by Catherine Vasko
As an Adams County transplant, it has taken me time to learn about annual events happening in our area. This year will mark my third year of working for Adams County Library System, and while much of my time is spent in our little library in East Berlin, I’m not a resident of the town itself. As a result, I find myself constantly learning new things about East Berlin, its history, and its traditions. Most recently? Colonial Day.
It all started last year. More and more library patrons began asking about an elusive “Colonial Day,” mentioning that they heard that it was finally making its comeback. By happenstance, I was attending a Borough Council meeting at the time for a library check-in. Before adjourning, Mayor Steph asked if any constituents had any questions. Now was my chance. I had to seize my opportunity. “What is Colonial Day?”
East Berlin was laid out with 28 lots in 1764 by Prussian John Frankenberger, who purchased 200 acres from the Penns, predating the American Revolution. It was named after his hometown in Berlin, Germany. To avoid confusion with another Berlin in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, “East” was added to its name in 1827. Years later, the townspeople requested it be incorporated as a borough, resulting on November 10, 1879. Fun fact: the original East Berlin Community Library building (now Trone Memorial Library) was originally a 1899 Church of the Brethren. Though the library has since been renovated and expanded upon, you can still see its original brick foundation.
From 1975 to 2017, the East Berlin Historical Preservation Society hosted East Berlin’s iconic Colonial Day: an outdoor festival full of historic handcrafts, demonstrations, and entertainment. The event started as an initiative to not only support the historical society and help maintain five early buildings in town, but to celebrate its 18th-century heritage, showcasing and supporting craftspeople working in traditional ways to produce quality goods. Demonstrators varied in skill lined the streets of town, featuring paper making, weaving, broom making, and basket weaving, to blacksmithing, rug hooking, candle dipping, quilting, and so much more. I’ve heard tales about fife bands marching down the streets, along with fiddles, dulcimer,s and even “wherlygig” demonstrations. A pig roast, funnel cakes, homemade ice cream, and apple butter making were also included in the day’s agenda.
Hundreds of artisans, many of whom were dressed in colonial garb, gathered in this little town to show their methods of colonial living. I have learned that Colonial Day was an institution of its own, gathering an upwards of 10,000 visitors in its heyday. While recently talking to a member of my staff about the event, she relayed that her family still uses the handmade brooms that they purchased at Colonial Day one year. Her sister used to travel from out of town to join them in attending the annual festival.
Colonial Day will be making its comeback this year on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM in downtown East Berlin. Make sure you keep an eye on www.ebcolonialday.com to learn more about vendors, entertainment, volunteer opportunities, and more. I can’t wait to attend my first!
Catherine Vasko is Branch Manager at the Trone Memorial Library in East Berlin, part of the Adams County Library System.