Arts & Culture

Ruben Studdard, who won the second season of “American Idol” in 2003 and followed up with two chart-topping albums that went gold and platinum, will perform at Symphony Hall as the “Special Guest Star” of singer/pianist Jim Brickman’s Comfort and Joy Holiday Celebration, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23.

The owner of Smartivities Showcase has opened a second location at the Promenade Saucon Valley.

The event is organized by Interlace Cultural y Desarrollo Integral de Lehigh Valley in partnership with the Baum Art School and the City of Allentown.

Drake Bell, who is best known for his starring roles on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” with Amanda Bynes from 1999-02, and “Drake & Josh” from 2004-07, will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at Signature Event Center, 137 Erin Lane, Brodheadsville.

11Fest will be from 5-11 p.m. Nov. 11 (11/11) inside the Main Library at 11 W. Church St., Bethlehem.

A four-man crew has been making haste since Oct. 1 in putting up the decorations, with most of the wreaths, ribbons, light wraps, trees and stars currently hanging on light poles above streets in South Bethlehem and along the city’s bridges.

The Indoor Auto Racing Series, in which the cars compete on the concrete floor, will drive into the area Jan. 3-4 for the ninth running of the Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Races.

The festival, which features which retailers, artisans and food in heated tents on the SteelStacks campus, will open for its 32nd year on the weekend of Nov. 15.

Easton's Frank Pintabone announced Wednesday that a Hispanic Resource Day, catering to the needs of the city's Hispanic population, will be hosted at the Easton Area Community Center in November.

About 48,000 people attended the two-weekend Oktoberfest festival Oct. 4-6 and 11-13, ArtsQuest said.

The 2nd Annual No Planet B Jamboree, featuring regional music acts Moustapha Noumbissi, Clover and Galen Deery & The Reason Why (formerly Mystik Fool), will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, in The Sun Inn Courtyard, 564 Main St., Bethlehem.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday for Iron Menace, the Northeast's first-ever "dive" roller coaster that features a 95-degree, 152-foot drop.

“AEW Collision,” a professional wrestling show by All Elite Wrestling that airs Saturday nights on TNT, is coming to Allentown’s PPL Center on June 20.

The rap legend and activist closed out the college's 50 Years of Hip Hop series.

Philadelphia Eagles Safety Reed Blankenship will visit the park as part of its Iron Menace Ride for a Cause event this Friday, which benefits the Eagles Autism Foundation.

Singer and pianist Jim Brickman, who had two No. 1 Adult Contemporary singles in the early 2000s and is among the best-selling pianists of recent times, will perform a holiday concert at Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall

Bethlehem native Glen Larimer has authored a book to honor his late father — local sports journalist Terry Larimer.

Old Crow Medicine Show made a stop at Easton's State Theatre Saturday for their Jubilee Tour, playing 25 years of American roots hits with an energy all their own.

Despite obstacles, co-owners CJ Moyer and Rogelio Romero are prepping for the grand opening of La Maya, an ultramodern Mexican restaurant coming to downtown Hellertown

Thousands of people filled the Allentown Fairgrounds on Saturday for the Lehigh Valley Comic Convention, featuring comic artists, cosplayers, collectors, and so much more.

Blue October, best known for the 2006 platinum hits “Hate Me” and “Into The Ocean,” will play the event center at 6:30 p.m. July 27. It will be joined by Switchfoot, best known for its hits “Meant to Live” and "Dare You to Move,” and singer Matt Nathanson, best known for his 2008 hit “Come On Get Higher.”

“Unspun: Stories of Silk,” which runs through April 28, explores the Lehigh Valley’s Moravian connection to silk production.