Arts & Culture

It's in our coffee, our baked goods, our savory dishes, our beer... It's everywhere! Pumpkin spice season is in full swing, and we're here for the haters to hear why it's so awful.

The 13th Oktoberfest opened Friday night at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. The German-inspired festival will be held Friday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 8, and Friday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15. It features polka and other music, a variety of beer, food and entertainment.

LehighValleyNews.com gathers a list of local Halloween events this year, ranging from ghost tours and parades to trick or treat.

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet will hold auditions for children ages six to 17 this Friday, Oct. 6 at the Pennsylvania Classical Ballet Academy.

The Large Flowerheads will perform on a stage erected near home plate on the field at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. General-admission seating will be in the stadium bowl, on blankets on the field or in lawn chairs in designated areas.

Easton's Garlic Fest is coming back for its 20th year, offering up savory and sweet garlic dishes, drinks, memorabilia and more.

Hip hop, widely believed to have started in the Bronx borough of New York City, quickly spread to the nearby Lehigh Valley, says organizer Michael A. Frassetto.

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center is holding its first annual Ghouls & Glitter Pride Night at Dorney Park.

The East Penn area is getting a multitude of Halloween festivals in events in October. New festivals return and set off, while traditional events return.

The free tribute concert honoring two prominent members of the Lehigh Valley's music scene takes place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8 at Central Moravian Church.

One of Easton's biggest events, Heritage Day, celebrates the city's role in the reading of the Declaration of Independence. For this year, it has been moved to Saturday, July 12, instead of on Sunday when traditionally held.

Krista Brown-Ly has served as the center's interim executive director after Ashley L. Coleman resigned last year.

Alice Cooper, who has had 10 Top 40 albums and 11 Top 40 singles, including “School’s Out,” “Elected” and “Only Women Bleed,” will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 16.

ArtsQuest has worked to renovate the old Bethlehem Steel Turn and Grind Shop into an event space. First, workers will remove asbestos and other contaminants with the help of a $500,000 grant.

The documentary "Rooted" features interviews and videos with the founders of Bethlehem's arts community. It will premiere at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, at Zoellner Arts Center.

Join the Watching the Skies guys at Shankweiler’s Drive-In next Tuesday, June 17, for a special filmed presentation on the "red planet," followed by a screening of the 1985 film "Explorers."

The band plays Allentown's Archer Music Hall with co-headliner Static-X at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12. General admission standing tickets, at $56.50 each, remain available.

The film festival now in its 21st year will feature more than 80 films and shorts. Presented by the SouthSide Arts District, the festival runs from Tuesday, June 10, to Sunday, June 15.

Sister started colorectal cancer awareness fundraiser last year for her brother, who loved cars and cookies and died too young from the disease.

Butch Patrick, who played son Eddie Munster on the television show "The Munsters," will be at the drive-in on June 17 as part of the Munster Go Home Summer Scream Series.

A "team of experienced food entrepreneurs" purchased the former Buca di Beppo restaurant at 714 Grape St. for $1.15 million, Sultan Property Group LLC, which completed the acquisition.

The sale will take place rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Broughal Middle School football field, 114 W. Morton St., in South Bethlehem.