Our guide to the ‘Summer Festival Days’ in Reading

READING — Reading will celebrate its 60th annual Reading Summer Festival Days in the first weekend in August, from 1st-4th.

“This event brings people to Reading from across the tri-state area to celebrate small town life in a very big way,” said Becky Pavka, president of the Reading Chamber of Commerce.

On Thursday, the event will kick off with citywide garage sales and a 25 cents sale at the thrift store, June’s Place. Both of these events will continue to run through Sunday.

“Each year, we work diligently to bring new and exciting events to Reading Summer Festival Days weekend,” Pavka said. “This year is no different.”

On Friday, there will be a steak fry at the Reading American Legion from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to register, call (517) 283-2683. Live music by Side Hustle will begin at 9 p.m.

There will also be a block party at the Michigan Street Pavilion from 5-10 p.m. This is open to all the community.

“There will be kids activities, live music, food trucks, local restaurant eats and a beer tent in combination with the social district,” Pavka said. “I am very excited about the Michigan Street Pavilion Block Party. The 517 Day celebration was such a hit this year and I am excited that we have the opportunity to provide this type of fun-filled evening for everyone once again.”

Saturday will feature a three-on-three basketball tournament and pickleball tournament in the morning.

There will also be a Michigan Street Market from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., which will include live music, a beer tent, food trucks, and kids activities.

A classic car and antique tractor show will be happening at the same time across from the Reading Pizza Barn. No registration is required.

The Summer Festival parade will begin at 1 p.m. in downtown Reading, followed by the Reading Fireman’s Association Chicken BBQ at 2 p.m. at American Legion.

Later that afternoon and evening, there will be a Party in the Park from 1-3 p.m. at Waterworks Park, a Kids Pedal Pulls at 2 p.m. at the Michigan Street Pavillion, and a Kidz2Kidz Bingo from 3-5 p.m. at the Reading American Legion.

Truck Pulls will start at 7 p.m. at Magic Square. Registration begins at 4 p.m. Admission costs $10, while children five and under are free. Food trucks will be on site.

The festivities will end on Sunday, with an antique tractor pull at 11 a.m. in Magic Square. This event has free admission.

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Pavka said she is excited for everyone to come out.

“There are so many other activities throughout the weekend that we encourage everyone to come into town to check it out,” she said.

Visit www.readingmichigan.org for all of the most up to date information surrounding Festival Days.

— Elyse Apel is a correspondent for The Hillsdale Daily News. She can be reached by email at ehawkins@hillsdale.edu.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Our guide to the ‘Summer Festival Days’ in Reading