One of the most American of foods, the Hamburger, gets its own festival in the northern Berks County town of Hamburg for the sixth year.

Hamburg, Pa., (see map below) is holding it's sixth annual "Taste of Hamburg-er Festival" on Sept. 5. There will be crafters, contests, musical entertainment and more. And if you really love hamburger, you might want to enter the burger eating contest. There will also be a competition between regional restaurants for the right to be the People's Choice hamburger maker.

Admission is free and the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more info, check out http://www.hamburgpa.org/hamburgerfestival.htm

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What better garnish for the hamburg than the tomato? Pa. is known for its most famous condiment -- ketchup. But the fruit itself is celebrated today and Saturday in Boyertown.

At the YMCA's annual Tomato Blast, participants can watch weiner dog races, enjoy some free music and then watch the launch of some rotten fruit, and possibly win prizes.

Starting tonight at 5 p.m., there will be carnival games and a catered lasagna dinner, courtesy Sweet Beginnings restaurant. But the real fun begins Saturday with the Ketchup 5K. Yep, you read that right.

There will also be a visit for the kids with Tommy Tomato. There will also be a weiner dog race with real Dachshunds, a salsa and tomato cake competition, a largest tomato contest, and if you aren't seeing enough read by 2 p.m., the tomato launch.

The launch is when they take a ripened tomato and fling it over the William S. Hollenbach Center to see where it lands on a numbered grid. You can purchase tickets for each number on the grid, and if the tomato lands on your number, you could walk away with a flat screen TV.

You can purchase tickets at the blast. They are $2 each or three for $5.

And if you really love the ruby red fruit, you can enter to be named the best dressed compeition. Real tomato outfits not required.

For more info, check out http://www.boyertownymca.org/programs/index.aspx?CategoryID=11

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Don't want to see food wasted? Then bring some for the hungry at the East Coast Thunder car show planned for Sunnybrook Ballroom Saturday.

We'd tell you more, but Mark Malizzi says it better on his monthly show Compassion in Action.