Arts & Culture

Next year marks 250 years since the colonists produced a bold declaration of freedom and self-governance that still echoes today. It will be an occasion celebrated and recognized across the land — and we at Lehigh Valley Public Media are no exception.

In addition to live music, there will be more than a dozen local vendors, businesses and crafters, as well as trail and outdoor demonstrations, and group walks.

Steel Panther, which has had five albums top Billboard's Comedy chart, will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 11 at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, it was announced.

In the spirit of Shakespeare, Saturday's celebration will feature entertainment for all ages, including musical performances by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, alpaca and ponies, and a student-led Latin band.

From 8 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 27, you'll be able to buy tickets for five of Musikfest's 11 headline shows, two paid-ticket Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks shows and nine Musikfest Cafe shows without paying any service fees.

Howie Mandel, who since 2010 has been a judge on “America’s Got Talent,” will perform with fellow comedian Brad Garrett at 8 p.m. Aug. 24. And Alan Parsons Live Project, which continues the work of Alan Parsons Project, will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 2.

Now in its 14th year, the festival honors Puerto Rican culture in the city. The three-day celebration starts on Thursday with a documentary screening, a tribute to the women of salsa, and a flag-raising on Friday, and more Latin music and food on Saturday.

Lehigh Valley Dodgeball is building an inclusive, community-driven space for players of all skill levels in Easton. Open gyms are now underway every Monday night.

Shankweiler’s, renowned as the oldest continuously operating drive‑in theatre in the country since 1934, will soon be showcased to millions across the country on "Good Morning America."

Allentown Fair's first Mullet Contest will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Farmerama Theater.

Indie-pop trio AJR, which will headline the main stage at Bethlehem's Musikfest festival's opening night Aug. 3, as of Wednesday was showing no seats available on the festival's ticket buying site.

"American Idol" winner David Cook, who after the show had a platinum album and two platinum singles, will perform at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem.

Musikfest will hold a three-day sale to give buyers tickets to four SteelStage headliners for just $25 each.

Morgan James will bring the modern R&B style of her new disc 'Nobody's Fool' to Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks in Bethlehem on Friday.

The theatre is looking for locals to submit their favorite places and people that make the city shine.

The soon-to-open HangDog Outdoor Adventure, a four-story outdoor ropes course, is conducting job interviews almost every day, every 15 minutes, after a crush of job applicants.

The classic rocker brings his tour to Bethlehem on Saturday July 15.

The Bethlehem landmark is nominated for best historic hotel for the third time.

Alt-rockers Switchfoot performed Saturday at the Univest Performance Center in Quakertown.

The Allentown Fairgrounds and PBS39 both played an integral role in the early days of the World Wide Wrestling Federation — an organization that today has a global profile as World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

Cool off at these sweet spots that offer the Valley's favorite ice cream and gelato.

The farmers' market almost disappeared in the early 2000s, but community support helped revitalized it.