December 19
- Christmas Cheer Around the Town of Reading
By: Kiley Delfin
Fellow of CommunicationsReading, Pennsylvania, is filled with Christmas cheer as it celebrates the beloved holiday. Here is a list of events that are sure to put you and your family in the holiday spirit!
Koziar’s Christmas Village
Koziar’s Christmas Village, located in Bernville, is the perfect spot to walk through a beautiful Christmas light display. Now in their 78th season, the property has garnered regional and national attention, with locals making their trip to the village an annual tradition. The town leads you on a trail through themed lights, with stores to explore along the way. Food and drink options are also available. The winter wonderland village is open every night from the first weekend of November until Jan. 3. Prices of tickets vary on weekdays and weekends. Tickets are to be purchased in person. Visit koziarschristmasvillage.com for more information!
Hershey Park Christmas Experience
Hersheypark, located in Hershey, offers a variety of events perfect for friends and family during the holiday season. Hershey's Sweet Lights is a two-mile drive-through light display on Sandbeach Road. Tickets vary depending on the model of different cars. Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane experience lasts until Jan. 4, 2026. Admission tickets include family rides and select roller coasters, a visit with Santa, a Christmas entertainment show, and other fun events! For more information, visit hersheypark.com.
Reading’s Christmas on the Mountain
A very well-known holiday event for locals is Christmas on the Mountain. Opening night for this event was Friday, Nov. 28, at 5 pm. This event offers visitors a beautiful park light display with decorations. Santa will also make an appearance for children to meet throughout the night. It is a free-to-enter event that brings joy to the town of Reading. This event will run until Dec. 23rd. Visit https://readingschristmasonthemountain.com/ for more information. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Christkindlmarkt- Reading Liederkranz
Christkindlmarkt is a three-day event that takes place from Dec. 5-7. Hours of operation vary per day. This event, organized by the Reading Liederkranz, featured 60 vendors in attendance, providing visitors with the opportunity to shop, dine, and enjoy refreshments. Cocktails, beers, and drinks will be available for purchase. Christkindlmarkt is a German tradition that has been taking place since the Middle Ages, and is now brought to you in Reading, Pennsylvania. For more information about vendors and hours of operation, visit https://www.readingliederkranz.com/.
Other Christmas Activities
There are multiple offerings for Christmas-themed train rides near Reading, Pennsylvania. The Strasburg Railroad, New Hope Railroad, and Reading Outer Station are all nearby, making them perfect for spending time with family and friends. Be sure to visit the historic town of Jim Thorpe in the Pocono Mountains, where, on select weekends, classic holiday traditions come alive! There are jingle horses and carriage rides, carolers, and a Santa-themed train ride on the Lehigh George Scenic Railway. Jim Thorpe is filled with local shops, restaurants, and sights that are sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. To learn more, visit https://www.poconomountains.com/jim-thorpe/christmas-winter/.
O’Pake Holiday Events
The O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship hosted a Holiday Potluck and an Ugly Sweater Contest, as well as its annual Winter Fellow Farewell, to bring its students and employees together during the holiday season. The office has been decorated, and O’Pake is officially ready for the holiday season. Make sure you check out all our holiday posts on our social media!
The O’Pake Institute hopes you have a safe and joyful Christmas holiday season with your loved ones!
November 24
- Black Friday- the shopping event of the year
By: Kiley Delfin
Fellow of CommunicationsAre you obsessed with shopping and saving money through amazing deals? Even if you don’t enjoy shopping, everyone knows what takes place the day after Thanksgiving every year, Black Friday. The average American spends about $400 on the day alone!
Black Friday is the largest shopping day of the year in America and other countries worldwide. For Americans, Black Friday typically occurs the day after Thanksgiving. After eating a fulfilling feast with family, Americans are geared up for the big deals to come out in stores or online. But do you know how Black Friday came to be?
The term and its meaning
The term Black Friday was first used in 1869 when the U.S. gold market crashed, causing major havoc across the country. The crash occurred on a Friday, bankrupting citizens across all social classes, from farmers to wealthy business owners.
Black Friday is most commonly attributed to an idea that retail owners developed long ago. Retail companies would use the colors red and black to organize their profits and losses. Red meant loss, while black meant profit. Stores would move out of the red area and “go into black” the day after Thanksgiving. Consumers would spend more money shopping for discounted items, rather than going shopping with regular prices available.
Philadelphia - the birthplace of the Friday holiday shopping craze
In the 1950s, thousands of visitors came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ahead of the popular Army-Navy football game that took place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day. Philadelphia police officers began using the term regularly to describe the mayhem that ensued on the Friday that visitors arrived in the city. The tourists and residents of the Philadelphia area flooded the town and started the Friday shopping tradition that would become known worldwide. Police despised Black Friday because they had to work long shifts to keep up with the large crowds.
When retailers and businesses in Philadelphia caught on to the massive upsurge in shopping on this particular day, they attempted to change the name to “Big Friday” since many people had a negative view of the term. This effort was futile.
Black Friday becomes a phenomenon
The 1980s marked the spread of the modern term Black Friday. Store owners applied the original meaning of the term to their businesses. They decided to move from red “into black” margins on the Friday after Thanksgiving to increase their companies' profit. News of this trend spread nationwide, and almost all retailers began offering significant discounts on their products for Black Friday.
In the 1990s, it was during this time that the real buzz of Black Friday emerged. Stores and malls began opening early in the morning, around 5 a.m., to get buyers excited for the day of deals. As time went on, stores began to open their doors even earlier on Friday, with some opening on Thursday night, and staying in operation all the way through Black Friday. Shoppers have even resorted to waiting outside stores in long lines to snag the best deals early, despite the freezing temperatures in most states on Black Friday. These consumers are dedicated to taking advantage of discounts.
Why is Black Friday coined the “Shopping Event of the Year”?
Black Friday has popularly been referred to as the “Shopping Event of the Year.” The day marks the start of the American holiday shopping season. Since retailers place items at blockbuster prices, Americans tend to buy Christmas gifts and other holiday items while spending less money. This day also allows buyers to purchase items that may not have been feasible for them before.
Black Friday is so popular in America that it has become a tradition in many households across the nation. After cleaning up Thanksgiving dinner, families prepare to go out by searching online sites and looking at physical magazines to see what deals are being offered.
Social media has played a crucial role in hyping up this tradition. Influencers across platforms are posting content about their excitement for Black Friday in an attempt to get their fans eager to go out on the “holiday.”O’Pake’s Impact
The Alvernia University O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship has been working this fall season to prepare local businesses for the upsurge in shoppers and visitors they will receive during the holiday season, starting with Black Friday. New local businesses gear up for their first Black Friday season, hoping to generate new revenue and profit.
Times have changed.
While Black Friday originally started as an in-store-only event, businesses have also expanded the event to their online platforms, offering new deals that are not available in person. This is known as “Cyber Monday.” Many Americans have shopped online for Black Friday in recent years, instead of facing chaotic crowds in stores.
Black Friday has become a nationwide tradition for many families and shoppers. Check your local stores and online retailers for early and month-long deals!
November 10
- Fall: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year for Local Businesses and Stores
By: Kiley Delfin
Fellow of CommunicationsThe Alvernia University O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship is busy with work during the fall season, helping local businesses thrive during the shift in consumer demand that occurs between seasons. Student Fellows are providing companies not only with help throughout the fall season but also with assistance in rebranding businesses ahead of the new year.
Autumn Across America
Autumn has been rising as America’s favorite season. You know who else loves the fall season? Local business owners. This holiday-packed season is the perfect time for local businesses across America, thanks to shifts in consumer mindset. American consumers view fall as a time to prepare and build habits that will help them ring in the new year.
The start of Fall marks the peak of the “back-to-school” season. Parents take their children to purchase new school supplies, technology, and clothing. To kick off the new school year, community members flock to book hair, nails, and other beauty services at the beginning of September. Look your best, feel your best-right? Local salons, boutiques, and retailers benefit from the early fall season customer craze.
Fall Associations
Fall is known for its association with local coffee shops and novelty home decor items. Local coffee shops are booming with customers during the autumn season, as people eagerly try new fall-flavored drinks, such as the beloved pumpkin spice special. The transition from a hot summer to a chilly fall is the perfect time for people to invest in new decor, cozy blankets, sweaters, and candles, which are often purchased from local businesses and boutiques.
The beautiful fall weather encourages communities to plan festivals and farmers’ market events that showcase the local area. The West Reading Farmers’ Market is open weekly on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on South 6th Avenue, near Penn Avenue. The West Reading Fall Fest took place on Saturday, Sept. 20, with over 200 vendors and retailers in attendance. Popular local farms, such as Brecknock Orchard and Weaver’s Orchard, have been hosting fall festivals throughout October and remain open in November for apple and pumpkin picking.
Holiday Season Kicking Up SpeedAnd, of course, we can’t forget the two major holidays that take place during the autumn season: Halloween and Thanksgiving. Halloween is the perfect time for local businesses to host spooky events and offer deals that attract a diverse range of customers. Thanksgiving gives owners the ideal opportunity to market heading into the holiday season. Local bakeries and food spots are booming with business during Thanksgiving week, making multiple pie and family dinner orders a day!
It's safe to say Fall is the greatest time of the year for many reasons, and local businesses across America can definitely agree with that!
