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 fifth annual Be My Neighbor Day was held Saturday at Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem. Children participated in crafts and gardening activities, interactive musical performances, and meet-ups with Daniel Tiger.

TacoFest, the annual event that pays homage to that Mexican dish that fills a fried tortilla with fresh, flavorful ingredients, will return to SteelStacks from 1-6 p.m. June 1, ArtsQuest announced.

The free annual spring and summer events that monthly motors onto the SteelStacks campus to let cars be admired by thousands of auto enthusiasts will return for a 10th year, ArtsQuest said.

Chevelle, whose 2002 album “Wonder What’s Next” went double platinum, will perform Aug. 27 at Wind Creek Event Center. And Big Country, whose 1983 debut album "The Crossing" went gold, will headline on June 20.

Promising outfield prospect Justin Crawford will be key to the fortunes of the 2025 Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who open their season on Friday at home.

Students from Arts Academy Elementary Charter School will visit the Allentown Art Museum this week as part of a new program to get students to engage with artwork in person.

Yächtley Crëw, a Los Angeles band that plays the 1970s and '80s soft rock sounds of the Yacht Rock trend, will perform at 6 p.m. July 16 at Univest Performance Center's Sound of Summer concert series.

The award-winning singer and songwriter and her band perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lehigh University's Zoellner Arts Center. Tickets are $25.

Aleah Nothstein, of Boot Scootin' with Aleah, teaches line dancing in New Tripoli and Bethlehem with her beau, DJ Mullet.

Light pollution has made seeing the Milky Way galaxy difficult, unless you're in a state park in north-central Pennsylvania that's a three-and-a-half-hour drive from the Lehigh Valley.

The 70th anniversary of Allentown’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade included more than 90 community groups and marched through the streets of the West End on Sunday.

Hawaiian singer Camile Velasco, who came in ninth place on the third season of "American Idol" in 2004 and now performs under the name Eli-Mac, says she'll perform at ReggaeFest at SteelStacks on July 5.