The rides, the eats, the live entertainment…who doesn’t love a summer or fall festival?! Here are a few in Berks to get on your calendar.
Taste of Hamburg-er Festival
Sept. 2
Celebrating its 14th year, the free event features pay-as-you-go burger stands, beer, wine and cocktails, and other unique concessions. The East Coast's leading hamburger event runs from 10am until 6pm in downtown Hamburg. So get your buns there and enjoy live entertainment, vendors, burger-eating competitions and more!
Chile Pepper Food Festival
Sept. 8 & 9
www.pepperfestival.com/welcome.html
Enjoy a variety of eating contests, including jalapeño eating and salsa making varieties. Located in Bowers, the event serves up all kinds of spicy fun, including shopping opportunities, pepper-picking, food sampling and more. It’s really a spice and pepper lover’s dream event!
34th Annual Lyons Fiddle Festival 2017
Sept. 17
Completely volunteer-run, the Fiddle Fest is a labor of love, with profits benefitting community projects and causes. Featured throughout the day (9am-5:30pm) are a variety of well-known acts, as well as crafters selling an assortment of items. A donation of at least $5 is required for entry.
Oley Valley Community Fair
Sept.21-23
Visit and try the fair’s famous French fries and hamburgers and you will understand just one of the reasons why the event has been running for 71 years strong! A total of 21 local churches cook up Dutch dishes; thousands of entries are cast in agriculture and arts categories and beyond, and there are amusement rides, too! Admission is free. Parking is $5.
Reading Pretzel Fest
Sept. 23
habitatberks.org/reading-pretzel-fest
Hailed as a lot of fun for a little dough, the 5th Annual installment includes pretzel creations, craft beers, music and more. Held at FirstEnergy Stadium, proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity Berks, making it great fun for a great cause! Hours are 11am-6pm. Tickets are $5 and available for purchase online now!
Oktoberfest at Reading Liederkranz
Sept. 27-Oct. 1
www.readingliederkranz.com/oktoberfest
The #1 Oktoberfest in the USA as rated by USA Today is right here in Reading! Hosted by the Reading Liederkranz German Singing & Sports Society, it serves up entertainment like live music, a ventriloquist, roving juggling, and great brews in the Biergarten, of course! A schedule of events is online. Rain or shine.
Guts & Glory: Digestive & Wellness Expo
Oct. 7
This fun and educational event features professional advice on nutrition and fitness, free screenings, holistic experts, massage stations, group exercise sessions, and healthy cooking demonstrations. Live music from local performers and farmers market stands will also be offered. This is a kid-friendly event! Hours are 11am-4pm.
Arts Festival Reading
Oct. 7 & 8
goggleworks.org/calendar/arts-festival-reading
This event’s mission is to nurture the arts, foster creativity, promote education and enrich the community. Attendees can watch the GoggleWorks come to life with a day full of local food and spirits, live arts and crafts demonstrations in featured studios, and musical entertainment. Hours are 10am to 5pm.
