District 2 Councilman Jaime Baez Jr. will host the annual Party at the Park on Saturday, August 22, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Pendora Park.
The free community event will feature backpacks and school supplies, bounce houses, a dunk tank, food trucks, local vendors, live entertainment, community resources, free haircuts, face painting and more. Attendees will also have an opportunity to enter a raffle for Philadelphia 76ers tickets. This year’s event will also introduce several new educational and community-focused opportunities:
Civics 101: Learn about local elected officials, their roles and responsibilities, and how the three branches of government work.
Homeownership Class: Learn about the steps and resources available to help prepare for purchasing and owning a home.
Funeral Planning Seminar: Learn about funeral planning, available options and important information to consider when making arrangements.
Youth Technology Assistance: Youth volunteers will help residents, particularly older adults, better understand smartphones, apps, technology and artificial intelligence.
The event will also continue its annual tradition of honoring Reading residents whose lives have been lost to violence. Previous tributes included a memorial bench and a tree. This year, orange bricks engraved with the names of loved ones will be placed in their memory.
The event is free and open to the community.