Reading residents can pick up school supplies, connect with community resources and learn about everything from homeownership to local government when Party at the Park returns to Pendora Park on Aug. 22

District 2 Councilman Jaime Baez Jr. will host the annual free community event from 1 to 6 p.m. in the park, 1805 Forrest St.

The festival features backpack and school supplies giveaways, bounce houses, a dunk tank, food trucks, local vendors, entertainment, free haircuts, face painting and community resource organizations. Attendees also can enter a raffle for Philadelphia 76ers tickets.

Plans for this year’s event includes an expansion of the educational offerings with seminars and other opportunities designed to connect residents with information and resources.

“I’m excited for this year,” Baez said.

Among the offerings:

• Civics 101, which will introduce residents to local elected officials and explain their roles and responsibilities, as well as how the three branches of government work.

• A homeownership class, providing information about the steps and resources available to people preparing to purchase and own a home.

• A funeral planning seminar covering planning, available options and other considerations involved in making arrangements.

• Youth volunteers also will provide technology assistance, particularly for older residents who want help understanding smartphones, apps, other technology and artificial intelligence.

Baez said residents will receive a bingo card intended to encourage them to visit resource tables and participate in the educational programs.

“There’s a bingo card so that residents are incentivized to visit not only the resource tables but those seminars,” he said, noting participants will have an opportunity to win a prize at the end of the day.

The event will continue a tradition of remembering Reading residents whose lives have been lost to violence.

Previous tributes included the placement of a memorial bench and tree. This year, four orange memorial bricks engraved with the names of loved ones will be added.