Arts & Culture

Ditch the Chinese food and the sweatpants: Here are some fun ideas to help you and yours ring in the New Year in the Lehigh Valley.

The Esther M. Lee African American Heritage Center hosted a Kwanzaa celebration, which included the lighting of the kinara and a discussion of the Seven Principles, at PBS39 in Bethlehem Saturday evening.

Lower Saucon Township approved a decade-long funding agreement with Hellertown Area Library, ensuring broader access to library services for residents starting next year.

Bethlehem's menorah lighting on Thursday, drew a crowd of about 70 people to the upper area of Payrow Plaza near City Hall. One visitor even said she drove from the Poconos.

ArtsQuest in November at a gala news conference announced a renewed push to renovate the 26,000-square-foot brick structure that would open in 2027 or 2028.

"A Complete Unknown" — a biopic on Bob Dylan, portrayed by actor Timothée Chalamet — opens in area theaters today, Dec. 25.

Christkindlmarkt brought out 128,384 visitors from 40 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., ArtsQuest Chief Executive Officer Kassie Hilgert said.

The Freddy Awards aren't until May, but several theater departments have already announced their spring productions to be held in April and May.

The annual Trees of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites exhibit is now on display through Jan. 12.

Join Megan Frank at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Friday for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, Brittany Sweeney takes her place with environment and science reporter Molly Bilinski and arts and culture reporter Micaela Hood.

An art show centered around mental health and disabilities is opening in an unlikely place. Midnight Gallery is in the showroom of Vollux Autowerks, a car repair and diagnostics shop in Lehigh County.

Iron Menace made its first successful test run on Wednesday at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, making a slow ascent before the ride plummeted 95-degrees from 160 feet.

The three-hour festival highlights 12 short films by students from the university's film and television department.

More than a dozen musical acts and food and craft vendors will be spread across the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem for the festival featuring Jamaican vibes. It's set for Saturday, July 6.

Fraleigh will discuss her latest exhibition, "Threaded with moonlight," on Saturday, March 23.

The Lehigh Valley Book Festival's 5th iteration will take place over five days, starting Wednesday March 20.

Lehigh Valley native Daniel Roebuck has a part in the ABC show "9-1-1," whose new season began last week and continues Thursday.

More than 2,000 marchers joined Allentown's St. Patrick's Day parade Sunday, an annual tradition celebrating the region's Irish culture. “It’s a great way to bring the community together,” said one of the parade-goers.

Muses at the Ice House will be from 4-9 p.m. April 6 at Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem.

“Ireland’s famous export is its people, but obviously our culture. This time of year everybody wants to be Irish,” said Neville Gardner, owner of McCarthy's Red Stag Pub and Whiskey Bar in Bethlehem.

It's been a wonderfully warm week, so you might be hankering for some ice cream. Fortunately, these Lehigh Valley sweets shops have St. Patrick's Day themed frosty desserts that are perfect for this time of year.

A St. Patrick’s Day Ceremony/Irish Culture Celebration on Friday at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem kicked off the St. Patrick's Day weekend in the Lehigh Valley.