Arts & Culture

Six years ago today, local noted musician Sal Ritz Jr. passed away shortly after performing at Musikfest. His widow, Laurie Ritz Dragotta, says a return to Musikfest is still too emotional for her.

Dan + Shay, a country duo from Nashville, played to a roaring crowd on the main stage at Musikfest 2023 on Sunday night. The two are just returning to touring as they've been recording a new album due out this fall.

Here are the Musikfest acts and more you should see today, Monday, Aug. 7.

Rapper G-Eazy performed at Musikfest on Saturday night.

Here are the Musikfest acts and more you should see today, Sunday, Aug. 6.

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.

Featuring nationally recognized deaf artists and performers, the event promises interactive game shows, musical performances and a celebration of inclusivity and diversity in the world of entertainment.

Representatives from Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, arrived Tuesday, but will have experienced much of what the Lehigh Valley has to offer and more come their departure on Sunday afternoon.

Shuttles will service from parking locations as well as between the concerts on Bethlehem's North and South sides and ongoing nearby construction is not anticipated to impact festivalgoers.

With an indefinite hiatus on the horizon and only a handful of shows left to play, Walk the Moon's performance at Musikfest's Steel Stage reminded us they're more than their biggest single.

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center will host its first Pride Parade Sunday. A step-off ceremony at 10:30 a.m. between 13th and 12th streets will be followed at 11 a.m. by the parade which will last about an hour.

A group of young artists, under the tutelage of muralist and teaching artist Matt Halm, took to the Lehigh Valley International Airport Friday to work on a brand new mural, allowing the kids to exercise their creativity and skills while appreciating public art.

The 30th anniversary of Lehigh Valley Pride will be highlighted at a festival on Sunday at Bethlehem's SteelStacks campus. The event will include food, vendors and drag performances, as well as many other activities.

ArtsQuest is holding "Beep Boop, Beep Boop: A Sci-Fi Film Festival," presenting fans of the genre with nine classic films.

Organizers had hinted that this year's crowds were expected to break records. On Tuesday, ArtsQuest confirmed it. More than 1.3 million visited Bethlehem during the 11 nights of Musikfest 2023.

The opening line of The Band's song "The Weight" — “I pulled into Nazareth/Was feelin' about half past dead” — has again put the spotlight on the Northampton County borough with the death of its writer, Robbie Robertson.

The time-lapse was shot from the weather camera atop the Univest Public Media Center on the SteelStacks campus.

The 40th Musikfest drew to a successful close on Sunday night in Bethlehem. The nation's largest open-gate free music festival delivered more than 500 free performances, plus paid-ticket headliners. Organizers believe a record of roughly 1.25 million attended the 11-day event. An official count is expected to be announced Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has unveiled plans to allocate expired restaurant licenses, marking the 12th auction since Act 39's implementation in August 2016.

The Grammy-winning band closed out the 11-day spread with a 90-minute set of their biggest hits and covers of The Eagles and Journey.

Giuseppe Iatarola, 11, of Hellertown, is a widely known gearhead looking to make a mark on the automotive industry with his YouTube channel and MotorWeek segment.

In a stripped down production that felt custom-made for the Musikfest stage, Morris capped a 17-song set with three songs that put a rush of energy into the crowd as the skies opened up over Bethlehem.