Fun Things To Do in Berks County This Summer

“As things start to open up, mask mandates start to go away and summertime fun begins happening, there are so many things to do in Berks County this summer,” says Kevin DeAcosta, President and CEO of The Highlands at Wyomissing, the only nonprofit Life Care Community in Berks County, PA. “Wyomissing, our town, is located between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, meaning it’s rich in history while also having everything you expect from a modern city. In our area you’ll find Reading Railroad and famous frontiersman Daniel Boone Homestead as well as modern galleries, sports facilities, museums and parks.”

While COVID-19 restrictions made the 2020 summer season a bit more insular, Wyomissing is pleased to announce that the 2021 season will resume with many favorite activities.

“We’re all looking forward to getting back to normal and enjoying the thing that our city and county is known for,” says Kevin.

Here are some of the activities we’re looking forward to this summer:

Fun Things To Do in Berks County – Summer 2021

Jazz festivals
Enjoy 10 days and nights of world class, hot/cool sound at Berks Jazz Fest, held annually in Pennsylvania’s Americana Region. For over 25 years, jazz enthusiasts have flocked to the fest to enjoy over 130 free and ticketed musical events that span the entire spectrum of Jazz, Blues and R&B. World class musicians, and up-and-coming artists showcase their talent to deliver a full concert series.
Discover the schedule.

Enjoy the ride aboard an historic train.
All aboard! Founded in 2014, the Allentown and Auburn Railroad prides itself in its unique collection of heritage railroad equipment. Boasting 4 1/2 miles of picturesque track, the Allentown and Auburn Railroad offers family friendly scenic train rides through the Kutztown countryside. When not running train rides for the public, their dedicated staff is hard at work restoring our unique equipment.
Welcome aboard the Allentown and Auburn Railroad.

Visit Antietam Lake.
Antietam Lake is a reservoir in Berks County with 665 acres of scenic park land. The lake provides a serene setting for picnics, fishing, hiking, biking and just enjoying the peace and quiet. The history of Antietam Lake dates back to 1865, when the city of Reading bought a dam and gristmill that had been built on Antietam Creek, along with a majestic waterfall that flows over the 60-foot-high rock.

Discover Daniel Boone’s birthplace.
The Daniel Boone Homestead is the site of the birthplace of famous American frontiersman Daniel Boone. The basement of the existing house is the original one of the log cabin Boone's father built in 1731. This historical site in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, is today a museum managed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The museum tells the story of the early 18th-century settlers in Pennsylvania's Oley Valley as well as Daniel Boone's youth and the daily lives of the Boone, Maugridge and DeTurk families, who lived on the site. The restored house and barn contain original furniture and farm tools. The surrounding area, part of the historic park, is full of pleasant hiking trails and picnic sites.

Catch a show at the Genesius Theatre.
The Genesius Theatre originally opened its doors in 1971 as a storefront. In 1974, it moved to its current location at the corner of 10th Street and Walnut Street. In 2007, the theatre presented Genesius the Musical, an original show created by members of the Genesius Theatre, featuring the story of the Genesius Theatre, its formation and its early days. Genesius Theatre is a performance venue that specializes in musicals. Its main stage can accommodate 103 guests plus 18 in the balcony, and it also serves as a learning center for kids by providing two or three performances for children and teenagers per year as well as four to six-week kids' summer theatre camps.

Enjoy your artistic side at Goggleworks Center for the Arts.
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is a community cultural and art center located in a 145,000-square foot, five-story former historic Willson Goggle factory building in Reading. The center has seven big teaching studios for ceramics, warm and hot glass, photography, jewelry, printmaking and woodworking. It also has 35 artists' studios and a number of galleries for exhibitions. The center also houses offices of a number of culture, arts and creative economy organizations.

Explore the wild blue yonder.
Located at Carl A. Spaatz field, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum is both a museum and a facility for the restoration of antique aircraft. Founded by Russ Strine, the museum collects and restores historic planes, airliners and rare military and civilian aircraft. Visitors can ride in the museum's vintage North American SNJ, which is the Navy version of the AT-6 "Texan" used as a military trainer during World War II, or in a Stearman biplane. The rides are available every second Saturday, from May through October.

Stroll through Nolde Forest.
The Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center offers more than 725 acres of beautiful, dense deciduous woodlands and plantations of conifers. The center grounds are great for birdwatching, hiking and nature photography. There are teaching stations all over the grounds where students can work, with benches for hikers looking for a break or for visitors who want to enjoy the sounds and vistas of the surrounding nature. A network of trails crosses streams and ponds and passes by diverse habitats full of life.

Get your laugh on with the area’s best comedy.
Reading Comedy Outlet is a popular spot for the locals to spend a weekend night out. Located in Alley Oops Showroom at Hiester Lanes, the comedy outlet can fit up to 175 people in a cozy, pleasant place where guests can not only enjoy the comedians on the program, but also avail themselves of drinks and food. Besides well-known comedians, some evenings are reserved for open mic, when everyone can show off their talent for making people laugh.

Cheer on the hometown heroes.
The Reading Fightin Phils have been the class-AA Philadelphia Phillies affiliate since 1967. This is the longest-lived team in Minor League Baseball, and as a result, the team has produced baseball stars such as Greg Luzinski, Mike Schmidt, Pat Burrell, Ryne Sandberg, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Carlos Ruiz. Going to the Fightin Phils games is a popular family entertainment in Berks County, and there are always surprises, such as giveaways and fireworks.

Get your culture on.
The Reading Public Museum started its life in 1913 as the Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery with a collection of antiques and scientific and anthropological materials donated by its founder Dr. Levi W. Mengel. The museum has been at the forefront of participatory and hands-on learning. Today, its galleries feature civilization, natural history, art and science, with an eclectic collection of exhibits that include paintings, sculpture, armor and artifacts from world civilizations. The fine art collection has over 700 oil paintings by international and American artists such as John Singer Sargent, Benjamin West, N. C. Wyeth, Milton Avery, George Bellows, Edgar Degas, Raphaelle Peale and many other big names. The museum also has more than 100 sculptures as well as thousands of graphics, watercolors and other media.

Your Remarkable Future Awaits.

The Highlands at Wyomissing opened its doors in April of 1989 with apartments for those who needed a helping hand with daily activities. Since then, we have grown into a large community of homes and apartments, amenities and services, and so much more.

With over 113 acres of gently rolling hills, lush walkways and towering trees, The Highlands at Wyomissing has offered stunning amenities, engaging activities and endless opportunities for more than 30 years. Located just outside of Reading, Pennsylvania, we’re proud to be the only nonprofit Life Care Community in Berks County, where residents are free to live their active, independent lifestyles with a continuum of care available right at home if they ever need it.

When you choose The Highlands at Wyomissing, you’re free to create a retirement that mirrors what you’ve always wanted for your future. What are you waiting for? Get a taste of what life is like on our vibrant campus at The Highlands at Wyomissing by contacting us at 610.775.2300 for more information.