READING, Vt. – Sponsored by the Town of Reading, the volunteer community organization Future Is Reading (FIR) will kick off its second annual Reading Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m., on the campus of the Reading Elementary School. The event will run until 3 p.m.
On the eve of the festival, Friday, Oct. 2, the town will also host its fourth annual World Class Chili Cook-off in Puddledock Park, located next to the Reading Library, on Route 106 in Felchville — Reading’s downtown section – from 5-6:30 p.m.
During the festival, the Hall Art Foundation will open its doors free of charge to Reading residents. Additionally, the Reading Greenhouse will be holding a scavenger hunt throughout the event at no charge for participation, and the Reading Historical Society will be open to all visitors.
Following its recent purchase of the Reading Grange on Route 106, the Reading Community Trust (RCT) is planning to open the historic building for public viewing during the chili cook-off on Friday. Then, on Saturday morning, from 7-9 a.m., the RCT will hold a yard sale in front of the Grange that will feature saleable items that have been removed from the building’s interior.
Across the street, the Reading Library will be holding a daylong book sale.
For kids of all ages, the fall festival will include a Ducky Derby; bike decoration and a bike parade; touch-a-truck; and a variety of games, with games designed especially for children under the age of 5 representing a new activities category this year. Organizers say that another new game, which will welcome parade bike riders on their arrival to the RES campus at the start of the festival, is being kept secret as a surprise.
Throughout the festival, FIR has planned for continuous live music and abundant, delicious food options. For example, the festival’s famous chicken barbecue dinner with local sweet corn and baked potato is returning for another year. Silver Lake Syrups will be selling its famous maple creemees, while Kidding Around Farm will have its renowned breads and pastries for sale. New at the 2026 Fall Festival will be the Mystic Coffee Roasters, who will be selling freshly ground and brewed coffee throughout the event.
“The FIR Fall Festival Committee has been working diligently since last October’s event to prepare for this year’s festivities,” said Jane Kartsch, committee head. “We’re more than pleased to say that we’ve planned some new ideas that will make the day very special.”