Arts & Culture

The inaugural Bethlehem Running Festival's first day brought a 5k and 10k race back to the Steelstacks campus and the City of Bethlehem. Runners embarked on a running tour of the city through fall foliage and braving the hills on the route. Organizers say they are happy with the event and excited for Sunday's half marathon.

The community chorale's founder, Ed Milisits passed away in January 2022. The chorus is gearing up for its December performances.

This weekend, Book and Puppet Company will feature Drag Queen Story Hour with the Yippee Skippy Puppets as part of the Easton Book Festival.

The local rock band will celebrate their album, "Maybe This is It" at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20.

Lehigh Valley Health Network held their annual Halloween party at the Children's Hospital. More than 100 children were expected to attend.

The Easton Book Festival is back, bringing reading fanatics and budding authors together for a wealth of exciting activities.

A new playground is painted true to the original color scheme of the 1994 set it's replacing, and cost the school board $165,354.

The festival still drew a combined 38,500 people over its Oct. 6-8 an Oct. 13-15, ArtsQuest said.

Pierson has performed in various configurations, including bands, trios, duos and solos. Her Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio hit No. 2 on the Folk Radio Charts in 2015 with its song "Still She Will Fly" and No. 1 on the Folk Radio Albums chart with its 2017 full-length debut, "Singin’."

The festival, scheduled Oct. 21-22, will feature 5K and 10K races on Saturday and half marathon and half marathon relay races on Sunday. A half marathon relay also allows for a three-person team to run two five-mile legs and one 5K leg.

Lehigh University Art Galleries' 100th birthday bash coincides with the "Here and Now: 100 Years of LUAG, 100 Local Artists" exhibition, which runs through May 22 and highlights the works of local creatives.

The Foundry Chief Executive Officer and studio Director Jason Wegfahrt, a Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts graduate with a creative arts background, said the new 6,000-square-foot Foundry takes creative possibilities to another level with a variety of services at a fair price.

"Elegance in Stone," an exhibition opening at Peralta’s studio, 1601 West Chew St., kicks off with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. and runs through Oct. 24.

Comedian Tom Shillue will perorm at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, as opening act for the Gutfeld Live 2025 show at Allentown's PPL Center. Tickets, at $49.60-$86.90, remain available at the PPL Center website.

Christkindlmarkt will open Nov. 14 and run Fridays through Sundays through Nov. 30. It then will open Thursdays-Sundays, Dec. 4 though Dec. 21.

Foodies now have another late night option in Southside Bethlehem. The Barbecue Boys, which opened Tuesday, Sept. 16, offers a fast-casual dining setting that's open Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. from Thursday through Saturday.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs unveiled the team’s new America 250 uniforms, created in collaboration with ArtsQuest and featuring Musikfest’s 2026 “Music Unites” artwork by local artist Doug Boehm.

The 12th annual Winter Light Spectacular, with 1.2 million holiday lights — which the zoo says is more than any other Pennsylvania attraction — will kick off Nov. 14 and run through Jan. 3.

Pennsylvania saw 201.6 million visitors, generating $49.9 billion in visitor spending and $83.9 billion in economic impact in 2024. In the Lehigh Valley, visitor spending increased 1.5%, generating just over $2.5 billion.

The grant will be used to help replace all 91 windows with historically accurate, insulated glass and wood models to "enhance the building’s energy efficiency while preserving its historical integrity," a news release says.

ArtsQuest unveiled the 2026 Musikfest poster, “Music Unites,” honoring America’s 250th anniversary. The design came from two-time Musikfest artist Doug Boehm.

New for this year, among the two different kinds of sheep, rabbits, miniature donkeys and ponies live at the Johnson Barn, there also will be 10 Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy goats on site for snuggling.