Arts & Culture

Hundreds of costumed kids scrambled for candy at Halloween parades across the Lehigh Valley over the weekend.

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.

The concert will feature music from local composers and presented by a string quartet.

The two-day, family-friendly festival features lectures from authors, children's story-hours, a jazz brunch and movie night.

ArtsQuest, in partnership with the Lehigh Valley Brewer’s Guild, has announced its first annual Spring Beer Fest on April 15 at the SteelStacks campus.

The Freedom High alum and Franklin and Marshall College grad will appear on Season 20 of the dating reality show.

The George Taylor House will be featured on an upcoming episode of "Ghost Hunters." Volunteers say paranormal events have become common at the Revolutionary War era property.

One Earth ReggaeFest will offer a dozen reggae and related musical acts on two outdoor stages over 12 hours on July 12 on the SteelStacks campus. The hours will be noon to midnight.

The Allentown Symphony Orchestra is gearing up to present "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" in a concert with a screening of the complete film.

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.