Arts & Culture

Consignment and thrift stores in the Lehigh Valley carry clothes and accessories to DIY Halloween costumes on a budget.

Ruben Studdard, who won the second season of “American Idol” in 2003 and followed up with two chart-topping albums that went gold and platinum, will perform at Symphony Hall as the “Special Guest Star” of singer/pianist Jim Brickman’s Comfort and Joy Holiday Celebration, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23.

The owner of Smartivities Showcase has opened a second location at the Promenade Saucon Valley.

The event is organized by Interlace Cultural y Desarrollo Integral de Lehigh Valley in partnership with the Baum Art School and the City of Allentown.

Drake Bell, who is best known for his starring roles on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” with Amanda Bynes from 1999-02, and “Drake & Josh” from 2004-07, will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at Signature Event Center, 137 Erin Lane, Brodheadsville.

11Fest will be from 5-11 p.m. Nov. 11 (11/11) inside the Main Library at 11 W. Church St., Bethlehem.

A four-man crew has been making haste since Oct. 1 in putting up the decorations, with most of the wreaths, ribbons, light wraps, trees and stars currently hanging on light poles above streets in South Bethlehem and along the city’s bridges.

The Indoor Auto Racing Series, in which the cars compete on the concrete floor, will drive into the area Jan. 3-4 for the ninth running of the Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Races.

The festival, which features which retailers, artisans and food in heated tents on the SteelStacks campus, will open for its 32nd year on the weekend of Nov. 15.

Easton's Frank Pintabone announced Wednesday that a Hispanic Resource Day, catering to the needs of the city's Hispanic population, will be hosted at the Easton Area Community Center in November.

The three-day festival features performances by Bywater Call, the Sensational Blues Brothers and Toronzo Cannon.

Allentown native Walt Groller learned to play the accordion at age 4 and became one of the premier polka musicians in the world.

Allentown resident and Northampton Community College alum Kiondre Kenner is vying to win the national 2023 Favorite Chef competition.

The festival will feature an array of entertainers, artwork, games for all ages and food vendors on Saturday, July 22.

If you’re the kind of fan of brother-trio indie-pop band AJR seeking more of an experience than just seeing the guys in concert at Musikfest on Aug. 3, the Bethlehem festival has an event for you.

Dieruff High School junior Faith Gross competed against other aspiring actors at talent auditions in Orlando. Gross said she got three callbacks, including from a music producer.

Walk The Moon, best known for its 2014 hit "Shut Up and Dance," on Friday announced it will take an indefinite hiatus after playing the four remaining shows it has scheduled — the next of which is Musikfest.

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.

Bethlehem's Craig Larimer will head a team brewing up some old-fashioned ale at the Bethlehem Blueberry Festival this July 15 and 16, utilizing the classic copper pot technique.

Participating restaurants are offering prix fixe menus and other deals on meals starting Sunday, July 16.

Indie-pop trio AJR, which will headline the main stage at Bethlehem's Musikfest festival's opening night Aug. 3, as of Wednesday was showing no seats available on the festival's ticket buying site.

"American Idol" winner David Cook, who after the show had a platinum album and two platinum singles, will perform at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem.