Arts & Culture

Across Pennsylvania, hundreds of students are representing their schools in gaming competitions. While not sanctioned by the PIAA, students are making a name for themselves, gaining college scholarships and acquiring skills beyond just hand-eye coordination.

A new workshop for protective hairstyles is coming to Allentown. It will be hosted by Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center on May 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

The family-friendly festival will take place over Memoral Day weekend, Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28 at Cedar Crest College.

The festival, which runs May 31 - Aug. 6, features free performances of "A Midsummer's Night Dream" and ticketed classical and contemporary shows.

Looking for something to do to celebrate the unofficial kick off to summer? You can take advantage of these events happening right here in the Lehigh Valley.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

The enchanted fairy tale will be performed by 100 cast members at the Zoeller Arts Center.

Bluesy rocker Boz Scaggs, best known for his 1970s hits "Lowdown" and "Ledo Shuffle," performs at 7 p.m. Sunday at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown.

Greenway Pride will be held 1-4 p.m. Saturday, May 20, on the Greenway between Taylor and Adams streets.

The Water Lantern Festival is coming to Allentown; the event has a non-refundable ticket policy customers should be aware of.

Marianas Trench, which was chosen the Junos' Group of the Year in 2013, will perform at Archer on Tuesday, Oct. 7, as part of its just-announced The Force of Nature Tour.

Lehigh Valley 250, a partnership among regional arts, culture, education and history organizations, was formed to create a series of exhibitions, walking tours, digital offerings and performances beginning this year and carrying through July 2026.

Sone Ntoh, an Emmaus High School graduate, will look to impress the Baltimore Ravens at its rookie camp the first weekend of May. The former Monmouth University star running back signed a free agent contract with the team.

The youth group's spring production of "Mary Poppins" begins on Friday, May 9, at the Charles A. Brown Ice House in Bethlehem.

Another Day Dawns, the only Lehigh Valley act in 55 years to hit any Billboard chart, will be direct support for Scranton metalcore group Motionless in White's two shows next week. The shows will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10.

John Lodge, who was bassist for The Moody Blues for most of the band's 54 years, will perform at 8 p.m. July 24. And Staind, which sold 10 million copies of its first five albums, three of which hit No. 1, will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 11.

Students from the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts will have their creations showcased at a new "Industrial Chic" exhibition at the school's Corpora Gallery. There will be a free reception Friday evening on May 2.

Willson's studio is at 1321 N. 15th St. The final open house will occur Friday, May 2, through Sunday, May 3.

Augustana, best known for its Top 10 hit "Boston" in 2006 and Top 5 hit "Sweet and Low" in 2008, will play a free show at 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at the downtown and South Side Bethlehem music festival. The group is among a list of 323 musical acts Musikfest announced Wednesday will perform more than 500 concerts on its 15 free stages during the July 31-Aug. 10 festival.

Black Violin, Dark Star Orchestra, Sam Bush all set shows for Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center art SteelStacks.

An underutilized roller hockey rink at Jordan Meadows Park has been transformed into the Queen City’s first Mini-Pitch modular sports system focused on soccer.

Jamey Johnson, whose song "In Color" won Song of the Year from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association in 2008, will perform at 6 p.m. Aug. 8 as part of the venue's Sounds of Summer concert series.