Arts & Culture

A look back at some of our favorite arts, culture, and entertainment stories of the year, including Allentown Art Museum's must-see windows, Musikfest, Super Bowl bling, and a rock legend's last performance in Allentown.

Seph Schlueter, whose song "Counting My Blessings" topped both Billboard's Christian Airplay and Christian Adult Contemporary charts, will play at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Calvary Baptist Church at 5300 Green Pond Road.

Pink Talking Fish, a tribute to Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish, will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 10, it was announced.

The event center has announced it's offering 25% off tickets to seven select shows, including matchbox twenty singer Rob Thomas, jazz singer Diana Krall and alternative rockers Bush.

Dan Kelly, who has fronted the band Fortunate Youth since its 2009 start, will perform a solo acoustic show at 6:30 p.m. March 19 at Rising River Brewing, 1955 Willow Lane.

Christkindlmarkt saw 145,552 holiday shoppers this year — an increase of 17,168 or 13.4% compared with the 128,384 who attended in 2024, according to a release.

Wind Creek Event Center was the No. 2 highest-grossing club in the world, according to Pollstar magazine's annual industry calculations.

Historic Hotel Bethlehem on Main Street again will only partially illuminate its rooftop sign from Christmas Eve to Christmas night — a tradition that goes back decades and was forgotten, until its revival a few years ago.

Clave Legacy Quintet, a faith-based jazz group, performed a free concert at the ArtsQuest Center’s Palette & Pour, previewing the Three Kings celebration scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 4.

"Trees of Historic Bethlehem," celebrating 20 years this holiday season, features two decades of its fan-favorite Christmas trees on display through Sunday, Jan. 11.

After five years of successful summer sipping with its annual SangriaFest, ArtsQuest announced Wednesday it was adding a new Winter Winefest and Market to its lineup, which will be noon-5 p.m. on Feb. 19 inside ArtsQuest Center on the SteelStacks campus.

Ja'Siah Young is the star of 'Raising Dion.' He was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen Program. He and the show were nominated for a total of six Emmys.

Do you want to see the National League champs? The upcoming Phillies Winter Caravan in Bethlehem will take place at the ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem on January 19.

A nonprofit community group responsible for the lighted trees in Easton's Centre Square will flip the switch on new lights on South Side this Friday.

Bradbury-Sullivan Center is hosting four free art history classes in December and January.

Lehigh Valley Grand Prix owner Mike McCreary is celebrating 15 years of business in Allentown and expanding in a big way, opening an outdoor entertainment venue complete with a huge ropes course dubbed "HangDog."

Alt-rockers Goo Goo Dolls, which has had more than a dozen songs in the Top 10 of Billboard's adult rock chart over the past 15 years, will headline Bethlehem's Musikfest festival, it was announced Monday.

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.

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.