Arts & Culture

At the Allentown Fair grandstand on Thursday, the hyperactivity was dialed back a measure for Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour, and the kids — who made up about half the audience of perhaps 3,000 — were at least exposed to learning.

The crowd at Allentown Fair for Cheap Trick and Blue Oyster Cult was there to hear the hits of their youth and — for the most part — got what they wanted.

For the first time, Robbie Furman will showcase his work at the Allentown Fair.

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.

Folks can volunteer or celebrate the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at these events happening in Allentown, Easton and Bethlehem.

The Allentown Art Museum has new immersive and interactive exhibition called Restoring Petals. The artwork — which includes framed poems, resin pieces and paper flowers — reflects on the isolation of the pandemic and honors those who died from Covid-19.

The Hooters, the Philadelphia band best known for hits 1980s hits "Day By Day" and "And We Danced," will return to Quakertown's Sounds of Summer concert series for the fourth year in a row.

Warm up with these indoor plays, photography exhibitions, comedy nights, swing dances, classical performances and pop music sing-a-longs.

Author Brad Meltzer came to Allentown to promote the newest iteration of the now 10-year-old Ordinary People Change the World series of children's books.

The series' shows, in which family shows featuring music, dance, puppetry, storytelling and other creative arts are held one Sunday afternoon each month, will kick off 2 p.m. Jan. 21.

For the second straight year, Brandon Marsh is scheduled to attend the Phillies Winter Caravan — this time on Thursday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Dave & Buster's Lehigh Valley location is reopening on Jan. 12 with fresh new features including specialized social bays for gamers to enjoy.

ArtsQuest's Three Kings Day celebration in Bethlehem Sunday brought crowds despite heavy snow the night before.

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.

Easton's Jeremy Joseph is aiming to launch a new project, a drumline focused on educating and inspiring young aspiring musicians in the city's West Ward.

ArtsQuest’s annual Souper Bowl, in which area restaurants compete for recognition as creating the best bouillons and superior stews, will return for a 14th year, the organization has announced. In addition, this year’s event will feature a new experience: a Best Thing You Ever Made soup demo with Chef Lee Chizmar, an Allentown native from the restaurant Bolete and Mr. Lee’s Noodles.