Arts & Culture

Ditch the Chinese food and the sweatpants: Here are some fun ideas to help you and yours ring in the New Year in the Lehigh Valley.

The Esther M. Lee African American Heritage Center hosted a Kwanzaa celebration, which included the lighting of the kinara and a discussion of the Seven Principles, at PBS39 in Bethlehem Saturday evening.

Lower Saucon Township approved a decade-long funding agreement with Hellertown Area Library, ensuring broader access to library services for residents starting next year.

Bethlehem's menorah lighting on Thursday, drew a crowd of about 70 people to the upper area of Payrow Plaza near City Hall. One visitor even said she drove from the Poconos.

ArtsQuest in November at a gala news conference announced a renewed push to renovate the 26,000-square-foot brick structure that would open in 2027 or 2028.

"A Complete Unknown" — a biopic on Bob Dylan, portrayed by actor Timothée Chalamet — opens in area theaters today, Dec. 25.

Christkindlmarkt brought out 128,384 visitors from 40 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., ArtsQuest Chief Executive Officer Kassie Hilgert said.

The Freddy Awards aren't until May, but several theater departments have already announced their spring productions to be held in April and May.

The annual Trees of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites exhibit is now on display through Jan. 12.

Join Megan Frank at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Friday for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, Brittany Sweeney takes her place with environment and science reporter Molly Bilinski and arts and culture reporter Micaela Hood.

Mayfair Festival of the Arts, the Allentown Memorial Day weekend festival that for the past five years has been held at Cedar Crest College, will return May 26-28, the festival announced Tuesday.

The AAA baseball team is seeking all sorts of talents, from signers to actors or anything else prospective entertainers would like to audition with and pitch.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bethlehem held what is almost certainly its last Mass, with the historic building slated for sale.

The festival, in its second year, took place at ArtsQuest.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact or that you might want to look at again.

Gamble has been to Bethlehem on a few occasions regarding the Moravian Church settlement. This trip marks Step Three in the site's potential World Heritage selection.

Morgan will share stores about motherhood, marriage and menopause in her standup routine Saturday, March 18 at Wind Creek Casino.

In preparation for St. Patrick's Day, the Lower Macungie Township Historical Society on Wednesday took to Rising River Brewing for a "history on tap" event highlighting the history of Irish immigrants in the township during the mid-1800s.

The film festival will feature seven short films that draw attention to women's issues such as gender equality and body dysmorphia. Ticket sales benefit the American Association of University Women's college scholarship fund.

Political writer Bhaskar Sunkara and British Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid are among the authors taking part in the Center for Ethics spring series.

An artist and musician, Phoebe Legere will perform new music inspired by her Native American roots at Arthaus on Thursday, March 16.

Hilgert is one of 50 women to be honored with an "Above & Beyond Women Award."