The YMCA of Reading & Berks County and Berks County Parks & Recreation are co-hosting Healthy Kids Day & Color Fun Run Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berks County Heritage Center in Bern Township. The event, to be held rain or shine, features activities to encourage healthy kids, healthy families and a healthy start to the season. Admission is free. The Color Fun Run for kids 12 and younger begins at noon.
For more information or to register, visit www.ymcarbc.org or email Brandon Shurr (bshurr@ymcarbc.org).
Movie screening
The award-winning documentary “The Librarians” will be screened Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Wyomissing Public Library, 9 Reading Blvd. The film profiles nine librarians around the country as they deal with censorship issues and shows how restrictions on library content are shaping communities. Former Kutztown University librarian Ruth Perkins will lead a discussion following the free screening.
To register, visit www.wyopublib.org, or call 610-374-2385.
Nature challenge
Penn State Berks and Berks Nature are teaming up for the City Nature Challenge, in which people learn about nature in their surrounding environments and share observations with a worldwide community of naturalists and conservationists.
Programming at Penn State Berks begins Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. with a nature discovery program about using the free app iNaturalist to document and identify creatures and plants in local ecosystems. The program takes place in the Luerssen Science Building, room 5. Registration is requested and refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. Learn more at www.psu.edu/news/berks.
The Penn State Berks Earth Day celebration will be held Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Perkins Student Center, with a rain location of the Gaige Technology and Innovation Building. It will include community organizations, student tables and activities, including planting in the campus garden. The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.
Pretzels and beer
West Reading’s Pretzel and Beer Festival is set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the 500 to 700 blocks of Penn Avenue. The program includes an array of food and beverage choices, a ticketed beer tasting and music with Dylan Zangwill, PURE JERRY, Pseudo Seal and the Midnight Antics. Visit visitwestreading.org/ to learn more.
Book sale
A book sale sponsored by the Friends of Mifflin Community Library will be held Thursday through Saturday at the library, 6 Philadelphia Ave., Shillington. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 10 to 1 Friday and Saturday ($5 bag sale on last two days).
Carsonia cleanup
The Antietam Valley Community Partnership is holding an Earth Day cleanup at Carsonia Park in Pennside on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet at the Antietam Pool parking lot. Volunteers 16 and older are welcome. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Participants are asked to wear sturdy shoes, preferably waterproof. School community service hours are available. Register at antietamvalley.org/events/creek-cleanup-2/.
Book drive
The LGBT Center of Greater Reading is conducting a book drive in partnership with Lebanon Valley College’s Bishop Library. Community members are invited to donate books across all genres, with proceeds supporting the center’s library.
Drop-off locations are the LGBT Center of Greater Reading, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, Monday-Friday, noon to 7:30 p.m.; and the Bishop Library at LVC’s campus in Annville, Lebanon County, Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to midnight, Friday 7:30 to 4:30, Saturday from 10 to 5 and Sunday from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Email CSL003@LVC.EDU to learn more.
Garden club sale
The Garden Club of Reading’s “Not Just Plants” Plant Sale is scheduled for May 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Reading Public Museum’s Stone Terrace Big White Tent. The event is rain or shine. The sale includes plants, planters, gifts, bird baths and a variety of items for garden, yard, and floral use. Proceeds support the museum’s formal perennial garden and the club’s programs and workshops.
Magic lantern show
A magic lantern show will be presented by Patriotic Order Sons of America Camp #446 on May 2 at 7 p.m. in Belleman’s Church Fellowship Hall in Centre Township. The program celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States using a form of entertainment popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Doors open at 6 to view the projector, see the glass slides and tour Old Belleman’s Church. There is no admission charge, but donations will be accepted. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
For more information, call 610-488-1400.
Maifest service
A German-language Maifest service will be held May 3 at 11 a.m. at Renewed Spirit Church, 449 N. Ninth St., Reading. The Reading Liederkranz Chorus will perform under the direction of Professor Mark Herr with guest soloists Glenn Fisher, flute, and Susan Herr, bassoon. The Rev. Rolf Schmidt will give the sermon.
Parking is available on the lot next to the church, at Tenth and Green Elementary School and on Ninth Street. The service will be broadcast live on WEEU 830 AM. To learn more, call the church at 610-375-9216.
Fundraising barbecue
A barbecue in support of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life will be held May 3 from noon to 2 p.m. at Keystone Villa at Fleetwood, 501 Hoch Road, Maidencreek Township. RSVP by May 1 by calling 484-637-8200 or emailing mhawkins@keystonevillaatfleetwood.com.
Spaghetti dinner
An all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatball dinner is scheduled for May 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Salem Shalter’s Lutheran Church, 2032 Mount Laurel Road, Alsace Township. Eat-in or takeout. Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. See the church Facebook page for more information.
Open house
Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue will hold an open house May 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at its Golden Gateway facility at 60 Vera Cruz Road, Reinholds. For more information, email info@dvgrr.org, call 717-484-4799, or visit dvgrr.org/adopt/monthlyopenhouse/.
Food truck festival
A food truck festival will be held May 15 from 4 to 9 a.m. at Exeter High School, presented by the Exeter Community Education Foundation and Exeter School District. There will be more than two dozen food trucks, vendors, musical performances, games and activities.
Native plant sale
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary near Kempton is holding a native plant sale May 16 and 17. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 to 2 on Sunday. Proceeds benefit Hawk Mountain’s conservation and education programs. Learn more at hawkmountain.org/events.
Museum grand opening
LancasterHistory will celebrate the grand opening of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy May 1 and 2.
The weekend begins with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. May 1 at the museum at Queen and Vine Streets in downtown Lancaster. Doors open at 8 a.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public, but registration is requested at stevensandsmithcenter.org/events.
A community block party will be held May 2 outside the center. It will feature entertainment, food trucks, vendors and activities for all ages and an opportunity to register for a walkthrough of the Stevens & Smith Center. No registration or tickets are needed to attend the party.
For details on hours, reserving tickets and planning a visit to the center, see stevensandsmithcenter.org.
Painting workshop
A Theorem Painting Workshop will be held May 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Daniel Boone Homestead in Exeter Township. Theorem painting is an early American art form created through stenciling.
Instructor Peggy Allen will guide participants in creating a realistic work that appears hand-painted but is achieved through layered stenciling. No experience is required. She will discuss theorem painting’s history, composition and creative process.
Registration is required. To obtain a form, email thedanielboonehomestead@gmail.com. The cost is $50 for Daniel Boone Homestead Associates members and $55 for nonmembers. Supplies are included. Space is limited. Registration deadline is May 10. Learn more at www.thedanielboonehomestead.org or Daniel Boone Homestead on Facebook.
Berks history
The Berks County Genealogical Society is hosting “Time Train: Echoes and Stories of Berks County History” with Mike Reinert on May 21. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the society’s headquarters in the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading. A Zoom option will be available.
Topton celebration
Topton is celebrating its 150th anniversary on May 30, beginning with a vendor street fair along Home Avenue from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain date May 31). Opening ceremonies take place at 2 p.m. at the Hoch Memorial site. A block party with family activities and music from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Topton Park. A fireworks/drone show begins at 9:30 at the Brandywine Heights School District Middle School field.
The Topton Mini-Museum at 44 W. Keller St. will be open 9 to 2.
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