Entertainment News

It's still more than a month before the 37th annual Celtic Classic takes over downtown with kilts and kegs, but contests for the festival that celebrates all things Irish, Scottish and Welsh already are starting.

Diana Ross, who with The Supremes had a dozen No. 1 hits in the 1960s, then a half dozen more as a solo artist in the 1970s and ’80s, will perform at the center at 8 p.m. Oct. 18.

ArtsQuest, in partnership with Trans-Bridge Lines and Penn State University, on Monday announced a new satellite parking lot will be established at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

The opening night (the fest continues 2-11 p.m. today) offered New York gospel-blues trio The Harlem Gospel Travelers as headliners, and they offered an enthusiastic set. But it was some of the supporting acts that elevated the experience.

It's been two weeks since rock band Heart canceled its opening-night headline concert at Allentown Fair, and it looks like the fair is set to announce a replacement.

Over 80 comics signed up for the first round of a new competition at the Emmaus Theatre that looks to seek the funniest in the Lehigh Valley.

For the first time, the two-day festival will feature a barbecue competition, along with 11 blues performers. It will take place Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20 at SteelStacks.

Through this month, the symphony is offering a 10% discount on tickets to its popular Holiday Pops concert on Dec. 21 and Repertory Dance Theatre's "Nutcracker" on Dec. 7-8, both at Miller Symphony Hall at 23 S. 6th St., Allentown.

Michael W. Smith, who has won three Grammy Awards and 45 Dove Awards and has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21.

The Linny Awards, presented to individuals from the region for longtime commitment and dedication to the arts, will be held later this year in Musikfest Cafe at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

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

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 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.

The concert, announced last week, will be part of Philadelphia country radio station 92.5 WXTU's Ski Day at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. The station will broadcast live from the ski area from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 26.

Due to its lease not being renewed for 2024, the Pines Dinner Theatre in Allentown will be relocating.

Peepsfest drew thousands of people to the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem over two days, culminating in Sunday night's Peeps drop and fireworks display.

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.

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.