The BERKS COUNTY EARTH DAY 2023 event, the 53rd anniversary of the 1970 first Earth Day event, will be celebrated jointly with the ongoing City of Reading’s 275th Anniversary. The free Earth Day event, rain or shine, will take place Saturday April 22, 2023 at Reading City Park, 11th & Constitution Blvd from 12 noon – 6pm. Parking is available around the park.
The theme of the City of Reading anniversary is “Our Home, Our Heart.” The Earth Day theme is “Looking Towards the Future”.
This year’s Earth Day sponsors currently include:
- Platinum Sponsors – City of Reading, Reading Public Works, UGI Utilities Inc.;
- Gold Sponsor – Giorgi Mushroom Company, Kimberton Whole Foods, Penske Truck Leasing;
- Silver Sponsors – East Penn Manufacturing (Deka), Enersys, Natural Awakenings, Visions Federal Credit Union;
- Bronze Sponsors – Berks County Democratic Committee, JP Mascaro & Sons, SanCo Sound.
New this year will be Native American music and dance. As usual, we will have eco-friendly exhibits and vendors, speakers, live music, animals, kids’ activities, a walking tour of historical parts of Reading near City Park, and food. Looking towards the future, we need to do those things today that will make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren.
We are having two collections this year. East Penn / Deka Batteries will be collecting car batteries. We will be accepting non-perishable food donations for Helping Harvest Food Bank, and we will be giving seedlings in exchange for food donation.
Exhibitors include:
Animal presentations:
- PA Bat Rescue from 1 to 1:30pm and
- Red Creek Wildlife from 4 to 4:45pm.
For-Profit Businesses:
- Bachman Roofing,
- Dr Super’s House of Health,
- East Penn Manufacturing,
- Giorgi Mushroom Co,
- Green Mountain Energy,
- J P Mascaro,
- Kimberton Whole Foods,
- Oak Street Health,
- Solar Way Energy & Stokes Energy,
- Spirit Wing Art & Music LLC.
Non-Profit Exhibitors:
- Alvernia University,
- Alvernia University Foster Grandparent Program,
- Animal Rescue League,
- Berks Astronomy,
- Berks Community Health Center,
- Berks County Conservation District,
- Berks County Democratic Committee,
- 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,
- Friends of Nolde,
- Goggle Works,
- Governor Mifflin High School Environmental Club,
- League of Women Voters of Berks County,
- LGBT Center of Reading,
- Mengel Natural History Society,
- My Gut Instinct,
- PA Dept of Health.
- PA Dept of Environmental Protection,
- PA Game Commission,
- Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and Master Watershed Stewards,
- Reading Lead Hazard Control,
- Reading Library,
- Reading Advancing Health Literacy Grant,
- Reading Pride Celebration,
- Schuylkill River Greenways Association,
- Sierra Club,
- Two Spirits of PA,
- Village of Reading,
- We the People Citizens and Diana River,
- Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge,
- YWCA Tri-County Area.
Bandshell Stage Music:
- Kim & Paul of Vuja De,
- Golden Twine String Band,
- John King Dance Band,
- Mark James
- Livin’ in the Rhythm Drum Circle.
Second Stage Performers:
- Performances by the duo of Barry Lee(also our emcee) and his wife Barbara Christy,
- the originators of Spirit Wing,
- six-time Native American Music Award nominee;
- a celebration of Native American Culture with dance demonstrations, music, and open discussion about relevant Native American issues.
Second Stage Speakers:
- Ryan Bradley on the Adopt a Block program;
- Karen Feridun from Better Path Coalition;
- Carly Sullivan on the City or Reading’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory;
- Alexis Campbell from Horn Farm on Sustainable Farming;
- John Flohr on installing solar power;
- Ryan Bradley on Recycling in reading;
- Jim Crater on sustainability: Making It Work;
- a representative from RAWA on Water Conservation.
To volunteer or to be a vendor, exhibitor, or sponsor please go to our website https://sites.google.com/view/earthdayberks or email us at [email protected].
