Berks & Beyond Blog

Winter has been pretty mild this year.  Still, March can be a looong month waiting for spring’s arrival.  So keep yourself busy!  Check out one of these fun and family-friendly events in Southern Pennsylvania:

York, PA St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 17th, in historic downtown York, PA.  The parade steps off from Market and Penn Streets and proceeds east on Market to the block between Duke and Queen Streets, with several related activities planned for before and after the parade.  This parade is organized by the York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, a not-for-profit volunteer organization.

Start time:  1:00 p.m.

Lehigh County 200th Anniversary Community Celebration

Learn a little about what made – and continues to make – Lehigh County such a great place to live and work.  On March 10, 2012, the Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex will host historic, interactive and educational exhibits offered by various organizations, businesses, and non-profits that have enriched Lehigh County throughout the years.  The highlight of the celebration will be an Inaugural Hall of Fame Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. to honor nationally recognized people with connections to Lehigh County. The day-long event will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display at 8:00 p.m.

Scheduled festivities include performances by Balloons the Clown, area high school bands and the Lehigh County Historical Society.   Interactive activities for children will be presented by DaVinci Science Center, the Lehigh Valley Zoo, the Liberty Bell Museum, the Museum of Indian Culture and the Wildlands Conservancy.

Warm up your pitching arm as the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs will test the speed and accuracy of your throw and many other fun activities for kids of all ages!  Lehigh County’s Emergency Management Department will have displays and activities for children and tours of the Mobile Command Post.  There will also be demonstrations by the Special Operations Team.

All proceeds from Lehigh County’s Bicentennial activities will support enhancements to the George Taylor House in the Borough of Catasauqua. George Taylor was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence and helped shape the foundation of Lehigh County.

Take a bite out of summer by attending one of these southern Pennsylvania events:

Wine & Cheese Seminar & Tasting at Hummingbird Ridge Winery

When: Friday, July 8th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Where: 735 Kise Mill Rd., York Haven

Grab a group of friends and enjoy an evening of wine and cheese.  The event features five courses of premium cheeses from around the world paired with five delicious wines, plus an educational seminar by Hummingbird Ridge Winery Winemakers!  The seminar agenda includes the following topics:

• Unwrapping the Mysteries of Winemaking
• Winetasting Techniques Used by Wine Judges
• Wine Glass Comparison
• Techniques for Pairing Wine and Food

Cost is just $20 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For reservations, call Brenda at 717.818.7473.

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The 62nd Annual Kutztown Folk Festival

When: July 2 – 10, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Kutztown Fairgrounds, 225 N. White Oak St., Kutztown

There’s still time to enjoy this Pennsylvania Dutch tradition!  The festival promises good old-fashioned fun for the whole family:

• Continuous entertainment on 5 stages everyday
• Watch square dancing, catch a comedy show or enjoy the sounds of the strolling Sauerkraut Band
• Mennonite wedding and demonstrations of early farming techniques
• Live quilt auction
• Great food, including all-you-can-eat Pennsylvania Dutch ham and chicken dinners, a variety of home-made soups, sandwiches, and favorites such as sausage, chicken pot pie, corn fritters, funnel cakes, shoo-fly pie and apple dumplings
• Crafts, games and other kid-friendly activities

Daily Admission: Adults $14, senior citizens(55 & older) $13, junior (13-17) $5, all-week pass $24, children (12 & under) are free.

For more information, visit the Kutztown Festival website or call 888.674.6136.

Looking for something fun to do, but need a little inspiration?

Every once in a while, we all need a break from our routines.  But sometimes we just don’t have the time or means for a week’s vacation on the French Riviera.  Luckily, we live in a beautiful part of the country – a great, affordable getaway is just a one-tank trip away!

Here are a few helpful links to get your plans in gear:

Trails.com – Your Guide to the Outdoors:  great resource for day trips throughout the state.

PAHomePage.com:  links to PA parks, entertainment, vineyards, sanctuaries and more.

BnBFinder.com:  comprehensive, easy-to-use search engine which allows you to search for bed & breakfasts by region, price and more.

There are so many opportunities for fun and recreation throughout central and southern Pennsylvania.  We at Berks & Beyond encourage you to go out and enjoy our beautiful state – at a beautiful time of year.