Arts & Culture

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.

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"

Ten community leaders, artists and business owners were honored by ArtsQuest at this year's Linny Awards held at the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem.

The City of Bethlehem erected a 45-feet-high Christmas tree at Payrow Plaza on Wednesday. The annual tree-lighting ceremony will be Friday, Nov. 29.

The renovated 26,000-square-foot brick structure will have Lehigh Valley Hospital Network as its title sponsor, LVHN and ArtsQuest announced at a gala news conference.

The coffee chain has billed customers an extra charge for dairy replacements like soy and almond milk. That charge will cease in early November.

A Hallmark Network filming a year ago at Christkindlmarkt on the SteelStacks campus will air this winter as a segment of a new holiday show, ArtsQuest announced Monday.

So far, lots of art supplies, posters, and glassware are for sale — but organizers say that will expand as the sales continue until the end of the year.

Weeks after closing due to a concessions fire, the local independent theater and comedy venue is set to reopen this weekend.

"Saint Nick of Bethlehem" will be showing at local theaters starting Nov. 22. The cast of the holiday movie, filmed in the Lehigh Valley, stars homegrown actor Danny Roebuck and Cathy Moriarty.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus stops at Allentown's PPL Center on Friday, Nov. 1, through Sunday, Nov. 3. Its featured percussionist has ties to Allentown.

Residents at the Country Meadows Retirement Communities in Forks Township got to take a virtual tour of some spooky spots across the globe for Halloween this month.

The I Love the 90s Tour, which features Vanilla Ice, Rob Base, Tone Lōc and C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams, will perform at 8 p.m. March 15 at Wind Creek Event Center.

The Athena Awards were presented during a luncheon at ArtsQuest Center on Tuesday. The awards honor women who provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in the Lehigh Valley and who actively assist other women in realizing their full leadership potential.