Arts & Culture

It took engineers and decorators more than 1,000 hours to plan, prepare and deck the halls at Hotel Bethlehem this holiday season.

The holiday market is back with a bigger ice skating rink, a visit from Santa and new food.

On display are Baez's guitars, artwork, personal letters and other items on loan from the singer.

The festival viewing event, which last year expanded to two days, will be April 27-28 in Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

The gallery is open at Palmer Park Mall in Easton, a business its owner says is the first of its kind in the Lehigh Valley.

Bethlehem native Danny Roebuck is filming his new Christmas movie, "Saint Nick of Bethlehem" in November and March 2024.

Over the next few weeks, the Musikfest poster will appear on all platforms, including ArtsQuest websites. It will be used as the official festival 2024 poster and mug, as well as incorporated into other official festival merchandise and apparel throughout the year.

Museum Store Sunday brings three local museums together to support local artisans and crafters.

The university held several campus-wide events during First Generation College Student Week including a Q&A with filmmaker Cynthia Martinez.

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.

The Esther M. Lee African American Heritage Center hosted a Kwanzaa celebration, which included the lighting of the kinara and a discussion of the Seven Principles, at PBS39 in Bethlehem Saturday evening.

At least a half-dozen popular Lehigh Valley restaurants permanently closed their doors or released plans to shift operations in the final months of 2024.

Lower Saucon Township approved a decade-long funding agreement with Hellertown Area Library, ensuring broader access to library services for residents starting next year.

Bethlehem's menorah lighting on Thursday, drew a crowd of about 70 people to the upper area of Payrow Plaza near City Hall. One visitor even said she drove from the Poconos.

ArtsQuest in November at a gala news conference announced a renewed push to renovate the 26,000-square-foot brick structure that would open in 2027 or 2028.

"A Complete Unknown" — a biopic on Bob Dylan, portrayed by actor Timothée Chalamet — opens in area theaters today, Dec. 25.

Christkindlmarkt brought out 128,384 visitors from 40 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., ArtsQuest Chief Executive Officer Kassie Hilgert said.

The Freddy Awards aren't until May, but several theater departments have already announced their spring productions to be held in April and May.

Hotel Bethlehem’s event experts share holiday hosting tips, emphasizing confidence, preparation, and simplicity. It's not as hard as you think, they advise.

The annual Trees of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites exhibit is now on display through Jan. 12.

Join Megan Frank at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Friday for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, Brittany Sweeney takes her place with environment and science reporter Molly Bilinski and arts and culture reporter Micaela Hood.

Residents of South Bethlehem are invited to learn more about the next steps for a potential community center at a public meeting on Jan. 30 at Northampton Community College's Fowler Center. The event will share results from a 2023 feasibility study.