4-17-2026 4:21am

It's Time To Help Wake the Sleeping Bears! Don't Miss It!

Lesley Misko Editor

by Julie Cordingley

We can all agree…this weather is crazy! Damp one week and now, high is the 80’s, only to return back to cold next week.

So, the question is… how is Bearianne going to know when to come out of hibernation? She is going to be a bit confused, perhaps thinking, “I don’t remember it being THIS warm. Did I miss Spring?” But not to worry – the Boyertown Alumni Marching Band will be there for a rousing alarm clock, along with close to 5000 local residents to welcome Bearianne back from her long, winter’s sleep.

Boyertown's annual "Coming Out of Hibernation" extravaganza will be held this Saturday, April 19, from 11:00 – 4:00 right down the middle of Philadelphia Avenue. It’s an annual event that has been going on for more than 15 years, and the Building a Better Boyertown (BaBB) organizers couldn’t be happier. As Event Coordinator Krista Gross enthusiastically explains, “This is one of our favorite free, family-friendly events that brings people to town. Everybody is tired of being indoors!”

Along with the rousing music of the Alumni Marching Unit, there is Douglassville’s zany Koo Koo Magic, the accomplished Boyertown Legionettes, the happy Birthday Buddies with Judy Hoppe, and singing sensation group Payel. Also not to be missed, in their national debut, is middle school cover band the Free Agents.

Returning again this year is Young Entrepreneurial Alley for school-age kids to sell their wares, the varied food trucks located next to Rita’s (how deliciously convenient!), and those thousands of neighbors you haven’t seen since winter! You’ll be able to enjoy all of this high energy entertainment while shopping, browsing, and supporting the more than 100 vendors, artists, and exhibitors lining the streets.

The BaBB group is all about promoting Boyertown, the town they love. As Gross sums it up, "Bringing everyone downtown during events like "Coming out of Hibernation" is one of the many reasons we continue them year after year. When we fill the streets, it helps to remind the local business owners that they are an important part of our neighborhood."

Schedule of Entertainment

Koo Koo Magic

11:00 AM At the Railroad tracks next to The Other Farm

Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit

11:00 AM Alley next to the Medicine Shoppe

Performance by Payel

12:00 PM Walkway next to Charlotte Street Coffee

Boyertown Legionette Performance

12:30 PM At the Railroad tracks next to The Other Farm

Wake up Bearianne!

12:30 PM Alley next to The Atherton Inn

The Free Agents

1:00 PM At the Railroad tracks

Appearance by Judy Hopps from Birthday Buddies!

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM At the Railroad tracks

For more information about the event schedule, etc., click this link.

It has been over 40 years since a chemist job in Malvern lured Julie Cordingley away from her up state, New York home. She is a proud resident of Gilbertsville! Besides working in industry, at various times she has been a stay-at-home mom, and has just recently retired from Phoenixville Area School District as a (wait for it!) chemistry teacher. It has been a life-long dream to be a writer. She figures she can work at that craft while also traveling with her husband in their drivable RV… a retirement present to herself!