Arts & Culture

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.

Renderings of the HangDog ropes course coming to the Easton area in 2023. (Courtesy Mike McCreary/renderings by Sage Design-Build Inc.)

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.

This week, the LehighValleyNews.com digital desk handpicked three events for you to enjoy, including Candy Cane Lane, Kids Jam and a Lovefeast.

The Christmas experience features immersive theatrical performances and special treats on Main Street, Bethlehem this December.

The Christmas City is holding a community breakfast in early December.

The channel, famous for its feel-good Christmas movies, has started streaming a live feed of historic Downtown Bethlehem on its website.

Student identification cards, photographs from the 1800s and a fossil were found during renovations of the Clayton University Center at Packer Hall.

One of the only two remaining B-29 Superfortress bombers still airworthy today is about to land in the Lehigh Valley. It will touch down at the airport on Monday to prepare for ground and cockpit tours, as well as flight experience rides.

Lehigh Valley Beer Week kicked off this weekend, celebrating more than just the beverage used in its name. Festivities will continue through May 11.

Bethlehem Area School District students involved in the innovative Marketing MusikFest class announced the bands they booked for the big Lehigh Valley festival on Friday, May 3.

The deadline to apply is June 7. Selected artworks will be featured at the Disability Pride Lehigh Valley and at an exhibition at the Baum School of Art.

“24 Hours in Hell,” an upcoming television series will delve into the historical background and paranormal occurrences at the Waldorf Estate of Fear.

Easton Farmers' Market will celebrate its 272nd season on Saturday, May 4, with dozens of locally oriented vendors offering food, drinks, entertainment, specialty crafts and more.

Almost Queen, which performs the music of bombastic 1970s and '80s rockers Queen, will perform July 13 at Univest Performance Center in Quakertown. And Get The Led Out, which performs the music of 1970s heavy metal band Led Zeppelin, will close out the season with a show Aug. 24.

Nashville artist-songwriter George Birge, whose song "Beer Beer, Truck Truck" went viral on social media in 2021, then who hit No. 1 with the song "Mind On You" in 2022, will be Brad Paisley's "special guest" at the Aug. 30 concert at Allentown Fair grandstand.

The shop, Dear Santa, is at 458 Main St. across from Historic Hotel Bethlehem. Owner Tom Dubreuil has a close connection to Santa Claus — He's portrayed him for several years as part of Christmas season festivities organized by the Downtown Bethlehem Association.

The series of 10 Wednesday night movies will feature new and classic Disney fare, recent blockbusters and some films with important anniversaries.

Sugar Ray, which had the chart-topping hits "Fly" in 1997 and "Every Morning" in 1999, will take Musikfest's Steel Stage on Aug. 2, the first full night of the festival.