In this edition of local entertainment news, learn more about volunteering at Althouse Arboretum during a March coffee in Pottstown. Also, enjoy a Sunday (March 1) discussion of cigar-making history at Schwenkfelder Library in Pennsburg.
Hava Cuppa Brew, and Learn About Althouse
POTTSTOWN PA – A coffee-fueled gathering of prospective volunteers is planned for March 7 (2026; Saturday) at Althouse Arboretum, 1794 Gilbertsville Rd., Pottstown.
For those passionate about nature, learning, and their community, the 10 a.m. coffee serves as a casual meet-and-greet. It offers an opportunity to learn about supporting the arboretum’s educational programs for local high school students.
Participants can enjoy a hot beverage, light refreshments, and a relaxed morning in a beautiful natural setting. They will meet current Arboretum volunteers and staff members, and hear about ways to get involved with student field trips, science activities, tours, and garden projects.
No advance registration is required; simply stop in and say hello.
The arboretum is a free-to-explore, 17-acre open space property owned by Upper Pottsgrove Township. It is managed by GreenAllies, an award-winning non-profit organization, and named for the Althouse family, its former owners and last residents.
Schwenkfelder Explores Huff and Puff of Cigar-Making
PENNSBURG PA – For more than 30 years, cigar-making was a thriving industry in southeastern Pennsylvania, and particularly in the Upper Perkiomen Valley. A free program explains why, and is scheduled for Sunday (March 1, 2026) at 2 p.m. in the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St., Pennsburg.
Popular speaker Candace Perry, who also is the Schwenkfelder’s curator of collections, will be featured at the center’s “Winter Local History Lecture.” She will take a deep dive into the demographics, personalities, and places that were part of the huge cigar business that lit up the local economy over decades.
The discussion is accompanied by a museum exhibit, called “A Good 5-Cent Cigar: Cigar Making in the Upper Perkiomen Valley.” Before or after the lecture, visitors can experience the display on the cigar industry’s local development, its labor force, and what is described as “the good and bad of cigar factory owners.”
It’s a final chance to see the exhibit, too; it comes down at the end of March.
Reservations are suggested for those interested in attending the program. Sign up online, or call the center at 215-679-3103. Support from the Schwenkfelder’s Friends Local History Fund makes the free participation possible.
Virtual Viewing Also Available
Perry’s talk also will be available for remote viewing on the Zoom video platform. Those interested in attending virtually should register by no later than Friday (Feb. 27).
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center at Pennsburg serves as the regional history museum for the Upper Perkiomen Valley. It is open Tuesdays through Sundays, with free admission to visit exhibits or to conduct research in its library.
Photo provided by the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
Our entertainment reporting covers the arts and culture, shows, exhibits, performances, festivals, and community-related activities within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. Find more entertainment articles here. Also, see and join the Pottstown Arts and Cultural Alliance group on Facebook.
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