Our 3rd Annual Berks Summer Fest is July 12th!

Mark your calendars!!!  Berks Arts and the Reading Fightin’ Phils are excited to announce the 3rd Annual Berks Summer Fest will be on Saturday, July 12, at FirstEnergy Stadium. 

We can’t wait to celebrate music with food and family-friendly activities!  Magicians, clowns, Phunland, and activities for the kids like tie-dying and face paintings and crafts.  Thanks to Berks Arts, the Fightin’ Phils and our title sponsor The County of Berks it’s FREE to attend and enjoy!

Berks Summer Fest activities and concerts will be held in the Diamond Credit Union Plaza at the FirstEnergy Stadium.  Gates open at 11:30 AM with activities for the children.  Four music performances are scheduled to perform beginning at 1:00 pm.

At noon, Family Magic with Tyler Reed, who gives immersive and wonder-filled performances at parties, festivals and other events throughout the Mid-Atlantic region will be performing until 3 pm.  We also have a clown for fun entertainment for the children starting at 2:15 pm. 

“We are looking forward to providing the community with an opportunity to enjoy an exciting day of music and family fun.” said Tish Davis, Berks Arts executive director.

At 1 pm, we start our musical performances with Bennie Sims & the Groovemasters featuring Cliff Starkey, Erich Cawalla, David Cullen, Jeremy Boyd with special guest vocalist Masha T.

Three highly proclaimed musicians come together to grace us with their musical artistry.  Pottstown native, bassist/vocalist Bennie Sims, pianist/vocalist Cliff Starkey and saxophonist/vocalist Erich Cawalla. Guitarist David Cullen, a former member of the Original Groovemasters and drummer Jeremy Boyd are part of the ensemble for the BSF performance, plus vocalist Masha T.

At 3 pm, Rhythm Road, a five-piece ensemble playing an eclectic mix of originals, blues, jazz, and folk. The band is helmed by lead singer JoAnn Morrell, on acoustic guitar and electric bass. JoAnn writes the band’s original songs. She is joined by her husband Ernie on keyboard and harmonica, Don Consul on acoustic guitar, electric bass, and harmony vocals, Mike Fleming on saxophone and Henry Patterson on drums and percussion.

Caya Sol Reggae Soul Band is a group of talented musicians from different parts of the world who come together to bring Roots Reggae to R&B, and everything in between, to Berks Summer Fest at 5 pm.

The band has been together for over nearly five years and are just starting to scratch the surface. Band has two lead singers -- Steve “Wale” Peterson (Nigeria) and Shannon “ Shan Bam” Palmer (Jamaica). Their harmonies are dynamic and full of rich culture.

There are two outstanding guitarists -- Tom Cleary and Earl Wilt.  On bass is Daryl Yancey and on drums is Joel McDonald (Jamaica).

The group has performed at events in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland.  The mix of roots rock reggae and R&B is something to experience live.

Rouding out our musical performances for the night is Flamin’ Dick and the Hotrods at 7 pm.  FDHR embodies the essence of a Rock 'n' Roll party band, delivering a musical journey through the "golden years" of Rock 'n' Roll.  FDHR features Flamin’ Dick Weatherholz, guitars/vocals; Glenn “GP” Balthaser, bass/vocals; Keith “Spike” Rentschler, guitar/vocals; Rob “Cupcake” Lienti, keyboards/vocals; Mike “Flyin’ A” Anderson, sax/vocals; and Jeff “Curly” Stoner, drums/vocals.

Their renditions of classic songs, originally performed by iconic artists such as Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Bill Haley, Dion, and many others, capture the authentic sound and feel of the originals. No one does it better than Flamin’ Dick & The Hot Rods.

In addition to the concerts, families can enjoy the food from the stands located in the concourse and children can enjoy the R-Phils Phunland and all the other activities.

Helping Harvest will have collection bins for food donations onsite at the festival.  Helping Harvest’s mission is to reach underserved populations and locations and feeding as many of our hungry neighbors as possible.  We encourage guests to donate approved items as they enter the stadium.

Come out for a Free Family-Friendly Fun Day at the FirstEnergy Stadium!

For more information about Berks Summer Fest, visit berksarts.org/SummerFest