. “The vision is to bring quality regional bands and micro brews to West Reading to show the people you don't have to go all the way to Philly or New York or even Phoenixville to get high grade entertainment.”
Sparked by the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation, which began as the West Reading Main Street Program, the expansion and improvement project that has been taking place in and around the Penn Avenue area more than past 13 years has been spirited to say the least. Since 1999, over 50 new restaurants and retail stores have opened. The project included sidewalk renovation and façade improvements. It continues its work through the Elm Street program with projects in neighborhoods of the borough.
This year’s celebration will take place on Saturday, Sept. 15, from Noon-9pm on the 400, 500, 600 and 700 blocks of Penn Avenue in West Reading. For more info, including participating vendors and available merchandise, visit westreadingmainstreet.org/fallfestival2012 or lovewestreading.org. You can also follow event updates on Facebook by searching “West Reading Fall Festival on the Avenue.”
MORE ABOUT THE MUSIC
This year’s event will include:
CHRIS KASPER Chris just completed a two-month tour of the East Coast and Midwest with San Frans' "ALO.”
THE MORNINGS Featuring members of local favorite, Frog Holler.
BARREN WELLS Fresh up-and-coming Americana rockers from Hamburg, they have buzz, not to mention solid songs and a great Neil Young-meets-Harry Nilsson sound.
CHELSEA SUE ALLEN The young talent from West Chester has a haunting, ambient sound sure to captivate first-time listeners.
HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA JUG BAND On tour celebrating 50 years of playing live music.
THE GREAT UNKNOWN The Philadelphia-based band is celebrating its new album, So Strange and Loud, which will be available on vinyl.
HILLBILLY SHAKESPEARE Local rockers in the vein of The Kinks, The Beatles and Hank Williams, this band brings the bang back to this year’s festivities.
