Community News and Events

Friend, Inc. is hosting their annual Christmas Cheer Program, where they provide gifts for children of their clients. Any group or individual wanting to provide gifts may do so by contacting Friend Inc. and requesting a certain number of children. From there, Friend Inc. will send a label for each child with their sizes and interests. Another way they make a difference is by providing holiday dinners to their many client families in the Kutztown, Fleetwood, and Brandywine Heights area. Friend Inc. supplies the turkey, while they ask volunteers to assemble boxes and the rest of the holiday dinner. (View guidelines here for what to include in your Holiday Box of food). Learn more about both of these initiatives here!

Bring The Change is hosting this full-day workshop from 9 AM to 5 PM on December 7 at Penn State Berks. This event aims to empower 100 high school students from 10 schools across Berks County, providing them with essential skills to thrive as leaders in their communities. Bring The Change’s mission is to equip these young participants with practical tools to become better students and citizens in a diverse world. Students will learn soft skills like time management, study skills, job readiness and table etiquette, as well as financial literacy (such as budgeting, credit, and entrepreneurship), and communication skills, including networking, email etiquette, and public speaking.

Stop by Friedens U.C.C’s Weidner Hall, located at 337 Main Street in Oley, anytime from 9 AM to 3 PM on Thursday, December 7 for the Woman’s Club of Oley Valley’s Holiday Craft Show! Kick off the holiday season and support local businesses with shopping, food, and drinks. Enjoy free admission and parking, too! To register as a vendor for the craft show, please contact Lisa at 484.486.4044, Karen at 610.987.9103 or email [email protected]

The Oley Valley Community Library is also hosting their Annual Holiday House Tour from 10 AM to 5 PM the same day. Holiday House Tour tickets can be purchased in advance at the library or the day of the event at Weidner Hall.

The Reading Choral Society is hosting the Messiah Community Sing at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on Sunday, December 8 at 5:30 PM. This free event invites anyone to come and sit with members of the Reading Choral Society to sing the Christmas portions of Messiah, including the Hallelujah Chorus. Bring your own music or borrow music from RCS. Even if you are not a singer, this is a wonderful way to start the holiday season off right! This event includes an orchestra and soloists from the community. The event is open to all ages and families as part of the Scottish Rite Holiday Happenings events that occur each December.

The Fleetwood Rec Board is hosting the Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, December 13 at 6 PM in the Fleetwood Park. This free event includes caroling around the Christmas tree, hot chocolate, cookies, and story time with Mrs. Claus and more.

Fleetwood’s Annual Santa Parade, hosted by the YMCA of Reading and Berks County, is taking place on Saturday, December 14. The parade starts at 9 AM at the Fleetwood Area High School parking lot. The parade will end on Arch Street in Fleetwood. Be sure to keep an eye out for Fleetwood Bank’s float in the parade! We are proud to support this parade every year. Questions? Call 610.944.6515 or contact Brandon by emailing [email protected].

Come to the Birdsboro Fire Company on Saturday, December 21st to enjoy the Earl David Reed Comedy Show! Andrew Kearney of the Oley Valley Business Association is one of four individuals opening up for Earl David Reed. The event will be held in the fire company’s banquet hall. Doors open at 7 PM, and the show starts at 8 PM. Must be 18+ with valid ID to enter. Parking is located in the rear of the building. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance. There will be a cash bar and food available for purchase also. Cash only, ATM on site. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.

Join Museum Educators and other community partners as the Reading Public Museum rings in the New Year from 9 AM to 12 PM at the museum and The Neag Planetarium! Families will be able to create some fun props and noisemakers that are commonly used to celebrate the holiday. Children will also be able to dance the wait away as we count down to the noon hour for our balloon drop. Visit the museum’s website here for more information as it becomes available.

*Fleetwood Bank is a proud sponsor of this event and supporter of the Reading Public Museum*

Join the Oley Valley Business Association for a Trivia Night at the Oley Valley Fire Company on Thursday, January 16. This is the organization’s major fundraiser to raise $3,000 for their Annual Scholarship awards, which are given to deserving Seniors of Oley Valley High School, and to help supplement the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation’s efforts to ensure that kids with financial hardships can get into BCTC who otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

Doors open at 6 PM, and Trivia starts at 7 PM. Bring your own snacks, and enjoy a cash bar for drinks! Find your teammates and register here. YOU MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO THE EVENT. There will be no ticket sales at the door. Tickets are $20 per person, and there can be 4 to 6 players per team. All team members must be 21+. There is a maximum of 20 teams.

*Fleetwood Bank is a proud sponsor of this event and supporter of the Oley Valley Business Association*

Join the party to celebrate Fleetwood’s Finest on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at the Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Company Social Quarters Banquet Hall as Fleetwood begins its 151st  Year. At 6:30 PM, Red Carpet Arrivals and Cocktail Hour will take place (VIP takes place starting at 6 PM). Enjoy Dinner at 7:15 PM, followed by the presentation of both the Fleetwood Hometown Hero Award and Fleetwood Cadillac Award at 8:15 PM. At 9 PM, dessert will be served, followed by dancing with Josh Squared. The Fleetwood Hometown Hero Award honors an individual or individuals who leave a lasting legacy on the town. This award will be presented to Barney Dietrich, Ernie Fink and R. Joel Schaeffer for building Fleetwood’s Little League Field with the Fleetwood Jaycee’s in 1965. The Fleetwood Cadillac Award is presented to an organization or business that has contributed extraordinary community service. This year, the Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Company is being awarded for their extraordinary service to the community since 1914. Tickets are on sale for $50 ($75 for VIP, which includes cocktails with the honorees). All tickets include cocktail hour, dinner, desserts, beer and wine. Please wear business / celebration attire. To learn more about the event and to purchase tickets, click here!

*Fleetwood Bank is a proud sponsor of this event and a proud supporter of Friends of Fleetwood Parks*

The Oley Alumni and Community Band is looking for musicians of all ages! Rehearsals take place on Sundays from 6 – 7 PM at St. John’s UCC – Pricetown. For more information, please contact [email protected], and follow us on Facebook here!

Rejoicing Spirits of Eastern Berks County invites anyone to attend their services and fellowship times on the first Sunday of every month at 3:00 PM at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. Parking is located behind the church with an accessible entrance from the parking lot. All are welcome to each 30 to 40 minute, no-shush ecumenical worship service that enriches the lives of all people, especially the differently-abled, their caregivers, families and friends. Rejoicing Spirits includes music, playing musical instruments, joyous singing, opportunities to participate, brief and meaningful messages, and the chance to connect with others. Join them for snacks and fellowships immediately following each service. For more information contact Charlene Fisher at 610.223.9822 or [email protected] or Erin Webb at 610.894.9949 or [email protected]. Follow their Facebook page for updates!