Arts & Culture

Actor, musician and children’s author widely known for his portrayal of one of the first regular characters on the children’s show “Sesame Street,” Bob McGrath, has died at the age of 90. McGrath’s passing was confirmed by his family who posted on his Facebook page on Sunday. Sesame Workshop tweeted Sunday evening that it “mourns the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for over 50 years.” McGrath was a founding cast member of “Sesame Street” when the show premiered in 1969. He is survived by his wife, Ann Logan Sperry, and their five children.

Lehigh Valley Music Awards, once popular but on hiatus for three years, said it's looking to return, perhaps under ArtsQuest. But as it does, the upstart ABE Music Awards wants to take its place.

Lehigh Valley SoccerFest continues at the SteelStacks campus, while the City of Allentown partners with St. Luke's University Health Network to host World Cup watch parties.

Maltas Con Leche, an Allentown-based art collective, designed the Musikfest 2023 poster as a family unit. I will be unveiled at the Banana Factory’s First Friday event on Dec. 2.

Renderings of the HangDog ropes course coming to the Easton area in 2023. (Courtesy Mike McCreary/renderings by Sage Design-Build Inc.)

Country music superstar Keith Urban has played The Great Allentown Fair twice in his storied career. He'll return next September and is the first headliner announced.

This week, the LehighValleyNews.com digital desk handpicked three events for you to enjoy, including Candy Cane Lane, Kids Jam and a Lovefeast.

The Christmas experience features immersive theatrical performances and special treats on Main Street, Bethlehem this December.

The Christmas City is holding a community breakfast in early December.

The channel, famous for its feel-good Christmas movies, has started streaming a live feed of historic Downtown Bethlehem on its website.

For the first time in its nearly 200-year history, the Philadelphia Flower Show will be held outdoors at a South Philly park beginning June 5 and running through June 13.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says more people are taking to fishing and boating during the pandemic. The agency is getting ready for another busy summer season.

Musikfest, which claims to be the largest free concert festival in the country, is set to return this summer.

One of The Lehigh Valley’s largest and longest running events is returning. The Great Allentown Fair is slated to come back in September. 

The 105th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show is going virtual this year.

Lehigh County will now officially recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday for workers. But the move to give employees the day off to honor African American independence from slavery was met with some opposition

The Allentown Art Museum announced that Max Weintraub is to be the museum's next President and CEO.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey will hold a rally organized by the Northampton County Republican Committee.

Bethlehem’s Touchstone Theatre is kicking off this year’s Festival UnBound Tonight with a Latinx Block Party on the city’s south side.

Gov. Tom Wolf says he wants to spend $1.3 billion in CARES Act money on things ranging from small business assistance to paid parental leave.

ArtsQuest officials in Bethlehem say they’ve lost nearly $19 million dollars in revenue since mid-March. With Musikfest being mostly virtual this year because of the pandemic, the nonprofit is now working to make next year’s festival possible.

One of the largest annual events in the Lehigh Valley - Musikfest - is going virtual and cancelling live shows this summer.