Arts & Culture

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts conducted a brainstorming seminar in Allentown on Monday to advance a statewide arts and culture plan.

The free exhibit, “America’s Beautiful,” at Lehigh Gap Nature Center runs from Aug. 21 to Aug. 29. It includes 50 watercolor paintings of Smokey Bear.

The 16th Lehigh River Blues Jam will be 2-10 p.m. Feb. 1 at The Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem.

The Museum of Indian Culture this weekend hosted its 44th annual Roasting Ears of Corn Festival, which celebrates the corn harvest.

Performances by tribute bands The Four Horsemen: A Celebration of Metallica on Aug. 30 and Strutter, a tribute to KISS, on Aug. 31 both will be free with fair admission. Maingate is adjacent to the fair and can be accessed from the fairgrounds at 17th and Liberty streets, Allentown.

The follow-up mural, a collaboration with airport authority and ArtsQuest, is in a tunnel leading into the airport and designed by local students and muralist Matt Halm.

The 44th Roasting Ears of Corn festival in Allentown will feature a performance by an Andean flutist, Aztec dancers, ceremonial dances and family activities.

Mutual aid network Queer & Trans Lehigh Valley is hosting its first event: a Western-themed party called ‘Fruits in Boots’ at the Ice House in Bethlehem at 6 p.m. on September 13th.

For the 172nd fair, which kicks off Aug. 28 and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 2, fair President Daryl Urmy has challenged concessionaires to come up with new treats at their stands. Eighteen concessions have responded, hoping fair-goers will belly up to their counters and try something new.

The Allentown Repertory Dance Theatre and Allentown Symphony Orchestra are seeking dancers for its celebrated annual production of The Nutcracker. Auditions for the performance are scheduled for Aug. 25 at Repertory Ballet Academy, 6426 Memorial Road, Allentown.

Dolly Parton has announced that “Dolly Parton ROCKSTAR: The Global First Listen Event” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15.

Bethlehem installed its 2023 Christmas tree on the mall Wednesday.

Hundreds visited Holy Infancy Church in South Bethlehem on Tuesday to pay homage to the relic of St. Jude, which is making a North American tour. The Apostle’s arm was removed from a tomb at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome years ago and bone fragments were placed in a wood reliquary carved in the shape of an arm imparting a blessing.

"Corteo," which Cirque du Soleil said has performed before 10 million spectators in 20 countries on four continents, will perform six shows March 28-31 at PPL Center. It will be the show's first time in Allentown.

The festival, which normally costs $11 advance or $12 day-of on Fridays, will be free from 5 to 8 p.m. "each and every Friday," ArtsQuest announced.

Hundreds of people and pets marched in the Bethlehem Halloween Parade on Sunday. Despite being rained out for its initial date, spirits were high on Main Street.

Easton's 12th PA Bacon Fest drew thousands of fans to the city's Downtown on Saturday, with everyone lining up for bacon burgers, desserts, brews and so much more.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Curator and collector Landon Annoni owns hundreds of wardrobe pieces belonging to Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. His new exhibition in Allentown runs through Nov. 15.

Glen Wilkofsky is suing the Allentown Symphony after they booted him for not paying his union dues.

It's time for PA Bacon Fest in Easton. Nov. 4 and 5 mark the return of the city's favorite festival, featuring plenty of salty, smoky bacon in just about every iteration you can imagine.

In panel discussions and through sharing data, a group of executives and leaders tossed around ideas on how to improve the post-pandemic arts sector.