The Daniel Boone Homestead\u2019s Heritage Day Fall Festival is set for Oct. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. at the historic site in Exeter Township. It will feature a variety of Colonial and early American demonstrations, trades and hands-on activities. There will be artisan craft and specialty food vendors along with fall activities for children.<\/p>\n
Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for those 65 and older, $5 for children ages 6-17 and free for children 5 and under and Daniel Boone Homestead Associates. Learn more at www.thedanielboonehomestead.org<\/a> and Daniel Boone Homestead<\/a> on Facebook.<\/p>\n Flag raising<\/p>\n The SOS Berks Opioid Coalition and the city of Reading will hold a flag-raising ceremony in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day today at 1 p.m. in City Park. The event will include speakers, an invocation and a moment of silence recognizing those who have passed away in our community due to an overdose.<\/p>\n Big band concert<\/p>\n The Reading Pops Big Band will present an evening of music from the big band era, featuring the works of artists such as Benny Goodman, Jerry Gray, Johnny Warrington, Artie Shaw and Duke Ellington. The free concert will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Green Valley Chateau Tent, 160 Green Valley Road, Lower Heidelberg Township.<\/p>\n Berks parks<\/p>\n The following programs are scheduled for September by the Berks County Parks and Recreation Department:<\/p>\n Saturday \u2013 Wellness Walk, 9 a.m., Berks Leisure Area, Spring Township. Free but registration suggested.<\/p>\n Sunday \u2013 Nature Journaling, 4-5:30 p.m., Berks Leisure Area. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n Sept. 7 \u2013 Ringgold Band concert, 10 a.m., Berks County Heritage Center, Bern Township. Bring blankets or chairs. Free.<\/p>\n Sept. 8 \u2013 Trail Tales, 10 a.m., Angora Fruit Farm, Lower Alsace Township. Program for toddler includes a story and a craft. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n Sept. 11 \u2013 Red Creek program, 6 p.m., Gring\u2019s Mill Barn, Spring Township. Red Creek Wildlife Center will offer a presentation on Pennsylvania\u2019s native wild animals, featuring live animal ambassadors. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n Sept. 12 \u2013 Farm Market and Fest, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Heritage Center. Pop-up market features Berks-grown produce and products.<\/p>\n Sept. 16 \u2013 Junk Journaling, 6 p.m., Heritage Center. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n Sept. 20 \u2013 \u201cA Birdseye View of Berks History,\u201d 2 p.m., Heritage Center. Program led by Alexa Freyman, a drone pilot and local historian. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n Sept. 26 \u2013 Free Museum Day and Belt Running Day, 10-4, Heritage Center. The Wagon Works comes to life in this demonstration. Free<\/p>\n Register for programs at countyofberks.recdesk.com\/Community\/Program<\/a>. Email LGauker@BerksPa.gov or call 610-374-2944, ext 2611, with questions.<\/p>\n Farmers market<\/p>\n The Antietam Valley Farmers and Artists Market will be held today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Carsonia Park, 905 Byram St., Pennside. Learn more at antietamvalley.org\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Firefighters fundraiser<\/p>\n Reading Community Players present a fundraiser to benefit Berks County firefighters on Sept. 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. in Frieden\u2019s United Church of Christ, 337 Main St., Oley. The troupe will be performing \u201c110 Stories\u201d by Sarah Tuft, a play that serves as a remembrance of the people and rescue workers impact by the events of Sept. 11, 2001.<\/p>\n Proceeds benefit the Berks County Fireman\u2019s Association Training Committee. Tickets and information at www.readingcommplayers.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Program about 9\/11<\/p>\n A free program on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is scheduled for Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the West Lawn \u2013 Wyomissing Hills Library, 101 Woodside Ave., West Lawn. It will be presented by retired FBI agent Rod Loose. No registration required. Call the library at 610-678-4888 for more information.<\/p>\n Music and Makers Market<\/p>\n The Mohnton Cumru Lions Club\u2019s Music and Makers Market is set for Sept. 12 and 13 at Mohnton Memorial Park. Bands will be performing and vendors and crafters will be selling their wares. The event includes food vendors, cornhole tournament, a bounce house and face painting. Admission is free. Learn more by checking Mohnton Cumru Lions Club<\/a> on social media or calling Karl Stamm at 484-513-6966.<\/p>\n Music on mountain<\/p>\n The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble presents \u201cStars, Stripes and Strings,\u201d an afternoon of chamber music on Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Albany Township. The program features pieces celebrating the American spirit with works by Aaron Copland, George Walker, Philip Glass, Maria Thompson Corley, Scott Joplin, Anton\u00edn Dvo\u0159\u00e1k, Johann Sebastian Bach and John Philip Sousa, along with \u201cAmerica the Beautiful.\u201d Performers are violinists Dana Allaband and Simon Maurer, violist Agn\u00e8s Maurer and cellist Ailin Hsieh.<\/p>\n Admission is $25 for the general public and $20 for Hawk Mountain members. Register in advance at hawkmountain.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Online safety<\/p>\n A \u201cBehind the Screens\u201d seminar is set for Sept. 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 at Mohns Hill EC Church, 708 Mohns Hill Road, Spring Township. Brad Ortenzi from Zoe International will discuss how to protect children from online predators. Free child care available at the event.<\/p>\n Church festival<\/p>\n St. Mark\u2019s Lutheran Church, 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro, is holding its Fall Festival Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be children\u2019s activities, games, apple dumplings, fried food and raffles. Juggler Chris Ivey will perform.<\/p>\n Wernersville history<\/p>\n The Heidelberg Heritage Society is holding an open house Sept. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Lerch Tavern, 182 W. Penn Ave., Wernersville, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Explore three floors of displays and artifacts representing the history and culture of the area surrounding Wernersville, including a room dedicated to the South Mountain resorts in South Heidelberg Township.<\/p>\n The Wernersville train station at 20 E. Penn Ave. was the East Coast transportation connection to the South Mountain resorts. A 100th anniversary celebration of the station is set for Sept. 19 and 20 from 1 to 4.<\/p>\n Cultural Diversity Festival<\/p>\n The seventh annual Berks Cultural Diversity Festival is set for Sept 26 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Reading City Park bandshell, presented by Bring the Change. The program theme is \u201c250 Years of Unity: From Many Roots One Community. The event includes dance, music and poetry reading, food trucks representing cuisines from around the globe and interactive cultural tables offering passport-style learning for all ages.<\/p>\n Learn more at www.bringthechange.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n Choral concert<\/p>\n The Blue Mountain Heritage Chorus under the direction of Catherine Zimmerman and accompanied by Sara Jackson celebrates America\u2019s 250th anniversary with a free concert featuring patriotic favorites. The concert is set for Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. at Zion\u2019s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 354 Zion Church Road, Perry Township.<\/p>\n Padre Pio observance<\/p>\n Ten days of prayer, blessings, processions, Italian traditions, food, entertainment and family activities are planned from Sept. 14 to 23 to honor the Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina at the National Center for Padre Pio in Barto<\/p>\n On Sept. 19 and 20 there will be festivities including food, entertainment, children\u2019s activities and more. The Nine-Day Novena will begin Sept. 14 and continue through Sept. 22. Each day will include Mass, the Novena to Saint Pio and a special blessing offered for a particular intention:<\/p>\n Learn more at www.padrepio.org<\/a> or call 610-845-3000.<\/p>\n Bechtelsville events<\/p>\n Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1749 S. Main St., Bechtelsville, is holding a pair of fundraisers in the coming weeks. Its basket party is set for Sept. 26. Doors open at 9 a.m., with the drawing to begin at 10:30. Tickets are $20 and will be available at the door the day of the event or in advance during church office hours Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 610-369-1281 to learn more.<\/p>\n The Fall Craft Show is set for Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event includes crafts, books and a bake sale.<\/p>\n Road run<\/p>\n The Reading Hospital Road Run returns to West Reading on Oct. 18. Funds raised will support an expansion of the emergency department and 19 new beds in the intensive care unity. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in one of the Road Run events, which include a 5K run, half marathon and a 1-mile Fun Run\/Walk. There will be food trucks, family-friendly activities and hospital resource tables at the event.<\/p>\n