Arts & Culture

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.

About 48,000 people attended the two-weekend Oktoberfest festival Oct. 4-6 and 11-13, ArtsQuest said.

The Christkindlmarkt and new ice rink drive crowds to Bethlehem's SteelStacks campus.

More than 70 people waited in line — some for nearly five hours Friday in temperatures in the 30s — for the Allentown Fair box office to open to buy tickets to Keith Urban's concert Sept. 3 at the fair grandstand.

This week, the LehighValleyNews.com digital desk handpicked three events for you to enjoy, including a holiday pop-up at the Promenade Shops, Live Advent Calendar and Christmas in Nazareth.

The real specimens that will be on display at Da Vinci Science Center are designed to compare and contrast healthy bodies and organs with those that are diseased, with an emphasis on common ailments along with cardiovascular issues and dementia.

After five years of successful summer sipping with its annual SangriaFest, ArtsQuest announced Wednesday it was adding a new Winter Winefest and Market to its lineup, which will be noon-5 p.m. on Feb. 19 inside ArtsQuest Center on the SteelStacks campus.

Ja'Siah Young is the star of 'Raising Dion.' He was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen Program. He and the show were nominated for a total of six Emmys.

Do you want to see the National League champs? The upcoming Phillies Winter Caravan in Bethlehem will take place at the ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem on January 19.

A nonprofit community group responsible for the lighted trees in Easton's Centre Square will flip the switch on new lights on South Side this Friday.

Bradbury-Sullivan Center is hosting four free art history classes in December and January.

Lehigh Valley Grand Prix owner Mike McCreary is celebrating 15 years of business in Allentown and expanding in a big way, opening an outdoor entertainment venue complete with a huge ropes course dubbed "HangDog."

Alt-rockers Goo Goo Dolls, which has had more than a dozen songs in the Top 10 of Billboard's adult rock chart over the past 15 years, will headline Bethlehem's Musikfest festival, it was announced Monday.

Actor, musician and children’s author widely known for his portrayal of one of the first regular characters on the children’s show “Sesame Street,” Bob McGrath, has died at the age of 90. McGrath’s passing was confirmed by his family who posted on his Facebook page on Sunday. Sesame Workshop tweeted Sunday evening that it “mourns the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for over 50 years.” McGrath was a founding cast member of “Sesame Street” when the show premiered in 1969. He is survived by his wife, Ann Logan Sperry, and their five children.