The 25th annual Berks
County Earth Day Celebration will be held
from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 21, at Riverfront Park.
This free event includes children’s activities, workshops
and exhibits with information on energy and water conservation and quality, alternative energy and low-emission vehicles, non-toxic chemicals for home and gardens, gardening, composting, recycling and more. A farmers’ market will offer fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, honey and other groceries for purchase. Food vendors include Stephan's Concessions and Good Eatz Green Café. Although exhibits and activities will conclude at 5 p.m., live, local music will continue until 7 p.m.

Children’s activities include returning favorite Pete Mackevich, from Pocono Snake and Animal Farm. Sixth through eighth grade students can enter an art contest, which replaces the annual poetry contest; local artists Bruce Becker and Sandra Kaye will judge the entries and winning selections will be displayed in the children's tent.

The event will be powered off
the grid using a system conceived and constructed by Jim Crater, president of Recycling Services, a nonprofit recycling and energy center in Pottstown. Children and adults are encouraged to contribute power to the event by jump- ing on the system’s recycled exercise equipment.

Canned food items and other non-perishable foods will be collected at the information booth to benefit Opportunity House, a local organization working to support independent living for children, families and adults that face obstacles to self-sufficiency. Attendees can also purchase raffle tickets at the information booth and enter to win eco-friendly products and services. Recycling opportunities will be located throughout the grounds. Cartridge World will collect used inkjet cartridges, and Deka/East Penn Manufacturing will collect used car batteries along Riverfront Drive. Sponsors of the event include the city of Reading, Recycling Services, Inc., 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Deka Batteries, Giorgio Foods, Inc., Enersys, Boxaroo, Fromm Electric Supply, Natural Awakenings Lancaster-Berks, Reading Community Players, C.F. Heckman & Son, Inc., Berks Digital, Kittatinny Group of the Sierra Club, Scott E. Roseberry, DDS, and M.J. Reider Associates. Design and marketing services were provided by Rossello Design.

The Berks County Earth Day Committee—a group of volunteers whose sole mission is to organize an annual event to commemorate Earth Day—is a nonprofit registered under the Berks Recycling Coalition.

Location: Riverfront Park, Riverfront Dr., Reading. For more information, visit EarthDayBerks.org or Facebook.com/ EarthDayBerks.