Berks County Earth Day celebration set for Saturday in Reading City Park

Reading Eagle, Pa.
Updated ·3 min read

Apr. 18—Berks County's Earth Day Festival will be held Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. rain or shine in Reading's City Park. Admission is free.

A tree planting ceremony will precede the festival, starting at 11 a.m. and include a Lenape Earth Blessing by Enx Eeden, emceed by Rich Polityka.

From 8 a.m. to noon that day, there will be a City Wide Clean Up throughout Reading with many volunteers.

There will be a wide range of activities at this year's festival. New is a Stage B tent featuring Native American activities with Calling Songs, Stoney Boys, Turtle Moon Flutes and performances by the duo of Barry Lee and Barbara Christy, the originators of Spirit Wing, a six-time Native American Music Award nominee. Additionally, there will be speakers on sustainability issues throughout the day in this tent.

Stage C will offer presentations by PA Bat Rescue from 1 to 1:30 and Red Creek Wildlife Rescue from 4 to 4:45.

Entertainment on the Bandshell stage begins with Mark James from noon to 1 p.m., followed by Kim & Paul from Vuja De from 1 to 2:30, Livin' in the Rhythm from 2:30 to 3 and 4 to 4:30, John King Dance Band from 3 to 4, and Golden Twine from 4:30 to 6.

There will be a car battery collection sponsored by East Penn Manufacturing and a Food Bank collection supported by Penske, who will transport the collection on their electric powered truck from City Park to Helping Harvest Food Bank. Those who donate to the Food Bank will receive a seedling or plant while supplies last.

There will be a historical tour of City Park led by Rich Polityka of the Berks County Historical Society departing from the Information Booth at 2 p.m.

There will be children's activities throughout the park.

Non-profit exhibitors include Alvernia Holleran Center, Alvernia Foster Grandparent Program, Animal Rescue League, Berks County Conservation District, Berks County Democratic Committee, Berks County Democratic Women, Berks

Astronomy Club, Berks Community Health Center, Berks Green Party, Berks Nature, Berks Stands Up, Cedar Hill Homestead, Centre Park Historic District, Children's Home of Reading, Citizens' Climate Lobby, Cloth Option, Fair Districts, Friends of Nolde, Garden Club of Reading, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Gov. Mifflin High School Environmental Club, The League of Women Voters of Berks County, LGBT Center of Reading, Mengel Natural History Society, My Gut Instinct, Pennsylvania DEP, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Peace & Harmony House, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and Master Watershed Programs, Reading Lead Hazard Center, Reading Library, Reading Pride Celebration, Reading Roller Derby, Reading Advancing Health Literacy Grant, Schuylkill River Greenways Association, Sierra Club Kittatinny, Third Act PA, Turtle Moon Native American Flute Circle, Two Spirits of PA, Village of Reading, We the People Citizens, Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge, YMCA South Mountain and YWCA Tri-County Area.

For-profit exhibitors include Bachman Roofing, East Penn Manufacturing, Giorgi Mushroom, Green Mountain Energy, JP Mascaro, Kimberton Whole Foods, Oak Street Health, Solar Way Energy, and Stokes, Spirit Wing Art & Music LLC.

Food vendors include Lio Colon, Devour Catering, Bapanada and Tri-Boba Truck.