Eastern PA Homestead Festival

September 7, 2026 · 10:00 AM · Berks County Heritage Center, 1102 Red Bridge Road · Open to the public

The Ringgold Band brings a morning of traditional band music to the grounds along the Tulpehocken Creek, with the county's landmark red covered bridge as a backdrop. The group formed in Reading back in 1852 and counts among the earliest community bands in the country, drawing its players from music educators, working musicians, and neighbors who simply love to play. Expect the kind of program the band is known for: marches, familiar classics, symphonic overtures, and show tunes, performed outdoors where the sound carries across the creek. Concerts traditionally open with a march by Monroe A. Althouse, the longtime leader remembered locally as Reading's March King. Bring your own chairs or a blanket and settle in. The setting is a comfortable one for families, with walking trails and historic buildings nearby if you want to make a morning of it.

September 7, 2026 · 10:00 AM · Berks Heritage Center, 1102 Red Bridge Road · Free admission

The Ringgold Band brings a morning of concert band music to the Berks Heritage Center, playing through noon as part of a Labor Day celebration. Bring a chair or a blanket and settle in for a program built for listening outdoors. Formed in Reading in 1852, the Ringgold Band is one of America's first community bands, made up of amateur and professional players, including many music educators, who rehearse together year round. Their programs pull from familiar classics, symphonic overtures, show tunes, and marches, and the band traditionally opens with a march by Monroe A. Althouse, the Berks County composer known locally as Reading's March King. The band also carries a connection to John Philip Sousa, who conducted the last march of his life in rehearsal with the group in Reading, and concerts typically close with The Stars and Stripes Forever in his memory. It makes for an easygoing holiday weekend outing for families, neighbors, and anyone who enjoys a live band on a late summer morning.

September 7, 2026 · 5:00 PM · Carsonia Park, 209 Byram Street

The Antietam Valley Farmers' & Artists' Market brings growers, makers, and neighbors together for a Monday evening of shopping and mingling. Familiar vendors return alongside new and guest sellers who rotate through over the course of the season, so the mix of produce, handmade goods, and prepared food shifts from week to week. Come hungry and plan to stay a while. Shoppers can sample as they browse, pick up dinner and dessert on site, and listen to live music while catching up with people from around the valley. Community tables are set up with information about upcoming Antietam Valley Community Partnership events and other local happenings. The market operates rain or shine. There is an off-street parking lot on site, with additional street parking close by. The market is organized by the Antietam Valley Community Partnership, which can be reached at 610-779-6973 or info@antietamvalley.org.

September 7, 2026 · 5:00 PM · Reading Public Library, 100 N. 5th Street · Registration required; call the reference desk at 610-655-6355 to register

Death Doula Karen Glass leads this gathering, part of a three part Death Cafe series at the Main Library. The idea behind a Death Cafe is simple: give people a comfortable place to talk about death, a subject most of us are used to stepping around. It is a group directed discussion with no agenda, objectives or themes, and it is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session. Conversations tend to go wherever the group takes them, touching on things like funeral wishes, beliefs about what comes after, family conversations people have been putting off, and end of life planning. Attendees are free to listen without speaking, to hold views others may not share, and to leave without having resolved anything. As a death doula, Glass works in a nonmedical role supporting people and families through the end of life, which gives her plenty of experience holding open conversation of this kind. Doors open at 4:45 so the discussion can start promptly at 5:00. Anyone in Berks County who is curious about the topic is welcome, whether you come with questions, stories, or simply an interest in hearing how others think about it.

September 8, 2026 · 10:00 AM · Antietam Lake Park, 230 Angora Road · Geared toward children ages 3 to 5. Free, registration required.

Trail Tales invites the youngest nature lovers in Berks County to Antietam Lake Park for a morning of stories, discovery, and hands-on fun. Each session centers on a nature topic, paired with a story and a simple craft that helps little ones connect what they hear to the plants and animals living right there in the park. The program is geared toward children ages 3 to 5, with activities paced for toddler attention spans and plenty of room to wiggle. Special guests and visitors sometimes stop by to join in, adding another layer of surprise to the morning. Antietam Lake Park sits at 230 Angora Road in Reading, offering an easy outdoor setting for families looking to spend time together in the fresh air. Registration is required for this free program.

September 8, 2026 · 5:30 PM · The Neag Planetarium, 500 Museum Rd · Reservations required to guarantee a space; walk-ins welcome if space permits

Yoga Under The Stars brings a gentle practice into the Neag Planetarium, where the dome overhead sets a calm mood for the hour. A certified instructor leads the session, guiding participants through relaxed movement and stretching beneath a sky of projected stars. This is the opening week of the fall series, and the format suits anyone looking to slow down at the end of the day. Participants should bring their own yoga mat and a water bottle. Everything else is set up for you inside the planetarium. Reservations are recommended to guarantee a spot, and walk-ins are welcome when space allows. Those interested in attending the full series can contact the Museum directly for details. If weather affects a class, the Museum posts updates on its website and social media, and any missed session is added to the end of the series.

Hosted by Reading Public Museum