10 September Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss
Not only does September usher in a new season, but in Pennsylvania’s Americana Region, the month welcomes activities and events you don’t want to miss. Our annual festivals, seasonal happenings, and changing landscape make this an excellent time to visit Reading and Berks County. Learn about ten of our favorite September events.
The Taste of Hamburg-er Festival falls annually on the Saturday before Labor Day. The event transforms Hamburg into a meat lovers’ heaven. Burger slinging vendors line the town’s streets as they vie to create the tastiest and most unique burger combinations. Musical entertainment, burger-eating contests, and so much more make this a great way to spend the day. You may have missed this year’s Hamburg-er Fest but there are plenty more festivals to enjoy.
25th Annual Chile Pepper Food Festival September 10 & 11
The Chile Pepper Food Fest follows just a few days later on the second Friday and Saturday of September. Much like Hamburg’s meaty celebration, the hot pepper takes center stage at this festival. In addition to the “hot” products for sale, the fest features entertainment, pepper eating contests, and pick-your-own pepper and tomato field excursions to nearby Meadowview Farm.
74th Annual Oley Valley Community Fair September 16, 17, 18
The Oley Valley Community Fair offers just what you expect from a county fair. The fair’s exceptional food, 4H exhibits, various competitions, rides, tractor pulls, and community atmosphere keeps visitors coming back year after year. It’s no wonder this fair is a local favorite. If you’re craving old-fashioned fun, don’t miss the Oley Fair.
Boyertown’s Oktoberfest September 16, 17, 18
Building a Better Boyertown’s 14th Annual Oktoberfest is a German and fall-themed event complete with beer, delicious food, German music and dancing, and a variety of craft vendors. Be sure to purchase a beer tent wristband ($5.00), so you can sample the many beer offerings at the community event.
West Reading Fall Festival September 18
Trendy Penn Avenue takes center stage for West Reading’s Annual Fall Festival. Three blocks of the avenue are closed off so visitors can enjoy the festival’s offerings. It’s a place where friends meet to stroll and talk as they view items for sale, catch the continuous live music shows, and sample the many food offerings.
Berks Fiddle Fest September 19
It all began 38 years ago in Lyons Park with a $300 budget, a borrowed hay wagon, home-cooked food, a handful of volunteers, and some of the best fiddlers around. Since then, the Lyons Fiddle Fest has grown in popularity as fiddle players from up and down the east coast participate in the annual event. In 2021, the festival became the Berks Fiddle Fest and moved to Bear Creek Mountain Resort. The new venue offers easier set-up, execution, and tear-down of the fest and provides musicians and attendees more space and better parking.
Hemeet Fescht Lite September 25
Indulge your interest in regional folk culture at Heemet Fescht Lite: a celebration of the harvest and Pennsylvania Dutch farm life. The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center’s free, family-friendly event features music, food trucks, pumpkin painting, demonstrators and vendors. Barn star and hex sign artist Eric Claypoole, will be on site sharing traditions and items for sale.
Guts & Glory Digestive & Wellness Expo September 25
The Guts & Glory Expo is not your typical fall festival. The free outdoor, in-person event is pet-friendly and open to all ages. With an emphasis on healthy living, get expert advice on nutrition, exercise, stress relief, and a holistic way of living. Participate in live active demonstrations, health-screenings, and tasting samples. Explore what it takes to enjoy a healthier lifestyle at the expo.
Reading Liederkranz Oktoberfest
September 29 - October 3
Prost! One of our region’s most popular fall events takes place annually at the Reading Liederkranz. The German Club’s Oktoberfest is the oldest and most authentic Oktoberfest in all of Pennsylvania and one of the largest celebrations of its kind on the east coast. The event offers five continuous days of authentic German foods, beer, entertainment, and family fun! The event is so true to its German origins, it has received both national and international recognition! There must be something to all the hype; the festival attracts upwards of 15,000 attendees from near and far each year.
ReadingFilmFEST September 30
Now in its 7th year, the 3-day ReadingFilmFEST showcases films from independent filmmakers from around the world, including student films, shorts, documentaries and feature films. The fest will feature a hybrid approach to screening films by offering ticket holders the option of participating virtually or in-person. The fest’s panel discussions and filmmaker Q&As will also be available online and in-person.
In addition to all of these wonderful events, you can find more to do on Pennsylvania’s Americana Region’s Calendar of Events. Be sure to visit soon!