Families filled GoggleWorks Center for the Arts for the debut Saturday of Berks Arts Council’s Berks Summer Fest at its new downtown home.
Now in its fourth year, the festival moved from FirstEnergy Stadium to the arts center, 201 Washington St.
The free event combined music, children’s activities and local arts in a collaboration organizers say they hope will continue for years to come.
“It’s going to be lots of fun,” Tish Davis, executive director of Berks Arts, said as events got underway.
Davis and Levi Landis, president and executive director of GoggleWorks, agreed the relocation gave the festival a more walkable setting in the heart of Reading and the advantage of indoor and outdoor spaces.
The venue’s Albert and Eunice Boscov Theater offered the flexibility to move performances indoors when rain threatened, as it did Saturday.
Tish Davis, executive director of the Berks Arts Council, arranges merchandise during Berks SummerFest at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 11, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
For Landis the partnership was a natural fit.
“We strive on collaborating,” he said, noting the joint venture allowed the organizations to draw on each other’s strengths.
Berks Arts, which is headquartered in the arts center, brought its experience producing festivals and booking performers, Landis noted, while GoggleWorks contributed the venue and infrastructure needed to host a large public event.
Davis said the festival, formerly held at FirstEnergy Stadium, reflects a shift in Berks Arts’ approach to programming. After featuring nationally touring acts during its first two years, the organization switched last year to showcasing local musicians, a decision that Davis said has paid off.
“Last year was our first year of doing that, and it was such a success,” Davis said. “Each group brings their own following.”
Volunteer Debbie Greenawald helps Daniel Vega, 14, create a puppet during Berks SummerFest at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 11, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
This year’s lineup continued that approach, giving festivalgoers a chance to hear some of Berks County’s best-known bands and drawing fans from across the region.
Headliners included area favorites Bennie Sims & The Groovemasters, Caya Sol Reggae Band and Flamin’ Dick & The Hot Rods.
The lineup included an afternoon performance by the Dexter Sales Quartet. The highly regarded jazz group is led by teenage drummer Dexter Sales, Davis said, and features young musicians Reid Justeson, Esteban Ruiz and Julian Lee.
While the bands took top billing, not everyone came for the music.
Articst Alexis Marrero of Reading paints the face of Silas Iglesisas, 7, during Berks SummerFest at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 11, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
For Silas Iglesias, 7, who made the trip from Manheim, Lancaster County, with his brother Jayden, 5, and grandmother, Karen Brubaker, the draw was face painting.
“My grandson loves face painting, and when we saw they would have it here we decided to come,” Brubaker said.
Artist Alexis Marrero transformed Silas into a superhero, painting his face with a black-and-red mask before the brothers headed off to explore the rest of the children’s activities.
Throughout the afternoon, families lined up for face painting, arts and crafts, lawn games, clown fun and magician Tyler Reed’s interactive show.
Kaylee, 8, and Kyra, 4, Showalter of Morgantown enjoy their painted new looks during Berks SummerFest at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 11, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The family activities also drew Kelsey Showalter of Morgantown and her daughters, Kaylee, 8, and Kyra, 5.
“I didn’t even know there were concerts,” Showalter said. “I just saw there was kids’ stuff. Daddy is away and we needed something fun to do.”
The event attracted repeated and new visitors to GoggleWorks, including first-timer Kelly Gagliano of Berkeley Heights, N.J., who attended with her mother, Beverly Eline.
Eline of Reading said she learned about the festival through the local newspaper and thought it sounded fun.
The mother and daughter spent time exploring the exhibits and galleries before the 1:30 p.m. start of the first concert.
“I didn’t even know this existed,” Gagliano said of GoggleWorks. “I’m impressed.”
Beverly Eline, left, and Kelly Gagliano of Berkley Heights, N.J., are fans of the Groovemasters during Berks SummerFest at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 11, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Landis said visitors were encouraged to explore the center’s offerings, including the recently opened Thorn Alley Kitchen, which served food and drinks throughout the day.
Guests also had the opportunity to donate nonperishable food items for Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, which operates a commercial community kitchen in the adjacent GoggleWorks II building at 229 Washington St.
Organizers said the festival embodied the vision of what they hoped to create, a community gathering where music, art and creativity came together in one place.
“It’s a free event for the community,” Davis said. “It’s our way of giving back.”