Arts & Culture

A look back at some of our favorite arts, culture, and entertainment stories of the year, including Allentown Art Museum's must-see windows, Musikfest, Super Bowl bling, and a rock legend's last performance in Allentown.

Seph Schlueter, whose song "Counting My Blessings" topped both Billboard's Christian Airplay and Christian Adult Contemporary charts, will play at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Calvary Baptist Church at 5300 Green Pond Road.

Pink Talking Fish, a tribute to Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish, will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 10, it was announced.

The event center has announced it's offering 25% off tickets to seven select shows, including matchbox twenty singer Rob Thomas, jazz singer Diana Krall and alternative rockers Bush.

Dan Kelly, who has fronted the band Fortunate Youth since its 2009 start, will perform a solo acoustic show at 6:30 p.m. March 19 at Rising River Brewing, 1955 Willow Lane.

Christkindlmarkt saw 145,552 holiday shoppers this year — an increase of 17,168 or 13.4% compared with the 128,384 who attended in 2024, according to a release.

Wind Creek Event Center was the No. 2 highest-grossing club in the world, according to Pollstar magazine's annual industry calculations.

Historic Hotel Bethlehem on Main Street again will only partially illuminate its rooftop sign from Christmas Eve to Christmas night — a tradition that goes back decades and was forgotten, until its revival a few years ago.

Clave Legacy Quintet, a faith-based jazz group, performed a free concert at the ArtsQuest Center’s Palette & Pour, previewing the Three Kings celebration scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 4.

"Trees of Historic Bethlehem," celebrating 20 years this holiday season, features two decades of its fan-favorite Christmas trees on display through Sunday, Jan. 11.

Lincoln Financial Field's The Wing Wall, painted by Lehigh Valley artist Justin Klement, has been "the most Instagrammable thing down at The Linc since it’s been built," he says.

Of the thousands of stories covered and told in 2025, our staff picked some of their favorites. They included a bald eagle looking for love in the Hellertown area and an $11 million "sky dome" planned for Easton.

Despite frigid temperatures — gusts drove the wind chill down to a bone-chilling 14 degrees Tuesday — families still lined up both indoors and outdoors across the SteelStacks campus for the 17th annual PeepsFest.

The Broken Record, whose decor and even food names follow a music theme, held a soft opening at its strip-center location at 6776 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie Township.

With the new year comes a new season of high school musicals, as hundreds of student performers begin rehearsals, hoping for a nomination at the 24th annual Freddy Awards.

Tickets to PeepsFest, the Peeps-themed New Year’s celebration at SteelStacks with its family-friendly party Dec. 30-31, are sold out, according to the ArtsQuest website.

Hopelessly Devoted to You, a tribute to Olivia Newton-John, one of the best-selling female artists of all time, will play Wind Creek Event Center on March 13. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19.

The new facility would add to the recent renaissance for arts in downtown Allentown.

Cast, crew, students and community gathered at the Univest Public Media Center, home to Lehigh Valley Public Media, for a red carpet premiere of the BET+ film celebrating local talent and the next generation of creatives.

Crayola Experience's Model Magic Movie Studios lets kids craft their very own creature, then see it star in a colorful mini adventure with the Crayola Crew.

ArtsQuest's annual Improv Comedy Festival will return to the SteelStacks campus for a 13th year on Jan. 23-24, the organization has announced.

In the cold of December, Dorney Park offers a preview of summer with its 2026 calendar release, including Opening Day for the park and for Wildwater Kingdom.