The 26th annual Jewish Food and Cultural Festival takes place Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, 555 Warwick Drive, Wyomissing. Deli favorites, brisket, apple cake and more will be on the menu. Take out food or dine in. Go to www.ohebsholom.org for the full menu and to order in advance.

Cantor Stuart Binder will perform music in the Jewish tradition, and Rabbi Brian Michelson will offer tours of the sanctuary. There will be hands-on games and activities to explain Jewish traditions.

Fitzy’s Run

Wyomissing-based Lauren’s Foundation will hold its 22nd annual Fitzy’s Halloween 5K Run and 1.5 Mile Walk Sunday at 10 a.m. at the West Reading Playground, 505 Sycamore Rd. Visit www.laurensfoundation.org to register for the 5K or 1.5 Mile Walk. Individual and team registrations are accepted. A Kid’s Trick or Treat Dash takes place at 11:30 and is open to ages 12 and under (no registration required).

There will be food trucks, costume contests, entertainment and a health fair. Supervised child care (ages 2+), is available.

Proceeds provide financial assistance for families with seriously ill children, support scholarships for students in need and fund brain tumor research and organ donation awareness.

‘From Captivity to Freedom’

The Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks presents “From Captivity to Freedom,” a talk by Ziv Abud and Eliya Cohen, two young people from Israel. The program takes place Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.

As they recently did at the United Nations, the two will share their experiences during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and its aftermath. Cohen was kidnapped from the NOVA Music Festival and held hostage in Gaza for 505 days. Abud survived NOVA by hiding in a pile of bodies and went on to fight tirelessly to bring Cohen home.

The program is free, but registration is required by Oct. 26. Visit readingjewishcommunity.org or contact Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks at info@jfreading.org or 610-921-0624. The location of the event will be given upon registration. Please be prepared to show photo ID for admittance.

Market day

An Indoor farmers and artists market will be held today from 5 to 7 p.m. in the recreation building at Carsonia Park in Pennside. See farmersmarket.antietamvalley.org/ for details.

Trunk or treat

The state police are holding a trunk or treat program on Oct. 28 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Reading station, 600 Kenhorst Blvd.

History program

Historian Ed Johnson discusses “The Pennsylvania Germans in the American Revolution” Sunday, at 2:30 at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St., Pennsburg, Montgomery County.

Admission is free. Register to ensure a seat by emailing info@schwenkfelder.org or calling 215-679-3103. Indicate whether you plan to attend in-person or via a Zoom link. Learn more at schwenkfelder.org/250.

Fundraising concert

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County, 416 Franklin St., Reading, is having a fundraising rock-and-roll concert featuring performers from the church membership on Nov. 7. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with music at 7. Tickets available at the door for $15.

Book sale

The Friends of Mifflin Community Library Fall Book Sale takes place Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Nov. 6 and 7 from 10 to 1 ($5 bag sale) at the library, 6 Philadelphia Ave., Shillington. There are books for all ages, CDs, DVDs and puzzles.

Iron and the Revolution

The Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley is holding a program on “Colonial and Early Ironworks” Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 167 E Main Street, Ephrata. Historian and author Dan Graham will discuss the role of Pennsylvania’s iron industry in Colonial America and the success of the American Revolution. The program is free. Parking lot and entrance in the rear alley. Learn more at www.cocalicovalleyhs.org or call 717-733-1616.

Piano concert

Acclaimed British pianist Simon Mulligan performs Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. at Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, 555 Warwick Drive, Wyomissing, in the Kozloff-Rotenberg Night of Music. A dessert reception will follow the performance. A $40 donation per seat is requested. See ohebsholom.org/kozloff-night-of-music.

Open house

Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue will hold its monthly Open House Nov. 14 from 10 to noon at its Golden Gateway facility at 60 Vera Cruz Road, Reinholds. For more information, contact info@dvgrr.org, call 717-484-4799, or visit: dvgrr.org/adopt/monthlyopenhouse/.

Candlelight at cloister

Ephrata Cloister is holding its Candlelight Open House Nov. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. This self-guided event allows visitors of all ages to explore the illuminated grounds at their own pace and step inside the historic buildings to encounter interpreters, skilled tradespeople and historical demonstrators.

No advance registration is necessary. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at ephratacloister.org.

Church event

Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100, Barto, is holding a bazaar, bake sale, basket raffle and flea market Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sharing food

The Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, Montgomery County, presents “Food My Grandmother Made: A Potluck Meal” Nov. 14 from noon to 2 p.m. Bring a dish your grandmother made or another old favorite recipe to share. There is no cost to attend, but an RSVP is required. Email wengerr@mhep.org or call 215-256-3020 ext. 112 by Nov. 7. Learn more at mhep.org.

Pa. German conference

Kutztown University’s Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center will host “Pennsylvania Germans and the Revolution” Nov. 13-14. The conference will explore Pennsylvania German experiences in the era of the American Revolution and beyond. The conference is co-sponsored by the German Society of Philadelphia and is part of America 250 PA Berks County.

The conference will open 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 102 Academic Forum, with a keynote presentation by Heritage Center Director Patrick J. Donmoyer, followed by a community discussion at 7 p.m. On Nov. 14, a series of presentations will commence at 8:30 a.m. A full conference schedule will be available at www.pagerman.org/revolution/.

The conference is free to the public. Registration is required to attend. Optional Saturday lunch registration is $30. Registration information is available at www.pagerman.org/revolution and is due Nov. 1. For more information, follow PGCHC on Facebook and Instagram or call 610-683-1589.

Baked goods sale

St. Michael’s Church in Tilden Township is holding a holiday baked goods sale and basket raffle on Nov. 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Nov. 14 from 8 to noon. The church is located at 529 St Michael’s Road.

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