Arts & Culture

The oppressive heat did not deter folks from making their way to the 172nd Great Allentown Fair at the Allentown Fairgrounds on Wednesday. Great food and drinks, amusement park rides and a variety of events will take place at the fair through Monday, Sept. 2.

Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour hits the grandstand stage at Allentown Fair at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. Tickets, at $30 each, remain available at the fair website.

Nearly 50 years later, Blue Öyster Cult still is performing, and this year even released "Ghost Stories," its first album of new material in four years and only second in 23 years. The group also will open for fellow 1970s rockers Cheap Trick as the grandstand feature for opening night at Allentown Fair at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28.

The wartime lost portrait by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder, entitled "Portrait of George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony," has hung at the Allentown Art Museum since 1961.

Bethlehem's SouthSide Arts District has joined with the city and Wawa stores to create what it calls a "Gateway sign" — "a vibrant public art piece that enhances the entrance between Route 412 and SouthSide downtown."

The 2024 Great Allentown Fair runs Wednesday, Aug. 28 through Monday, Sept. 2. We've got a rundown on what you can expect, from the grandstand headliners to the Iron Chef competition and more.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is hosting its annual Brew at the Zoo again in 2024. This year, it falls on Saturday, Sept. 14, and will feature more than three dozen craft beers and ciders.

Jayna Elise, who auditioned on "Idol" in both Season 21 in 2023 and Season 22 the past spring, recently was chosen for the role of Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which performs at Easton's State Theatre on Oct. 1-2.

Allentown Fair’s main Grandstand stage is inarguably one of its biggest draws — offering top music, performances and other acts in the Lehigh Valley’s largest-capacity arena. Here's how we rank this year's headliners.

Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte and accompanying pumpkin-flavor coffee customizations are set to return Thursday. Local coffee shops plan to bring back — or already have — seasonal favorites, too.

"Saint Nick of Bethlehem" will be showing at local theaters starting Nov. 22. The cast of the holiday movie, filmed in the Lehigh Valley, stars homegrown actor Danny Roebuck and Cathy Moriarty.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus stops at Allentown's PPL Center on Friday, Nov. 1, through Sunday, Nov. 3. Its featured percussionist has ties to Allentown.

Residents at the Country Meadows Retirement Communities in Forks Township got to take a virtual tour of some spooky spots across the globe for Halloween this month.

The I Love the 90s Tour, which features Vanilla Ice, Rob Base, Tone Lōc and C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams, will perform at 8 p.m. March 15 at Wind Creek Event Center.

The Athena Awards were presented during a luncheon at ArtsQuest Center on Tuesday. The awards honor women who provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in the Lehigh Valley and who actively assist other women in realizing their full leadership potential.

Actor/comedian Patrick Roach, who plays the character Randy on “Trailer Park Boys,” will bring Randy's Cheeseburger Picnic to The Gin Mill and Grille in Northampton on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Shye Roberts, a graduate of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, performed Monday night on "The Voice" and earned a chance to compete in the next round of competition on the NBC show.

PAW Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure,” a musical production based on the top-rated computer generate animated series, will perform shows at 6 p.m. April 29 and 30.

Crayola Creativity Week will include a wide array of special programming featuring actors, musicians, artists, scientists, and more, all aiming to promote utilizing a creative touch in every part of life.

Hundreds of costumed kids scrambled for candy at Halloween parades across the Lehigh Valley over the weekend.

Consignment and thrift stores in the Lehigh Valley carry clothes and accessories to DIY Halloween costumes on a budget.

Ruben Studdard, who won the second season of “American Idol” in 2003 and followed up with two chart-topping albums that went gold and platinum, will perform at Symphony Hall as the “Special Guest Star” of singer/pianist Jim Brickman’s Comfort and Joy Holiday Celebration, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23.