Arts & Culture

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, best known for its 1970 Top 10 hit "Mr. Bojangles" and its 1987 platinum Country chart hit "Fishin' in the Dark," will perform Friday, April 10.

The Indoor Auto Racing Series, in which the cars compete on the concrete floor, will roar back into the arena Jan. 9-10 to kick off the 2026 series.

The classical music performance begins at 4 p.m. Sunday in Baker Hall. Tickets cost $45–$55.

The annual event is named in memory of philanthropist and arts champion Linny Fowler, who was known for her philanthropy and community engagement. The ceremony was held Thursday night at ArtsQuest's Musikfest Cafe.

With ArtsQuest's 33rd Christkindlmarkt opening in three weeks, construction of its new Winter Wonderland area is underway on the SteelStacks campus. And ArtsQuest has announced additional details of the German-themed holiday market, which will open Nov. 14.

Dog Man: The Musical, a live stage production of the popular children's graphic novel series, will perform at Easton's State Theatre on March 26. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 24.

Blues singer ZZ Ward, who was featured on Guns 'N Roses guitarist Slash's S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival show that headlined Musikfest in 2024, will perform Thursday, March 19.

Rob Thomas, whose band matchbox twenty’s 1996 debut album “Yourself or Someone Like You” sold 12 million copies and produced four of the band’s dozen hits — “Push,” “3 a.m.,” “Real World” and “Back 2 Good” — will return to the center at 8 p.m. Jan. 16.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents the Greatest Show on Earth will have seven performances at Allentown's PPL Center: 7 p.m. May 21 and May 22; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 23; and noon and 4 p.m. May 24, it was announced.

Culture Club and jazz singer Diana Krall are coming to the Wind Creek Event Center in separate shows in February.

Chris Nee’s Comedy to Break the Stigma will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Civic Theatre of Allentown, 527 N. 19th St.

Allentown businesses and high school students were honored at the Allentown Chamber of Commerce annual awards reception at the Renaissance Allentown Hotel on Thursday.

Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail has returned for its 7th year, taking Pennsylvanians on a tasty tour of the Keystone State.

The sale, which will be offered in person only, will be noon to 1 p.m. for ArtsQuest Circle donors and ArtsQuest members. It will open to the general public from 2-5 p.m.

Leaders in the arts discussed the cultural and economic impacts of the industry at the Lehigh Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance's 2024 conference at Lafayette College.

ArtsQuest's annual TacoFest is returning again this year. It will take place from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2, on the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem.

Visitors can sample a wide variety of local craft brews while enjoying barbecue and a Grateful Dead tribute band this 2:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1. Samples are included in ticket prices: $40 in advance; $45 at the entrance.

"The Play That Goes Wrong," will begin on Wednesday, May 29 through June 16 as part of Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University. The season also includes productions of "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "Winnie the Pooh and Friends," and "The Color Purple."

Held each year, the Rooms to View House & Garden Tour gives community members a glimpse into the architectural beauty and charm of select Lehigh Valley homes across the Bethlehem area.

After helping to secure the first collective bargaining agreement for Minor League Baseball players, catcher William Simoneit is hoping to earn a promotion to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs this season.

Godfrey Daniels, the venerable folk music club in South Bethlehem, will offer its first headline comedy show in its 48-year history at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 30, according to organizers of the just-announced show.

The Jeff Parks Founders Society was inaugurated last week with a ribbon-cutting for a permanent display on the exterior of the ArtsQuest Center, to the right of the entrance, that will honor Parks and donors by creating a collage around the current year’s official Musikfest poster.