Mushroom, balloon festivals return
The following events are planned for this weekend throughout the region:
• The Mushroom Festival returns to Kennett Square this weekend after a oneyear hiatus, with the theme “Rooted in the Community.” The festival will take place at 600S. Broad St., Kennett Square, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Wristbands are $5per person. The festival features cooking contests, eating contests, food, crafts, music and more. For more information, see mushroomfestival.org.
• The Chester County Balloon Festival will be held Friday through Sunday at Willowdale Steeplechase Grounds, Kennett Square. The event features more than 20 hot air balloons taking flight twice per day, balloon glow featuring Special Shaped Balloon Rodeo, untethered and tethered balloon rides and a walk-thru balloon. In addition, there will be a beer garden, monster truck rides, live music performed by local bands, Chester County foods, local-made crafts, shops, a kid zone and more. One-day passes, valid any of the three days, cost $20 for adults and $10for ages 6 to 12. For more information, see ccballoonfest.com.
• The South Wayne PorchFest, featuring dozens of acts performing on the porches of private residences in South Wayne, will be held Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. along Windermere Avenue, St. Davids Road and Midland Avenue. The festival is free to attend, and there will be food vendors on hand. The day will kick off at 11:30 a.m. with a memorial and tribute to first responders in remembrance of 9/ 11. For the day’s schedule of performers and a map of the stages, visit southwayneporchfest.com.
• Comedian, actor and singer Rodney Carrington, one of the top 10highestgrossing touring comedians for the past two decades, takes the stage Friday at 7 p.m. at the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading. A platinum recording artist, Carrington has recorded eight major record label comedy albums, followed by three albums on his own record label, Laughter’s Good Records. His last album “Here Comes the Truth” (2017) climbed to No. 3on the comedy charts, accruing tens of millions of streams on Spotify and spawning a Netflix special. Tickets start at $53.50at ticketmaster.com.
• The Rauw Alejandro World Tour comes to the Theater at Santander Arena, Reading, on Saturday at 8 p.m. Alejandro is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter as famous for his innovative, self-choreographed dance moves (think Ricky Martin and Michael Jackson) as he is for his smooth tenor singing voice. Since releasing his acclaimed debut mixtape, “Punto de Equilibrio,” in late 2016, he became a featured collaborator with charting performers Ozuna, Lunay, Lyanno on “Luz Apaga” (whose video garnered 75 million views), and with Lyanno, Alex Rose, Cazzu, and Lenny Tavárez on “Todo Remix” (whose video rang up nearly half-a-billion views). Tickets start at $49 at ticketmaster.com.
• Reading Civic Theatre will present its fall production, “Nunsense,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Alsace Lutheran Church, Muhlenberg Township. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20for students 18or younger. They can be purchased at readingcivic.org or at the door before each performance.
• The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble returns to the concert stage for its 32nd season with an outdoor concert in the brand new amphitheater at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Albany Township, on Saturday at 2 p.m. (Rain date Sunday.) The all-string program features a combination of patrioticand love-themed music. This will be a one-hour concert with no intermission. Seating is limited, but tickets can be purchased ($25, $15 for members) at hawkmountain.org and may also be available at the door if still available. Seating is limited and first come-first serve. Ticket holders are invited to a reception following the concert for light refreshments and a chance to meet with the musicians as well as see a live raptor in the Visitors Center. Also on Saturday, Hawk Mountain will host its annual Fall Native Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale will include almost 100species of native trees, grasses, vines, shrubs and flowering plants. All proceeds benefit Hawk Mountain’s conservation and education programs.
• The Chile Pepper Food Festival is set for Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at William Delong Park, Bowers. The festival features dozens of vendors offering hot and spicy foods for sale, plus a jalapeno-eating contest, salsa contest, pepper field excursions, live music and arts and crafts vendors. Admission is by $4suggested donation. For more information, see pepperfestival.com.
• The annual Italian Food Festival will be held Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. on the grounds of the St. Marco Society, Temple. The menu will include lasagna, penne pasta, roasted chicken, pizza, fried olives and more.
• Colebrookdale Railroad, Boyertown, will offer a Grandparents Day train excursion on Sunday at noon. Each car features a different onboard experience. Join the other children and grandparents for a sing-along led by staff, then move to the next car and enjoy some simple but fun art projects. Yet another car features commentary about the train and the Secret Valley scenery. Kid-friendly food and beverages will be available for purchase. For tickets and more information, visit colebrookdalerailroad.com.
• West Reading shops and restaurants celebrate Second Friday on the Avenue, hosted by the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation, on Friday along Penn Avenue. This month’s music will be provided by Be, an original world beat band founded by singer/songwriter Michael Clipman and percussionist Tom Singer, from 6 to 8p.m. at Sixth and Penn. Other highlights include an opening reception for Karen Weber’s exhibition, “When Style Is Substance: Artwork designed to make you smile,” from 5to 8p.m. at Art Plus Gallery, 604Penn Ave.
• Reading’s Fall Festival of the Arts will present an organ concert featuring Eric Plutz on Friday at 7:30p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 435Court St., Reading. Plutz, the University Organist at Princeton University, will commemorate the sesquicentennial of the birth of Louis Vierne, organist of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1900until his death in 1937. Face coverings are required to attend. A free-will offering will be collected. For more information, see fallfestivalofthearts.org.
• The Extreme Tour, a free event featuring live music and action sports, will be held Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Hope Rescue Mission, 645N. Sixth St., Reading. The purpose of The Extreme was to use extreme sports and music events, held in communities across Idaho, to reach at-risk and counter culture youth with services and resources that would assist them in making positive, as well as healthy decisions for a successful life. Eventually these events began to take place around the United States and “The Extreme Tour” was born. Performers will include Berks County contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Yvonne Hartman. Visit www.theextremetour.com for more information.