Berks County will host an AmericanaFest next month to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The free event, which will take place June 20 at the Berks County Heritage Center, will feature living history exhibits, a petting zoo, museum tours, demonstrations and music performances.
Starting at 11 a.m., visitors can participate in living history exhibits, make crafts, stop by the Swartz’ Roadside Farm petting zoo, take a wagon ride, learn about the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry and get photographs taken with technology straight out of the 1800s.
Tours of the Gruber Wagon Works will be given at noon and 2:30 p.m. The Canal Museum and Epler’s Schoolhouse will be open all day.
Lectures from Native American storyteller Darius Puff will take place at 11:30 a.m., and historian Dwight Halderman will speak at 1:30 p.m.
Several food trucks will be on-site throughout the day.
The festival will also include four musical performances from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the grounds of the heritage center, featuring artists performing Americana music with a historic covered bridge as the backdrop.
• Dave Kline will host a Blues to Bluegrass workshop at 3:30 p.m.
• Valley Vision will perform folk music at 4:45 p.m.
• Wood Belly will perform bluegrass tunes at 5:45 p.m.
• Corey Arceneaux and the Zydeco Hot Peppers will perform creole music at 7 p.m.
For more information about AmericanaFest and a complete listing of upcoming 250th celebration events, check out the Facebook page @BerksCountyParks.