Arts & Culture

Lehigh Valley indie-rockers Slingshot Dakota are kicking off Musikfest at the Air Products Americaplatz at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage at 5 p.m. Thursday, bringing their unique and creatively energetic punk rock sans guitar.

Welcome to LehighValleyNews.com's Fest in Show, a daily offering of some of the can't-miss acts on the stages of Musikfest.

Musikfest, a 10-day festival of music, food, refreshments and more, celebrates its 40th year beginning on Thursday.

The classic & antique car festival is expected to bring thousands of visitors and hundreds of cars to the park, dating back to the early 1900s.

The Musikfest show will be the first day — and second stop — in Allman’s See It All American Tour with Donovan Frankenreiter. The tour will be an attempt by Allman and Frankenreiter to set the official world record by playing 50 shows in 50 states in 49 days.

Philadelphia psyche-pop master Kurt Vile and The Violators, who topped the Adult Album Alternative charts with the 2015 song “Pretty Pimpin’” and have had three albums in the overall Top 50, will headline a concert with the late jazz great Sun Ra’s band The Sun Ra Arkestra at Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall.

The opening acts for Musikfest's main stage headliners have been announced. They include several Lehigh Valley favorites.

A completely dry stretch of weather is almost unheard of this time of year, said meteorologist Bobby Martrich of EPAWA Weather Consulting, the official forecaster of Musikfest.

The first celebration featured an array of talent with an emphasis on local artists.

With around 1 million people expected to attend Musikfest this year, health and safety take top priority for organizers. Everything from cooling misters to medical tents will be on site.

Yung Gravy, whose most recent hit, last year's "Betty (Get Money)," was his biggest-selling, will perform Sept. 2 in Allentown. Opening the show will be Gravy's frequent hit collaborator, rapper bbno$, best known for his 2019 triple-platinum hit "Lalala."

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs' first game featuring the ABS system, or "robot umpires," at Coca-Cola Park is in the books. Next stop: How will the new challenge system play out?

Relive some of Motown's greatest hits when the group performs Saturday, May 13 at the Wind Creek Event Center.

The IronPigs will host Memphis on Tuesday with the ABS system in use for the first time at home. It will call all pitches and transmit the results through an earpiece to the home plate umpire.

Pennsylvania Youth Theatre has initiated a $1 million capital campaign as it searches for a future home. The organization will likely be displaced when the Banana Factory complex is demolished for a new cultural arts center.

The tribute band will perform a handful of the “Allentown” crooner’s hits on Saturday, May 27 at the Wind Creek Event Center.

A fashion exhibit explores the relationship between artificial intelligence and fashion and features haute couture designs by Barbara Kavchok.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is opening to the public on Friday, May 12, with a preview day for season pass-holders on May 7.

Despite a devastating blaze at their North New Street vegan pizzeria, the owners and manager of Paranormal Pizza are still slinging pies in the Lehigh Valley.

Clothes of the 1960s and 70s are all the rage at the museum's free show opening Saturday, May 6.

Accessorize your festing togs with a mug.

Find a new houseplant or some handmade artisan crafts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7.