Kutztown Folk Festival hosts Dutch Hex Sign Bike Tour
The Kutztown Folk Festival is holding a Dutch Hex Sign Bike Tour on Oct. 14 starting at 10 a.m. Participants will meet at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, 22 Luckenbill Road, Kutztown, at 9:45 to register.
Participants will receive a shirt, map and bottle of water. Riders may choose between a 21-mile route and a shorter excursion.
Buy tickets at kutztownfolkfestival.thundertix. com/.
Art
New Arts Program, 173 W. Main St., Kutztown, opens its 50th season. Founder and director James F. L. Carroll welcomes the public to the first exhibition in the series entitled, “The Early Years 1974-1981”, which features artists John Cage, Philip Glass, and 36 others. NAP’s final season includes three retrospective exhibitions running through 2024.
The exhibition will run through Dec. 10. New Arts Program hours are Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment by calling 610-683-6440. More information about the 202324 season can be found at newartsprogram.org.
Wellness Expo
The 10th annual Guts & Glory Digestive and Wellness Expo will be held Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Penn State Berks. The expo was founded by the nonprofit organization My Gut Instinct and is sponsored by Penn State Berks, Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, Penn State Health and Highmark.
The free event is intended for community members of all ages. More than 100 vendors will be in attendance, spanning all dimensions of health and wellness.
It includes a farmers market, educational booths, fresh, locally sourced food made by local chefs, fitness zones, yoga, massage, and wellness experts.
The 20-foot “MEGA Colon” exhibit provides visitors with an interactive, educational experience that highlights common health conditions.
Learn more at mygutinstict.org.
Reading Hospital Road Run
Registration is open for the Reading Hospital Road Run, hosted by The Friends of Reading Hospital. It is scheduled for Oct. 15 and includes a half marathon and 5K event.
Proceeds support the McGlinn Cancer Institute Patient Assistance Fund, which provides financial relief with non-medical expenses to cancer patients in need who are undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment at the institute.
The race route goes through rolling terrain in neighborhoods and local parks surrounding Reading Hospital. The event is open to runners of all experience levels.
Registration for the 5K costs $32 through Sept. 18 and $38 after that. Halfmarathon pricing is $75 through Sept. 18 and $85 thereafter.
To register or to donate to the Patient Assistance Fund, visit RHRoadRun. com.
Career expo
A state police Women’s Career Expo is scheduled for Sept. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, 175 E. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey.
Women ages 18-39 will be given the opportunity to experience a day in the life as a state police cadet. It includes a workout with troopers, a swim in the training tank and the opportunity to ask questions to cadets.
RSVP to Sgt. Dawn Carpenter at dawncarpen@ pa.gov.
Barn tour
The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County and Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley are offering a Lancaster County barn tour. About 50 barns with historical, architectural and/or cultural significance have been identified for inclusion.
Tourgoers will purchase a keepsake tour book that includes a map pinpointing the barn locations.
Using the guidebook, people will be able to take the tour at their leisure over weeks, months, or even years. Barn interiors will not be open to the public as most are working buildings on private property, but all barns chosen are easily viewed from a public roadway. A few notable exceptions are those listed as public museums, restaurants or an environmental center.
An official launch will be held Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum. The event will feature guest speakers, tour book sales, sponsor book pick-ups and light refreshments. Tour books will be available to purchase online at www.hptrust.org and in person at locations across the county.
Local businesses are invited to offer their support by placing Madison Reyes, best an ad in the known for her starring role tour book, in Netflix’s hit musical series and individuals “Julie and the Phantoms”. Reyes is a multi talented may participate actress, singer, and social media influencer, with with over 1.5 million followers sponsorships. on Instagram and TikTok combined she
To learn brings star power to this more about year’s StudentFEST. Reyes the tour, visit will perform a halftime www.hptrust. concert and announce the org or www.cocalicovalleyhs.org. award winners. For questions, On Oct. 27 there will be please email Elaine Bowman an exclusive opening night at eb7243@dejazzd. gala to welcome filmmakers com or Angela Stewart at and VIP guests. The stewarts@ptd.net. gala event will feature a live performance by jazz artist V. Shayne Frederick.
The remainder of the weekend will unfold with a diverse lineup of over 55 independent films from around the globe, and three Hollywood blockbusters screenings: a “Grease” sing-along extravaganza, where sock hop and greaser attire is strongly encouraged, a late-night screening of Stephen King’s “IT” with introduction by the film’s make-up and effects designer Tom Woodruff Jr., and a very special screenings of MGM’s, “The Wizard of Oz” to be followed by a discussion with the world’s preeminent Oz historian, John Fricke.
All film and film blocks are $10 each. For unlimited film screenings all weekend long, adults can purchase an All-Access
ReadingFilmFEST
ReadingFilm Office announced that tickets and passes are now available for the 9th annual ReadingFilmFEST, taking place Oct. 26 to 29.
This year’s film festival extends an invitation to “Stay and Play” throughout the entire weekend, promising an extraordinary four-day experience filled with unforgettable cinematic journeys and the opportunity to forge lifelong friendships. Festival films and engaging public events will be held at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts Eunice and Albert Boscov Theatre, Reading Movies 11 & IMAX Theatre, and WCR Center for the Arts.
The festival will kick off with StudentFEST on Oct. 26 with special guest, actress
Pass for $75, while students can purchase a StudentPASS for $35. VIP Passes are available, offering the ultimate festival experience, including exclusive networking opportunities with filmmakers, and access to all the parties including our gala for $125. Tickets for the presentation of “The Wizard of Oz” are sold separately. All proceeds from the festival will be reinvested in the local community to support the nonprofit ReadingFilm Office and its programs.
This year ReadingFilmFEST will offer a collectable poster, featuring King Kong atop of the iconic Reading Pagoda. The artwork for the poster was created by local artist Ann Lemon. Lemon is the founder of The Amos Lemon Burkhart Foundation established to pay tribute to her late son, gifted animation artist Amos Lemon. Thanks to the expertise of fine art print studio, Giclee Today, ReadingFilmFEST will offer these high-quality limited-edition collectable prints for purchase online at ReadingFilmFEST.org and for sale at the film festival while supplies last.