Arts & Culture

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.

The Lower Macungie Township Historical Society is set to raise money for and produce a historical docudrama film focused on the 1799 Fries Rebellion, which led to a federal crackdown in the Macungie area during the John Adams administration.

ArtsQuest announced Monday that the Old World Wine Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room on the second floor of the ArtsQuest Center. And the two-session Fall Winefest & Market will be on Oct. 29 at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem.

Set for Saturday, the festival is a nod to the old orchard that used to occupy the site.

Billed as the longest-running outdoor music festival in the U.S., the last 2 have been virtual.

The event will bring LGBTQ+ artists and performers, arts and crafts, yard games, and food and drink to the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley in Allentown.

Folks from 39 states and 8 countries attended the festival, which was marred by a Saturday night shooting.

Police tape and several officers were in the area of Plaza Tropical, near Main and Lehigh streets.

Mug refills at designated Musikfest tents are $10 for domestics and $11 for craft beers, but some merchants go their own way.

The Century Fund is the benefactor.

The refillable mugs have become hot sellers -- and symbols of the Bethlehem festival.

Tracking 10 miles makes you eligible for the ticket drawing for next year's headliner shows.

Folks tried to find ways to beat the heat Sunday on the third day of the 10-day summer festival.

It's one of the first times British cars have been part of the festival.

Preview night begins festivities that will continue with musical acts and performers through Aug. 14.