Summertime is festival time in Pennsylvania’s American Region. It means hours of old-fashioned fun snacking on funnel cake, sipping lemonade, dancing to live music by local bands, and long hot days making memories with family and friends. This summer, don't miss festival time in Berks County. Attend one or all of these popular events:
Kutztown Folk Festival – July 1- 7 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds
A corner block of festival time Kutztown Folk Festival is the oldest continuously operated folklife festival in America. The nine-day event draws visitors from all over the world as it provides a window into the ways of the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. Come for demonstrations of traditional PA Dutch crafts, farm life displays, music, dancing, the handiwork of juried American craftsmen, and of course, delicious PA Dutch foods. The festival also boasts the largest quilt sale in the nation. Admission is free for children 12 and under.
Berks C
eltic Festival – July 15 at Willow Glen Park in Sinking Spring
This fun event is a day-long celebration of the Irish culture. Enjoy live music - including Celtic pipes, drums, and performances by Celtic step dancers. Browse the wares of vendors sell clothing, jewelry and related items from the Celtic Isles. Sample yummy Irish and Scottish fare like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. Chase down your meal with the with one of the popular brews for sale including Irish Stout, Guinness and more.
Reading RailFest – August 11 – 13 at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum
Calling all train lovers! Come celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Reading Railroad's Bee Line Service at RailFest. The three-day long event is jam-packed with activities. Inspect and photograph Reading Railroad locomotives and tour the last caboose built in the Reading Railroad Shops. Watch special demonstrations, take a rail excursion, and be sure to see the Making a Bee-Line exhibit which tells the story of the Reading Railroad’s innovative freight service. Great music, local foods and children's activities make for a family friendly weekend!
Taste of Hamburger Festival – September 2 in Hamburg
The small town of Hamburg nearly quadruples in size each year for their famous Taste of Hamburg-er Festival. Held annually on the Saturday before Labor Day, burger lovers flock to the town for great food and tons of fun activities. The streets of Hamburg are taken over by hamburger stands, beer and wine gardens, musical entertainment, kids activities, and artisans and crafters booths. Not to be missed - the 2017 Professional and Amateur Burger Eating Competitions. Do you have the makings of a burger eating champion? Attend and find out!
Bowers Chile Pepper Food Festival – September 8 & 9 in Bowers
In early September, Bowers, PA becomes the Hottest Town Around thanks to the Chile Pepper Food Festival. Find everything imaginable made with peppers at the largest pepper fest of its kind in the USA. Stands sell salsas, candies, hot sauces, even wine and whiskey made from hot peppers. Field excursions to a neighboring farm provide the opportunity to pick your own peppers and tomatoes. Food, music, and the ever-popular salsa competition and pepper eating contest round out the fun.
There are so many fun events to attend all season long. That's why summertime is festival time in Pennsylvania’s American Region and so worth the trip!