Arts & Culture

Easton is set to extend the patriotic holiday season throughout the weekend with Heritage Day scheduled for Sunday, July 7, featuring historical reenactments, musical performances, food and fireworks.

Bethlehem native Ariel Torres became the first drag queen to perform at the Governor's Residence for its Pride Month Celebration Reception on June 26. Torres performed “I Was Here” by Beyoncé as his drag persona, Elektra Fierce St. James.

Duran Duran, which has 14 Top 25 hit songs including the No. 1 hits “Hungry Like the Wolf” in 1982, “The Reflex” in 1984 and “A View to a Kill” in 1985, on its Facebook page lists Allentown among seven cities in which it will announce shows "early next week."

One Earth ReggaeFest will take place at ArtsQuest's SteelStacks beginning at noon on Saturday, July 6.

For two decades, borough officials have celebrated Independence Day by handing out hundreds of kazoos and American flags to residents before parading through the streets, blaring patriotic songs the entire time. It almost didn't happen this year.

Mayor J. William Reynolds says turning the lights on at SteelStacks' blast furnaces would be costly for land owner Wind Creek, running up to as much as $1 million. But one city councilman says they need to be illuminated by the time Musikfest begins.

Childish Major, who rose to fame as the producer of the 2013 Rocko single “U.O.E.N.O,” which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, will join the show by Ludacris at 7 p.m. Aug. 10, Musikfest’s penultimate night. Also, opening the show will be a Philadelphia rapper LG (Team Genius), best known for her song “YBM,” which also has 10 million views on Instagram.

Enjoy an array of musical and theater performances, plus children's activities starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 6 at DeSales University.

Famed rockers Heart has canceled its headlining gig at Allentown Fair, and the rest of its recent tour, in light of singer Ann Wilson's cancer treatment.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs rolled out their Bethlehem City Connect merchandise Monday with a jersey, hat, and other offerings that take inspiration from the Bethlehem Star, along with nods to the history of Bethlehem Steel.

The My Generation Tour, led by The Lovin' Spoonful, will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 13 at Easton's State Theatre. Also on the bill are Gary Lewis and The Playboys — best known for its 1965 chart-topping hit "This Diamond Ring" — and The Hollies Greatest Hits starring Hollies guitarist Terry Sylvester.

Tickets for the 17th PeepsFest, at $5 per person, will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7 at the ArtsQuest website or the box office at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founder Way, Bethlehem.

Country singer Dylan Gossett will perform at Wind Creek Event Center on Thursday, March 5. The Temptations, who from 1965-89 had 45 Top 10 R&B hits, will perform with The Four Tops, who from 1965-72 had 15 Top 10 hits on the R&B chart, on Friday, April 10. Tickets are on sale at the event center website and its box office at 77 Wind Creek Blvd.

Biohazard plays Allentown's Archer Music Hall, with Swollen Teeth, Bayway and Onyx, at 5:30 p.m. today, Oct. 31. Tickets, at $59.50 for general admission standing, remain available at the Archer website and at the box office at 939 Hamilton St.

Leadership, mentorship and empowerment were themes at the 2025 ATHENA Awards held Oct. 30 at ArtsQuest. This year's honorees included Susan Wild, Veronica Gonzalez and MKSD Architects.

Theresa Caputo, known as the Long Island Medium, is making two appearances in the Lehigh Valley this weekend. The television personality described the show saying it's "probably the most amazing and touching show you will probably ever attend."

Charley Crockett, whose 2022 album "The Man From Waco," 2024's "$10 Cowboy," and this year's "Lonesome Drifter" and "Dollar a Day" all hit the Top 200, will perform Saturday, March 7.

The five-story, 78,500-square-foot facility will replace the Banana Factory as a hub for creativity and learning. The construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.

"Cut Loose," an exhibition by local artists Anthony Smith Jr. and Marie Belle, will be on display through Thursday at Eagle Nest Gallery. The two creatives also will be among the 31 artists participating in the Allentown Art Museum's annual fall fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 8, and free-to-attend art fair on Sunday, Nov. 9.

The Korean-born, French-inspired Paris Baguette franchise is looking to expand its footprint in the Lehigh Valley as it chips away toward its goal of opening more than 1,000 cafes across the country before 2030. The bakery-cafe chain is specifically taking interest in the Allentown-area market.

Daniel Seddiqui told LehighValleyNews.com on Thursday the region’s two biggest cities aren’t short of charm, friendly residents or traffic.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, best known for its 1970 Top 10 hit "Mr. Bojangles" and its 1987 platinum Country chart hit "Fishin' in the Dark," will perform Friday, April 10.