Berks County is home to festivals that are well over 50, even over 100 years old, some of which, like the Kutztown Folk Festival, are among the oldest and most celebrated American festivals of their kind. Berks County’s festivals, many of which are known and celebrated up and down the east coast, provide participants with the opportunity to celebrate the area’s diverse communities and cultures, and to enjoy the beauty of the county’s various boroughs and townships. There is a festival for everyone; whether it embraces a passion for scorching hot peppers, the culture and the crafts of the Pennsylvania Dutch, taste-testing gourmet hamburgers, apple dumplings and beauty pageants, or even lighting up a night sky with the thunderous roar of professional-grade fireworks. Berks is home to a huge variety of one-of-a-kind events. Here are a few in Berks (and a drive a bit further) to get on your calendar…
Topton Community Street Fair
Downtown Topton
May 19, 9am-5pm
Witness the largest bubbles you’ve ever seen at the Topton Community Street Fair. The festival’s sponsor, Grandpop Bubbles, will be providing bubble wands, poles, basins, buckets and 100 gallons of bubble soap for the festivities. Also featured at the event will be the Antique & Classic Car Cruise, the Annual Top Dog Festival, and the Bikes N’ Trikes Contest.
For more info call 610.682.2541 or visit the Topton Centennial Committee’s Facebook page.
Exeter May Days Community Festival
Exeter High School, 201 E. 37th St., Reading
May 19, Noon-10pm
The campus of Exeter High School will be filled with live entertainment, food vendors, community merchants and a Kids Zone with activities for this year’s Exeter May Days Community Festival. The main event, a special performance by the high school marching band, accompanied by elementary and junior high musicians, will take place at 5:30pm. The evening will close with fireworks at 9:15pm.
For more info call 610.779.0700 or visit exeter.k12.pa.us.
Hamburg Jaycees Family Festival
Hamburg Community Park (The Etchberger Memorial Park), Hamburg
May 25-28, Fri: 5-10pm; Sat., Sun. and Mon: 3-10pm
Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend at the Hamburg Family Festival, where there will be a variety carnival rides, food vendors, fireworks and more. The festival is hosted and sponsored by the Hamburg Jaycees, a branch of Junior Chamber International, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of local communities.
For more info visit hamburgjaycees.com.
Adamstown Community Days
Adamstown Grove Community Park, 300 W. Main St., Adamstown
May 25-27, Fri.: 5pm; Sat. & Sun.: 2pm.
Spend Memorial Day Weekend enjoying carnival attractions, great food and various other activities at the Adamstown Community Days Festival. Witness the magnificent 10,000 rocket fireworks finale by D&M Fireworks on Sunday evening. Free admission, parking and entertainment.
For more info visit adamstowncommunitydays.com/community-days.
4th Annual Morgantown Carnival
Caernarvon Friendship Park, Chestnut & North streets, Morgantown
June 12-16, 6-10pm
This year’s Morgantown Carnival will feature carnival rides, live musical performances, local vendors, food stands and more. Fireworks will light up the sky on Friday, June 15, at 9:45pm.
For more info visit the Morgantown Carnival 2018 Facebook page.
The Apple Dumpling Festival & Pageant
Willow Glen Park, Sinking Spring
June 19-23, Tues.-Th: 5:30-10pm; Fri.: 5:30-11pm; Sat.: Noon-11pm
This year’s Berks County’s Apple Dumpling Festival & Pageant, a long-time tradition of more than 60 years, will feature thousands of homemade apple dumplings, amusement rides and more. Also see the girls competing in the festival pageant for Little Miss Apple Dumpling, Junior Miss Apple Dumpling, Teen Miss Apple Dumpling, and Miss Apple Dumpling. See schedule online.
For more info call 610.777.6388 or visit appledumplingfest.com.
69th Annual Kutztown Folk Festival
Kutztown Fairgrounds, Kutztown.
June 30-July 8
Visit this year’s Kutztown Folk Festival to experience the music, food and traditional entertainment of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The festival is the oldest continuously operated folklife festival in America, and furthermore features the largest quilt sale in America. There will be many children’s activities at the festival. Admission free for children 12 and under.
For more info call 888.674.6136 or visit kutztownfestival.com.
Shillington Community Days
Governor Mifflin Middle and Senior High Schools, 101 S. Waverly St., Shillington
July 2-7
This year’s week-long Community Days Festival, hosted by Greater Governor League, will feature live musical performances, carnival rides, tons of food and game vendors, and, on Saturday night, the festival will conclude with a magnificent fireworks performance. Free admission, parking and entertainment.
For more info visit communitydays.com.
Fleetwood Community Carnival
Fleetwood Community Park, 250 W. Main St., Fleetwood
July 17-21: 5pm
There will be fireworks, home-made food, carnival rides and fun games and activities spread across Fleetwood Community Park for this year’s Fleetwood Community Carnival.
For more info visit fleetwoodboro.com.
The Reading Fair
The Reading Fairgrounds, 1216 Hilltop Rd., Leesport
Aug. 5-11
Celebrate the 164th annual Reading Fair and enjoy a variety of rides, races, games and authentic Pennsylvania Dutch Food. general admission: $5. Parking: $5. Admission free for children 36 inches and under.
For more info call 610.372.2649, email info@thereadingfair.org, or visit thereadingfair.org.
147th Annual Kutztown Fair
Kutztown Fairgrounds, Kutztown
Aug. 13-18
The Kutztown Fair, celebrating its 147th anniversary in 2018, is a deeply rooted community tradition celebrated across the county. There will be carnival rides, shows, exhibits and much more throughout the week. Friday Night Fireworks at 10pm. Admission: $10. All carnival rides, stage shows and midway shows are included in the price of admission.
For more info call 610.683.7696 or visit kutztownfairgrounds.com.
The Great Allentown Fair
Allentown Fair, 302 N. 17 St., Allentown.
Aug. 28-Sept. 3
The Allentown Fair celebrates its 166th consecutive year and will again be offering a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages, featuring concerts by big name acts, carnival rides, shows and food stands galore. Regular admission: $8. Kids 12 & under are admitted free. Onsite parking is $10 per vehicle.
For more info call 610.433.7541 or visit allentownfairpa.org.
15th Annual Taste of Hamburger Festival
Downtown Hamburg
Sept. 1, 10am-6pm
Thousands will travel from all around the east coast to attend the 15th Annual Taste of Hamburger Festival in Hamburg. Featured at the event will be eating contests, tons of food and beverage vendors, live music, vendors and more. Free admission.
For more info visit tasteofhamburger.com.
23rd Annual Chile Pepper Food Festival
William Delong Park, 233 Bowers Rd., Bowers
Sept. 7-8, 9am-6pm.
This year’s Chile Pepper Festival in Bowers will feature a jalapeño eating contest, a salsa contest, and as always, hundreds of unique pepper varieties for sampling and purchase, including even some of the world’s hottest peppers, such as the infamous ghost pepper. The Jalapeño Pepper Eating Contest will be on Saturday at 4pm. Free parking. Rain or shine.
For more info visit pepperfestival.com.
