Entertainment News

Juneteenth events are taking place throughout the Lehigh Valley. A large crowd took to Easton to celebrate the city's second annual Juneteenth parade on Sunday.

On Wednesday, June 19, DJ Prince Hakim (nee Hakim Bell) will be the musical entertainment from 2-8 p.m. for Allentown's downtown Juneteenth block party along Hamilton Street.

The series, slated to debut in spring of 2025, stars actor Mark Ruffalo and was created by Chester County native Brad Ingelsby.

Jefferson Starship will play at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Penn's Peak in Penn Forest Township. Tickets, at $28-$33, remain available at the Penn's Peak website.

With help of sponsors D.G. Yuengling & Sons and Bazella Works, all men and women now serving in any branch of the military, all veterans and immediate family of those killed in action, are eligible to get tickets to a variety of events, ArtsQuest said.

North Whitehall Township has added several new events to its recreation calendar this summer, including a food truck festival, a back-to-school party and a community concert.

Freefall Trampoline Park, which opened at 2800 Baglyos Circle off Emrick Boulevard in 2015, announced the closure on Facebook around 11 a.m.

Recently, many of Wildwater Kingdom's rides have been temporarily closed. All of them have reopened, except one, which will soon be replaced.

The federal holiday is a week away, but that doesn't mean celebrations are that far out yet. Festivities are taking place all over the area, with Juneteenth Lehigh Valley scheduling events through June 19.

The Bethlehem film festival will feature close to 70 shorts and indie films ranging from documentaries to comedy and horror. The screenings begin Tuesday at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity and close on Saturday, June 15.

Kids from five schools got live demonstrations of cow milking, beekeeping, apple farming and more. Organizers say it's meant to spark interest and explain an industry that they say sometimes goes unappreciated.

The Bethlehem Running Festival half marathon and half marathon relay were Sunday. It was the second day of the festival, bringing thousands to the SteelStacks campus.

The inaugural Bethlehem Running Festival's first day brought a 5k and 10k race back to the Steelstacks campus and the City of Bethlehem. Runners embarked on a running tour of the city through fall foliage and braving the hills on the route. Organizers say they are happy with the event and excited for Sunday's half marathon.

This weekend, Book and Puppet Company will feature Drag Queen Story Hour with the Yippee Skippy Puppets as part of the Easton Book Festival.

The local rock band will celebrate their album, "Maybe This is It" at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20.

Lehigh Valley Health Network held their annual Halloween party at the Children's Hospital. More than 100 children were expected to attend.

Dorney Park officials said the first piece of Iron Menace arrived Thursday, and represents the first truckload of what will be about 68 total.

A new playground is painted true to the original color scheme of the 1994 set it's replacing, and cost the school board $165,354.

The festival still drew a combined 38,500 people over its Oct. 6-8 an Oct. 13-15, ArtsQuest said.

Pierson has performed in various configurations, including bands, trios, duos and solos. Her Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio hit No. 2 on the Folk Radio Charts in 2015 with its song "Still She Will Fly" and No. 1 on the Folk Radio Albums chart with its 2017 full-length debut, "Singin’."

"Heart is the Hero" makes for the band's eighth studio album. The group will be sharing selections from that and more during the incoming fall tour, with shows throughout the Midwest, East Coast and Europe.

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