Arts & Culture

The staff at Bethlehem Area Public Library has taken out the time to tell us their favorite chapters of the entire year that has just passed.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Mahogany Reynolds-Clarke, founder and executive director of Just Be You Academy & Performing Arts, held a presentation on Kwanzaa at Easton Area Public Library's Palmer Branch Thursday evening.

The Winter Light Spectacular features 1.2 million lights in holiday displays, fire pits for s’mores, hot chocolate and live performances by princesses Anna, Elsa, Belle and Cinderella.

Chuck D, one of the founders of seminal rap group Public Enemy, will present "A conversation with Hip Hop legend Chuck D of Public Enemy" at 7 p.m. April 16 in NCC's Spartan Center.

Looking for a fun way to ring in the New Year? We've got you covered with some local events that are fun for the whole family.

The Lehigh Valley tradition started in 2009. The family-friendly New Year's celebration returns this Saturday and Sunday at the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem. Fireworks are set for both nights.

The flagship store for Dave Phillips Music & Sound will close in the coming days, owner Joe DiMarco wrote on Facebook. On Wednesday, customers who flooded the store lamented the loss.

The second annual Allentown Film Festival will be from April 6-14 at the Civic Theatre of Allentown and its boutique Theatre514 across the street.

Ashley Cooke, best known for her song "Never Til Now," her gold single with Brett Young, will perform at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Longswamp Township, Berks County, on Jan. 26.

The restaurant at the Wilbur Mansion has won an award for ambiance and special occasions in the Lehigh Valley.

With a recent album, "Anthem," and a new EP, "When the Anarchy's Been Restored," set to be released, Flogging Molly will play Wind Creek Event Center on Saturday, Feb. 25.

The Black History Month celebration at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown will feature music, an awards ceremony, a fashion show and free samples of African and Caribbean eats.

Fountain Hill, East Penn, Northampton and other restaurant weeks look to bring together various local restaurants and attract people to locally owned and operated businesses

Richard Thompson, who as a teenager played and sang with Fairport Convention — perhaps behind only Bob Dylan as seminal to the folk-rock genre — will perform at 8 p.m. May 17.

Lehigh University Professor Scott Gordon will give a presentation at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Sigal Museum in Easton. It will focus on a 1780 register of enslaved people in Northampton County.

Strut your stuff on the runway at the People’s Ball, a fashion exhibit and runway competition happening at the Banana Factory in May.

The Downtown Bethlehem Association is hosting a St. Patrick's Day-themed cocktail trail on Saturday, March 11.

If you're heading out the door a little early on Tuesday to find some donut deals, you’re likely to head to some familiar spots. Here's where fastnachts are likely to be flying off the shelves.

The city says by reducing the number of sponsored concerts at West Park, programmers will be able to include other bands in more neighborhoods.

Karen Britt is a professor of business at Northampton Community College and the founder of Juneteenth Lehigh Valley.

The proposed Archer Music Hall would be a 31,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art entertainment venue at 935-939 Hamilton St. in Center City Allentown.