Arts & Culture

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.

Lehigh Valley Music Awards, once popular but on hiatus for three years, said it's looking to return, perhaps under ArtsQuest. But as it does, the upstart ABE Music Awards wants to take its place.

Lehigh Valley SoccerFest continues at the SteelStacks campus, while the City of Allentown partners with St. Luke's University Health Network to host World Cup watch parties.

Maltas Con Leche, an Allentown-based art collective, designed the Musikfest 2023 poster as a family unit. I will be unveiled at the Banana Factory’s First Friday event on Dec. 2.

Renderings of the HangDog ropes course coming to the Easton area in 2023. (Courtesy Mike McCreary/renderings by Sage Design-Build Inc.)

Country music superstar Keith Urban has played The Great Allentown Fair twice in his storied career. He'll return next September and is the first headliner announced.

This week, the LehighValleyNews.com digital desk handpicked three events for you to enjoy, including Candy Cane Lane, Kids Jam and a Lovefeast.

The Christmas experience features immersive theatrical performances and special treats on Main Street, Bethlehem this December.

The Christmas City is holding a community breakfast in early December.

The channel, famous for its feel-good Christmas movies, has started streaming a live feed of historic Downtown Bethlehem on its website.

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 book festival will feature workshops, poetry, lectures by authors and discussions on the environment, LGBTQ rights, diversity and the steel industry. It runs through Sunday at various locations in the city.

Tribute shows to the music of Taylor Swift, Whitney Houston and Michael Bublé have been announced for the event center. So is rising comedian Sam Morril.

"Monster Mini Golf" is set to come to the Lehigh Valley, with construction started according to an announcement by the company's Facebook page.

The Buckinghams, best known for its No. 1 hit “Kind of a Drag,” will join with The Lovin’s Spoonful, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group that had the hits “Do You Believe in Magic?” and “Summer in the City” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, which in July announced a holiday lights experience coming to Coca-Cola Park, on Monday detailed more than two-dozen special nights during the display’s two-month run.