Entertainment News

Jessica Simpson, known for her 1999 platinum single "I Wanna Love You Forever," as well as for starring in the MTV reality show "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" with her husband, singer Nick Lachey, will perform at 8 p.m. June 11.

ArtsQuest announced Thursday it will transform its campus at SteelStacks into "the Lehigh Valley’s premier soccer destination" June 11-July 19.

The Major Arena Soccer League announced Thursday that league owners have approved a team for Allentown.

Zach Top, who in just two years has had four gold or platinum songs and is best known for his 2024 double-platinum hit "I Never Lie," will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 21, the venue announced.

The May 22 show will kick off five monthly concerts in the second year of free, family-friendly series "with an expanded and diverse lineup designed to bring the community together through live music, culture and shared experiences in the heart of Allentown," presenter ArtsQuest said in a release.

Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival will return, reimagined as Red, White & Blues for 2026, from noon-8 p.m. June 13 in downtown Allentown.

The festival, returning to the college campus for an eighth year, will be held 4-10 p.m. Friday, May 22, and noon-10 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24.

Night Ranger, best known for its hits “Sister Christian” and “When You Close Your Eyes,” will perform at 8 p.m. May 22.

Comedian Bobby Collins, known for his appearances on "The Tonight Show" and VH1 and Showtime comedy specials, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16. And The Fab Faux, which for more than 25 years has recreated iconic Beatles tunes and solo songs of its members behind guitarist and former "Conan" bandleader Jimmy Vivino, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30.

French Montana, best known for his 2017 11-times-platinum single "Unforgettable" (featuring Swae Lee) and 2012 double-platinum hit "Pop That" (featuring Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne), will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 27.

Shye Roberts, a graduate of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, performed Tuesday night on "The Voice" and earned a chance to compete in the live competition on the show.

Ten new shows were added to the State's 2024-25 season lineup.

Dorney Park's new coaster, Iron Menace, has been nominated for the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best New Theme Park Attraction. Voting is open now through Dec. 23.

Il Divo will play the event center at 8 p.m. March 28, comedian Jimmy Carr on Nov. 7, 2025, and comedian Stavros Halkias on May 10.

Based on themes of home in the Lehigh Valley and executed via improvisation on the piano, former Nazareth native Dominic Billett's new record “Truer is the Valley, the River, the Pale Sky" paints a thoughtful, vivid picture perfect for walks throughout the region.

A big part of the Christkindlmarkt experience is the food, drink and holiday music. The German-inspired holiday market will be open Friday to Sunday for its first three weeks, then expand to Thursday to Sunday through Dec. 22.

The State Theatre show will kick off a tour in which Elvis Costello will perform only with pianist Steve Nieve from his band The Attractions, according to his website.

Sebastian Maniscalco is scheduled to perform at the PPL Center in Allentown on Thursday, March 13. Tickets go on sale Friday morning.

Conservative TV talk show host Greg Gutfeld, whose program "Gutfeld!" on Fox-TV is the most-watched late-night show in the United States, is coming to PPL Center on Sept. 20.

"Saint Nick of Bethlehem" is screening at the Frank Banko Alehouse Theatre and Shankweiler's Drive-In. Actor Danny Roebuck will also appear at ArtsQuest as Santa Claus on Sunday, Dec. 1.

The owner of Board to Death Games at 338 Main St., just off the Emmaus Triangle, said he wants to be a space for both classic board games and more hardcore hobbyist games. Just down the road, on the same side of the Triangle, Let's Go Coffee Co. is set to open at 358 Main St.

The warm weather, albeit part of a drought, gave more visitors more time to visit Lehigh Valley Zoo and learn about its purpose in 2024. Nearly 185,000 guests visited. The 11th annual Winter Light Spectacular opened this weekend.