Arts & Culture

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.

Freedom High School grad Lilly Moss, 19, is making her way up the music and video streaming platforms with debut album title track, "Meet Me on Broadway"

Whether you're looking to side with safety to celebrate Independence Day this year, want a fun event or just don't want to deal with post-celebration clean-up, plenty of spots in the Lehigh Valley are offering free and purchase-required events.

Celtic Classic is scheduled Sept. 27-29 on the festival grounds near downtown Bethlehem.

That clash of fantasy and education worlds comes to Ag Hall at Allentown Fairgrounds July 5-7, when Jurassic Quest, which bills itself as North America’s most popular interactive dinosaur event, returns to Allentown.

The two cultural institutions collaborated to offer a conjoined professional development experience for educators at the charter school.

To CEO Russell Fletcher, starting out as a small hyper-local business gave Mishka Premium Vodka a leg up to evolve at the rate it is right now. Soon, the vodka, which is distilled in Allentown, will be carried by yet another national chain.

The new eatery, Okatshe, will open at 947 W. Hamilton St., connected to The Moxy Allentown Downtown Hotel in mid-September, Garces announced in a release.

Cheap Trick, which had its first hit with “Surrender” in 1978 and 10 years later had its biggest hit with “The Flame,” will perform Oct. 22. And Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, with his Led Zeppelin Evening will perform Nov. 15.

The Struts stop at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks for a paid-ticket show in which it will play the entire album, as well as other songs.

The Great Allentown Fair returns Wednesday, Aug. 27, and so does the competition for fair royalty. Here are the four Lehigh Valley finalists hoping to be crowned the next Great Allentown Fair queen.

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church held a festival for the community to raise money for families and victims of the deadly attack at Prophet Elias Church (Mar Elisa) in Damascus, Syria.

The Route 22 Filmworks Film Festival returns to Bethlehem’s Charles A. Brown Ice House for its third year on Saturday. The nine-hour event will feature 39 short films, including student work from several Pennsylvania universities.

A new documentary focusing on income and wealth disparity in America will premiere at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at the ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem. It was produced by Richard Master, founder and CEO of MCS Industries in Palmer Township.

Emblem3, best known for the 2013 song "Chloe (You're the One I Want)," will perform in Archer's Arrow room at 7 p.m. Nov. 14, it was announced.

Allentown Fair announced it will hold its first Inclusive Day on Friday, Aug. 29 to welcoming guests of all abilities "to enjoy a few hours of fun, entertainment and community connection in a sensory-aware and accessible environment."

Neko Case, who has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and also is a member of the high-charting Canadian power pop super group The New Pornographers, will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 17.