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 Sigal Museum's "Forged by Fire" exhibition opens at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, featuring relics from Northampton County's long history of firefighting.

Now in its 35th year, the event — organized by the Celtic Cultural Alliance (CCA) — will feature five stages of Celtic entertainers, Irish food, beer and whiskey, a Haggis Bowl contest, a youth fiddle competition and a Tartan parade with pipe bands.

Ryan Cabrera, who had the 2004 Top 10 Pop chart singles "On the Way Down" and "True," will perform at Bethlehem's Harvest Fest — the free street fair that runs noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 at Main and Broad streets.

The Berks Fiddle Festival, an annual celebration of folk music, held its 40th anniversary edition at Bear Creek Mountain Resort on Sunday. "It's the music that's in my heart," said one festival-goer.

The historical site celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Apple Days Festival and the 275th year of the plantation.

Bill George will present a solo retelling of Homer's classic Greek tale on Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17.

Two Bethlehem Area School District art teachers created a colorful stairs mural designed to inspire those faced with life's obstacles.

The annual Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium will take place at Braden Airpark on Sunday, Sept. 17.

The Ice House in Bethlehem will host a singer-songwriter showcase Thursday night. Tickets are available online and at the door.

Ayat, the Lehigh Valley's first Palestinian restaurant, welcomes diners to savor authentic Palestinian cuisines such as hummus, laffa and mashawy.

The formal event will take place at SteelStacks at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15.

A new mural at Lehigh Valley International Airport, unveiled Tuesday, greets passengers in the tunnel from the terminal to the parking lot.