Arts & Culture

The crowd at Allentown Fair for Cheap Trick and Blue Oyster Cult was there to hear the hits of their youth and — for the most part — got what they wanted.

For the first time, Robbie Furman will showcase his work at the Allentown Fair.

The oppressive heat did not deter folks from making their way to the 172nd Great Allentown Fair at the Allentown Fairgrounds on Wednesday. Great food and drinks, amusement park rides and a variety of events will take place at the fair through Monday, Sept. 2.

Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour hits the grandstand stage at Allentown Fair at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. Tickets, at $30 each, remain available at the fair website.

Nearly 50 years later, Blue Öyster Cult still is performing, and this year even released "Ghost Stories," its first album of new material in four years and only second in 23 years. The group also will open for fellow 1970s rockers Cheap Trick as the grandstand feature for opening night at Allentown Fair at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28.

The wartime lost portrait by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder, entitled "Portrait of George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony," has hung at the Allentown Art Museum since 1961.

Bethlehem's SouthSide Arts District has joined with the city and Wawa stores to create what it calls a "Gateway sign" — "a vibrant public art piece that enhances the entrance between Route 412 and SouthSide downtown."

The 2024 Great Allentown Fair runs Wednesday, Aug. 28 through Monday, Sept. 2. We've got a rundown on what you can expect, from the grandstand headliners to the Iron Chef competition and more.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is hosting its annual Brew at the Zoo again in 2024. This year, it falls on Saturday, Sept. 14, and will feature more than three dozen craft beers and ciders.

Jayna Elise, who auditioned on "Idol" in both Season 21 in 2023 and Season 22 the past spring, recently was chosen for the role of Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which performs at Easton's State Theatre on Oct. 1-2.

The chosen work will be featured on the Levitt program book, promotional materials, social media graphics, concert posters and other related merchandise.

Fans of the global superstar celebrated her 34th birthday at the SteelStacks campus on Wednesday night.

Sol Katana is a Latin singer and solo artist based in the Poconos.

Officials said demolishing the current facilities and starting from scratch is the most cost-effective option to continue to provide its range of public offerings.

The Smithsonian Institution-affiliate will begin to review applications starting in January.

Musikfest will have a Southern rock band as a headliner next year.

Swifties can celebrate the singer's 34th birthday on ice on Wednesday night.

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries finally gives a first look at what's to come this holiday season when "Miracle in Bethlehem, Pa" premieres. Despite the title, the movie was shot elsewhere and not in the Lehigh Valley.

Musikfest, for the past four years it's been in-person, has added a "preview" night, and already has announced 2024's lineup also will have one. Is Musikfest becoming an 11-day festival?

Emmaus' borough council on Monday introduced an ordinance establishing an official borough historical commission to collaboratively govern efforts towards the historical borough landmarks of the 1803 House, Shelter House and Knauss Homestead.

Local volunteers gather every September to make thousands of 6-inch candles. It's the beginning of a process that takes hours of planning and preparation — and started in Germany in 1747.

LoCash, the duo of Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, which has had three Top 10 Country chart hits, including 2016's No. 1 "I Know Somebody," will perform at 6:30 p.m. July 19 as part of the Sounds of Summer Series concerts at Quakertown's Univest Performance Center.