Arts & Culture

A handful of bands scheduled to perform on the free Plaza Tropical Stage during Musikfest were chosen by high schoolers from Bethlehem Area School District.

The awards show is now in its 23rd year and will take place on May 22 at the State Theatre.

ArtsQuest will hold an online ticket sale starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 8, with discounts of up to $39 per ticket to shows at Musikfest, Musikfest Cafe and SteelStacks festivals.

Wilson Phillips, whose 1990 self-titled debut disc sold five times platinum with the hits "Hold On" and "Release Me" — both gold — and "You're in Love," will perform at 8 p.m. July 25.

More than 50 local landmarks, restaurants, and shops are featured in a new TV and streaming platform commercial. The ad will air in households in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery will be the supporting act on the show at the fair's Grandstand stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.

Kishi Bashi says he'll play from his entire catalog when he performs at 7 tonight, May 6, in The Arrow room at Allentown's Archer Music Hall. Tickets, at $38.50 for general admission standing, remain available.

David Lee Roth, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a vocalist for Van Halen, will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 17, it was announced.

Marianas Trench, which was chosen the Junos' Group of the Year in 2013, will perform at Archer on Tuesday, Oct. 7, as part of its just-announced The Force of Nature Tour.

Lehigh Valley 250, a partnership among regional arts, culture, education and history organizations, was formed to create a series of exhibitions, walking tours, digital offerings and performances beginning this year and carrying through July 2026.

A basketball hoop, lines and benches have been restored at the Wood Street Playground in Whitehall Township after a PennDOT plan to expand Route 22 was put on hold.

The Wheels of Time August Rod Run and Jamboree is returning to Macungie Memorial Park this weekend. The event brings thousands to view over 1,500 classic street rods and custom cars on August 25-27.

Dr. Lee Riley treats cancers at St. Luke’s University Health Network, but in his free time, he sculpts. He is the recipient of ArtsQuest’s Linny Award for Visual Artist of the Year.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs will host the Bacon and Brews Festival at Coca-Cola Park on Sept. 30. There will be brewers, ciders, distilleries, wineries and bacon items from IronPigs Concessions and select food vendors.

The Weight Band, featuring former The Band guitarist Jim Weider, will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

Several theaters in the Lehigh Valley will offer discounted tickets on Sunday, Aug. 27. Close to 20 films will be shown throughout the region, including summer hits "Barbie," "Oppenheimer," and "Little Mermaid."

The Hooters, who combined ska and folk-rock on 1980s hits such as “Day By Day” and “And We Danced,” will perform at 8 p.m. at Univest Performance Center, 301 W. Mill St. Gates open at 6, and an opening act will go on at 6:30 p.m.

Starting Wednesday, gates at the Allentown Fairgrounds will close between Liberty and Chew Streets, the north and south borders of the grounds.

The Macungie family has other notable works around the Lehigh Valley and tri-state area, including the artwork for the most recent Musikfest.

While the Lehigh Valley IronPigs’ stadium again will have music emanating from its baseball diamond — and will look to do more — it doesn’t mean the park is likely to become a steady stop on the concert circuit, General Manager Kurt Landes said.

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.

At its 30th anniversary, the Lehigh Valley's Magic: The Gathering scene is going strong say local players and game store owners. Some events have seen a downturn in players following the pandemic and expansion of online play, while others have seen a strong resurgence of new and returning players.