Entertainment News

As 2023 draws to a close, lehighvalleynews.com offers a retrospective of a variety of stories about people, places and things that make the Lehigh Valley special.

The Winter Light Spectacular features 1.2 million lights in holiday displays, fire pits for s’mores, hot chocolate and live performances by princesses Anna, Elsa, Belle and Cinderella.

Chuck D, one of the founders of seminal rap group Public Enemy, will present "A conversation with Hip Hop legend Chuck D of Public Enemy" at 7 p.m. April 16 in NCC's Spartan Center.

Looking for a fun way to ring in the New Year? We've got you covered with some local events that are fun for the whole family.

The Lehigh Valley tradition started in 2009. The family-friendly New Year's celebration returns this Saturday and Sunday at the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem. Fireworks are set for both nights.

The flagship store for Dave Phillips Music & Sound will close in the coming days, owner Joe DiMarco wrote on Facebook. On Wednesday, customers who flooded the store lamented the loss.

The second annual Allentown Film Festival will be from April 6-14 at the Civic Theatre of Allentown and its boutique Theatre514 across the street.

Ashley Cooke, best known for her song "Never Til Now," her gold single with Brett Young, will perform at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Longswamp Township, Berks County, on Jan. 26.

For those watching the premiere of the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel film "Miracle in Bethlehem, PA," Thursday night was an exercise in catching all those familiar details.

Lehigh University Choral Arts presented its free Christmas Vespers service at Packer Memorial Church on Sunday, Dec. 10. PBS39 was there to record it for a special hourlong program.

About 48,000 people attended the two-weekend Oktoberfest festival Oct. 4-6 and 11-13, ArtsQuest said.

The book festival will feature workshops, poetry, lectures by authors and discussions on the environment, LGBTQ rights, diversity and the steel industry. It runs through Sunday at various locations in the city.

Tribute shows to the music of Taylor Swift, Whitney Houston and Michael Bublé have been announced for the event center. So is rising comedian Sam Morril.

"Monster Mini Golf" is set to come to the Lehigh Valley, with construction started according to an announcement by the company's Facebook page.

The Buckinghams, best known for its No. 1 hit “Kind of a Drag,” will join with The Lovin’s Spoonful, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group that had the hits “Do You Believe in Magic?” and “Summer in the City” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, which in July announced a holiday lights experience coming to Coca-Cola Park, on Monday detailed more than two-dozen special nights during the display’s two-month run.

A Saturday night fire in the concession stand has temporarily closed The Emmaus Theatre, its owner said on social media Sunday.

The star-studded awards ceremony was held inside Miller Symphony Hall on Saturday, Oct. 12. Young actors and a Grammy-winning hip-hop artist shared the stage.

Chart-topping singer Sabrina Carpenter, a Lehigh Valley native, performed her Short n' Sweet Tour show at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in what she called a "hometown show."

Halloween festivities begin Oct. 13 with more parades following suit. The earliest trick-or-treat night begins Oct. 18, and most take place on Halloween.

Iby Shaw, a 21-year-old from Schnecksville, hit a milestone Friday — he has ridden Iron Menace, Dorney Park's newest and most intense coaster, 1,000 times since it opened in the spring.

The Lehigh Valley Vegan s’MAC Down, which is designed to determine who has the best vegan mac and cheese in the region, will return to Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center at 2 p.m. Nov. 10.