Posted on May 28, 2026

Eagle Unveiling & AmericanaFest: America at 250

Eagle Unveiling & AmericanaFest: America at 250

From Berks County Parks and Recreation Department

Photo courtesy of Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Celebrate America’s 250th with the Berks County Parks all summer long!

Bicentennial Eagle Unveiling: Tuesday, June 16, at 12:30 p.m., at BCHC

Berks County Parks is starting off by unveiling its newly refurbished Bicentennial Eagle Sculpture on Tuesday, June 16, at 12:30 p.m., at the Berks County Heritage Center, 1102 Red Bridge Road. The Eagle was originally cast and assembled by students in 1976 for the Bicentennial. Artist Mike Miller collaborated with RMCTC and Parks staff to repaint and reinstall the Eagle in the courtyard adjacent to the barn with a new public art mural. Join Berks County Parks for the unveiling, a press conference, and light refreshments.

AmericanaFest Festival: Saturday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., at BCHC

The fun continues with Berks County Parks’ AmericanaFest on Saturday, June 20! For this special celebration of America’s 250th, Berks County Parks added a day-long festival to precede its annual night of musical acts.

Starting at 11 a.m., the Berks County Heritage Center will be rife with activity-stop by anytime to participate in living history, make crafts, and learn more about the last 250 years of the USA! Visit the Swartz’s Roadside Farm petting zoo, take a wagon ride, watch the PA 1st Regiment drill, or get your photo taken with technology straight out of the 1800s. There’s so much to see and do, and it’s all free!

There will be Gruber Wagon Works tours at noon and 2:30 p.m. Epler’s Schoolhouse and the Canal Museum will be open all day. Demonstrations will be ongoing from the PA 1st Regiment, sketch artist Kevin O’Malley, tin type photographer Bill Vitiello, blacksmith Ben Zacharias, 19th-century printmaker Randy Newcomer from the Cocalico Valley Historical Society, Penn State Master Gardeners, The Hopewell Quilters, and more. There will be lectures from Darius Puff at 11:30 a.m. and Dwight Halderman at 1:30 p.m. The PA Proud Food Truck, Greco’s Italian Ices & Homemade Ice Cream, and Mug Shot Coffee will be on site for when you need a bite.

AmericanaFest Concert: Saturday, June 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at BCHC

Set up a blanket and some chairs in the evening for Berks County Parks’ AmericanaFest concert, featuring artists performing Americana music with the backdrop of its historic covered bridge. The schedule is as follows:

3:30 p.m. | Blues to Bluegrass Workshop/Jam: Bring your instrument and join in with Dave Kline!

4:45 p.m. | Valley Vision (folk and Americana)

5:45 p.m. | Wood Belly (bluegrass and Americana)

7 p.m. | Corey Arceneaux and the Zydeco Hot Peppers (Zydeco and Creole)

The celebration continues throughout the summer with our History Lecture Series:

July 16 | How the Pretzel Survived Prohibition

Aug. 20 | Garden Folklore

Sept. 20 | A Birdseye View of Berks History

Oct. 18 | PA’s Early Settlers and the Supernatural

Nov. 15 | Christmas Past on Penn Street.

For program listings or more details, check out our Facebook page @BerksCountyParks. Questions? Contact Berks County Parks PR/Marketing Coordinator Lauren Little at LLittle@BerksPa.gov or 610-374-2944 ext. 2614.




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James

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David

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Liz

I wanted to thank you again for the opportunity you have created for our kids.  This experience is more than the TV show.  Eight students who probably never would have talked to each other were excited to execute a plan. Know that you make a difference.

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