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.

Chicago, which is among the Top 30 bestselling music acts of all time, with more than 120 million copies of its 46 albums sold worldwide, will play at 8 p.m. Oct. 25. And Engelbert Humperdinck, known for his hits "Release Me," "There Goes My Everything" and "A Man Without Love," will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 7.

Welcome to LehighValleyNews.com's Fest in Show, a daily offering of some of the can't-miss acts on the free stages of Bethlehem's Musikfest festival.

Performances of eVenti Verticali SPHERE will take place at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, and 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, on Lehigh Valley Public Media's plaza and ArtsQuest's Town Square.

In an hour-and 22-minute set at Musikfest's main Steel Stage on Wednesday, Lynyrd Skynyrd played 13 songs — all the hits, but also deeper tunes — spanning the band's career.

Bethlehem's Austin Shaffer downed five ears of corn in just over four and half minutes to win the Aw Shucks Corn Eating Contest at Musikfest on Wednesday night.

Welcome to LehighValleyNews.com's Fest in Show, a daily offering of some of the can't-miss acts on the free stages of Bethlehem's Musikfest festival.

Handwerkplatz, located in the festival's Colonial Quarters area near Monocacy Creek, will remain closed today, Aug. 7, the festival said on its social media.

The idea is simple: What if a man dressed as a Sasquatch in shades and a bandanna played saxophone and EDM covers of pop hits? Turns out, it's a winning formula, and Musikfest 2024 attendees absolutely love it.

Carly Pearce, best known for her triple-platinum 2019 hit "I Hope You're Happy Now" with Lee Brice, will perform at 8 p.m. May 2 at the venue. Singer Carter Faith will be the opening act.

Welcome to LehighValleyNew.com's Fest in Show, a daily offering of some of the can't-miss acts on the free stages of Bethlehem's Musikfest festival.

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem's new 2024-25 season will begin in September with a free Bach at Noon concert.

Gates for the headliner show now will open at 4 p.m. and the Old Dominion performance will begin at 5 p.m., the festival said in a release.