Arts & Culture

The Allentown Film Festival is now in its second year and will feature short films and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.

The event's theme this year is "All Jazzed Up," and students shared what they're excited — or jazzed up — about in their own lives.

Actor/comedian Patrick Roach, who plays the character Randy on “Trailer Park Boys,” will bring Randy's Cheeseburger Picnic to Maingate Nightclub on Saturday, June 1.

Violinist Diane Monroe and New Jersey-based dance group Nimbus are among the scheduled performers set for April at Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University.

Megan Campbell and her son Finley have just released their first storybook, "Home is Where the Heart is," which features some of the young man's favorite spots in Easton.

Blues Traveler, which also in the 1990s had five gold and platinum albums and whose 1990 hit "Run-Around" spent 49 weeks on the Top 100, will perform Aug. 24. Also on the show will be Big Head Todd and The Monsters, who had the Top 15 hits “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior” and “Resignation Superman.”

A $900,000 grant to ArtsQuest and the City of Bethlehem will improve pedestrian infrastructure around the nonprofit's Banana Factory complex on Third Street.

A new event, Steel City Smokeout, will be held Saturday, July 20, on PNC Plaza on the SteelStacks campus in conjunction with Bethlehem restaurant Nick’s BBQ.

Moravian University students wrote and directed the productions as part of their Master of Fine Arts thesis projects. Their performances at Touchstone Theatre — spread out through April and starting this week — will explore disability, self-worth and creativity.

Heavyweight developer City Center plans to open its new music venue, The Archer, in the 900 block of Hamilton Street in Allentown later this fall. Construction is underway.

The Blueberry Festival at Burnside Plantation will be July 15-17. The event is a sweet combination of family fun and rich history in Bethlehem.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A little more than a month out from the beginning of Musikfest, ArtsQuest has rolled out an updated mobile app for ‘fest goers.

Part 2 of 3: A higher percentage of people died of AIDS in the Lehigh Valley than in most of the country. The Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archive tells the story of efforts to help those affected by the disease, although there are conflicting reports.

Part 1 of 3: The Lehigh Valley LGBT Community Archive tells the story of the LGBTQ community in the Lehigh Valley. The archive's earliest records go back to the spring of 1969, when the local homophile organization Le-Hi-Ho was formed.

The festival, now in its 13th year, featured salsa performances, Latin eats and rum tastings on Friday and Saturday.

Starting Sunday and going all week, patrons can enjoy prix fixe menus, outdoor dining and a chance to win gift cards.

The bakery Let Them Eat Cake opens Saturday at 143 S. Main St. in Nazareth. Among the desserts: Velvet Volcano cupcakes, made with red velvet cake, Oreo cream cheese frosting and salted caramel and chocolate drizzle.

The gala was held on Friday night at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem. Among the honorees were attorney and real estate development company owner Michael Perrucci and Bethlehem police officer William Rodriguez.

Bayou soul singer Marc Broussard will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem.

HNL announces winners of annual Children's Art Contest with three winners from each age group. The theme was "design your own lab coat."

The seven-member Brother and Sister Band, led by late Allmans drummer Butch Trucks’ son Vaylor Trucks and daughter Melody Trucks, will mark the 50th anniversary of The Allman Brothers’ 1973 album “Brothers and Sisters.”

There are plenty of festivals and musical performances happening in the Lehigh Valley starting on Friday, June 23.