A July Fourth celebration will be held at the Berks County Fairgrounds in Bern Township, led by the America250PA Berks County Committee in partnership with the Reading Symphony Orchestra along with local businesses, organizations and community partners.<\/p>\n
The free Star-Spangled Spectacular Berks County features music, family activities, food vendors, a patriotic concert by the Reading Symphony Orchestra, and a spectacular fireworks finale at 9:30. Gates open at noon, with activities beginning at 2. Attendees are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to support Helping Harvest.<\/p>\n
Learn more at www.starspangledberks.com<\/a> or follow on Facebook<\/a> or Instagram<\/a>: starspangled.berks.<\/p>\n Museum events<\/p>\n The Reading Public Museum will host two special events leading up to Independence Day. On Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., the museum will host Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights: Celebrating 250 Years, a free community celebration. On Thursday and Friday at 5:30 and 7 p.m., there will be Sensory Inclusive Fireworks in the Neag Planetarium.<\/p>\n Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights will feature family-friendly activities, classic lawn games, engaging art projects and more. The Brandywine Colonials Fife and Drum Corps will perform at 6:30, and the \u201cAmerica250: Celebrating America Innovation\u201d Poster Exhibit curated by Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science will be on display. Food trucks will be at the site.<\/p>\n Sensory Inclusive Fireworks is a display on the planetarium dome designed for people unable to enjoy traditional fireworks shows. The program is set to patriotic tunes. There will also be crafts and activities. Advance registration is required at www.readingpublicmuseum.org\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Berks parks<\/p>\n The Berks County Parks and Recreation Department is offering the following July activities:<\/p>\n Thursday: Fireflies: Nature\u2019s Fireworks, 7:30 p.m. at Angora Fruit Farm, Lower Alsace Township. Discover the science behind Pennsylvania\u2019s state insect. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n Sunday: Nature Journaling, 4-5:30 p.m. at Angora Fruit Farm. Create a journal inspired by your surroundings. Geared toward ages 16 and up. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n July 7-9: Art in the Park, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Berks Leisure Area, Spring Township. Drop-off program for children ages 7-12. Cost is $45 per child. Registration required<\/p>\n July 11: Summer Wellness Walk, 9 a.m., Angora Fruit Farm. Free. Registration suggested.<\/p>\n July 12: Upcycled! \u2013 Rugmaking, 1-3 p.m., Berks County Heritage Center, Bern Township. Materials provided. For ages 12 and up (kids 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult participant). Cost is $10 per person. Registration required.<\/p>\n July 15: Drop-In Art Camp: Junior Ranger Camp, 9 a.m.-noon, Bingaman House, Lower Alsace Township. For ages 7-12. Create among the canopy of Antietam Lake Park\u2019s beautiful trails. This is a drop-off program. Cost is $20 per child. Registration required.<\/p>\n July 16: How the Pretzel Survived Prohibition and Other Twisted Tales, 7 p.m., Heritage Center. Candace Perry of the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, discusses the favorite Pennsylvania German snack food. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n July 17: Flannel concert, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Gring\u2019s Mill Recreation Area, Spring Township. Bring chairs and blankets for a free show. Food trucks will be on site, and parking is free.<\/p>\n July 21: Creek Critters Pop-Up, 9-11 a.m. Angora Fruit Farm. Geared toward families with children ages 6 and up. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n July 22: Whoooo Goes There? Night Hike, 7:30-9 p.m., Angora Fruit Farm. A summer night exploration hike. Appropriate for ages 7 and older due to uneven terrain. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n July 25: Family Fishing Day, 6-8 p.m., Antietam Lake Park. No experience or tackle necessary; no fishing license required. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n July 29: Guided Sunset\/Full Moon Kayaking, 6 p.m. @ Stilling Basin, Blue Marsh to Gring\u2019s Mill Portage. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n July 31: Swing Fever concert, 5:30-8:30, Gring\u2019s Mill. Food trucks will be on site and parking is free.<\/p>\n Register for all programs at countyofberks.recdesk.com\/Community\/Program<\/a>. Learn more by emailing LGauker@BerksPa.gov or calling 610-374-2944, ext 2611.<\/p>\n Patriotic program<\/p>\n A program celebrating America\u2019s 250th birthday will be held by the Friends of Hopewell Furnace Sunday at 2 p.m. at the White Horse Inn. 31 Old Philadelphia Pike, Douglassville.<\/p>\n The program marks the anniversary of the day John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, began dispatching the newly printed Dunlap Broadsides to state legislatures, conventions, and commanding officers.<\/p>\n Patriotic music will be led by Laurice Kennel of the Delaware Valley Opera Company. Woodmere Art Museum artist and storyteller will read from the Declaration of Independence.<\/p>\n Bring a blanket or lawn chair.<\/p>\n Berks Liberty Bell<\/p>\n The Berks County commissioners are hosting a patriotic ceremony on July 8 at noon in front of the county services center, 633 Court St., Reading. Music from the Ringgold Band will begin at 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n The ceremony will include the history and ringing of the Berks Liberty Bell and a reading of the Declaration of Independence by descendants of Berks County Sheriff Henry Vanderslice, who read the original document to Reading and Berks residents on July 8, 1776.<\/p>\n In case of inclement weather, the celebration will be held in the services center auditorium.<\/p>\n Redware workshop<\/p>\n A redware ornaments workshop is scheduled for July 25 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville.<\/p>\n Under the instruction of artist Emily Smucker-Beidler, students will start with a prepared slab of red clay with white clay slip (liquid clay) and cut out at least five ornament shapes. Then, using the sgraffito method, they\u2019ll scratch fraktur designs through the colored slip. All provided patterns will be taken from historic Pennsylvania German redware.<\/p>\n After the workshop, the instructor will bisque fire the pieces, cover them in a clear glaze and fire once more. Ornaments can be picked up four weeks after the workshop or sent by mail for a fee.<\/p>\n The class is open to people of all ability levels, age 13 and up. The cost is $105 for center members ($115 nonmembers) and includes all materials. Registration is required. Learn more at mhep.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Submit items to news@readingeagle.com.<\/p>\n \t\t\t