Arts & Culture

A capella group Straight No Chaser, with members Walter Chase of Forks and Jerome Collins of Allentown (front, third from left) play two shows at Easton's State Theatre today, Dec 7.

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites on Saturday night recognized Historic Hotel Bethlehem for its historical preservation efforts. The group held its annual Benefactor’s Reception & Awards ceremony at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

Organized by the SouthSide Arts District, First Friday is a monthly community celebration across South Bethlehem, featuring art, live music, cultural experiences and historical attractions.

A popular retro stylist band that was among the bigger-named acts to play an early show at Allentown's new Archer Music Hall will return to the area to play Wind Creek Event Center. So will a top comedian who has been a favorite of the Lehigh Valley.

Doogie Horner will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday during the fourth annual Winter WonderJam show presented by the "Your Next Favorite Band" podcast at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem.

Dogs in festive sweaters and antlers stole the show at Lights & Leashes, the dog-friendly night at Illumination at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. The event will return Dec. 17 and Dec. 30 for more tail-wagging family fun.

The zoo held a ribbon-cutting at the Fred & Anne Jaindl Family Barnyard and St. Luke's Children's Hospital Playground Wednesday, marking the completion of phase one of its Children's Activity Area project. The two spaces now are officially open to the public.

Pure Prairie League will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. It helped bring mainstream success to the country-rock and Southern Rock genres with its 1972 album "Bustin' Out," and its Top 30 hit "Aimie."

Scotty McCreery, who won “American Idol” in 2011 and since has released three No. 1 Country chart albums and two other Top 10 discs, will perform at 7 p.m. April 26, it was announced.

"Saint Nick of Bethlehem" is available to rent on Amazon Prime starting at $2.99. The holiday movie, which was filmed in the Christmas City, features recognizable scenes in downtown Bethlehem, Nazareth, Bath and Northampton.

Alan Doyle, a singer-guitarist for Great Big Sea, will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 6 — a week before St. Patrick's Day — at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center. Tickets go on sale Friday.

An art exhibit and auction are set to raise funds for a program that teaches children and adults about mindfulness. The Shanthi Project aims to use the funds to expand their programming in Lehigh Valley schools.

College Hill PorchFest is back on Sunday, September 29, with its largest event yet, featuring around 70 performers across 35 porches, along with plenty of other community-based activities.

The Temptations, who from 1965-89 had 45 Top 10 R&B hits, will perform at 8 p.m. April 25. They will be joined by The Four Tops, who from 1965-72 had 15 Top 10 hits on the R&B chart.

The film "War Game," produced by an Emmaus High School graduate, simulates what it would be like if a full insurrection really came to pass.

The weeklong art festival features free performances and concerts by saxophonists, dancers and poets.

After a low turnout last year caused by lousy weather, Celtic Classic organizers have their sights set on returning in full force this weekend. The festival runs Friday through Sunday and includes the Highland Games & Festival.

Greater Shiloh Church celebrated its 120th birthday Sunday with a special joint worship service.

The International Cultural Festival will he held at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22.

This year's Steel Weekend focuses on women in steel, celebrating the often unheard stories of female Bethlehem Steel employees. The two-day event is organized by the National Museum of Industrial History and will be held Saturday and Sunday.

Miller Symphony Hall is marking two major milestones for the Symphony Orchestra's 74th season as the hall celebrates its quasquicentennial and its music director celebrates 30 years.

Bullet for My Valentine, which has had 16 Top 40 songs on the Mainstream Rock and Alternative Rock charts, will perform at 6:30 p.m. May 9 at Wind Creek Event Center. Joining it on the show will be Trivium, whose 2011 album "In Waves" hit No. 13 and whose 2015 song "Until the World Goes Cold" hit the Top 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart.