Arts & Culture

On Thursday, ArtsQuest and public officials gathered for a ceremonial "brick-breaking" marking the start of construction work at the former Bethlehem Steel Turn and Grind Shop at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Straight No Chaser will perform at the theater at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 5. And the stage play "Waitress" at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16.

Friday's show, which started this year's lineup of 48 concerts, gave the audience its first exposure to a new state-of-the-art sound system that replaces a public address system developed 25 years ago.

Two-thirds of the way through construction, the new Creativity Center is ahead of schedule, below budget, growing in size and adding new elements of creativity, opportunity and community, officials said.

WWE will return to the Lehigh Valley this summer, bringing its 2026 Summer Tour to the PPL Center on Thursday, July 16, marking the company’s first live event in Allentown in roughly three years.

The Freddy Awards is now in its 24th year. The ceremony will take place on May 21 at State Theatre.

Country music star Martina McBride and Justin Hayward, who led The Moody Blues for more than 50 years, are among four new shows announced for the theater's 100th season.

Musikfest announced 331 music acts announced for about 500 concerts on the festival's 15 free stages during its July 31-Aug. 9 run, with a July 30 preview night.

The season will offer 48 shows and open May 15.

Hard rock band The Used will perform at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem on July 22. Tickets are available at the venue website or box office.

Easton Farmers' Market will celebrate its 272nd season on Saturday, May 4, with dozens of locally oriented vendors offering food, drinks, entertainment, specialty crafts and more.

Almost Queen, which performs the music of bombastic 1970s and '80s rockers Queen, will perform July 13 at Univest Performance Center in Quakertown. And Get The Led Out, which performs the music of 1970s heavy metal band Led Zeppelin, will close out the season with a show Aug. 24.

Nashville artist-songwriter George Birge, whose song "Beer Beer, Truck Truck" went viral on social media in 2021, then who hit No. 1 with the song "Mind On You" in 2022, will be Brad Paisley's "special guest" at the Aug. 30 concert at Allentown Fair grandstand.

The shop, Dear Santa, is at 458 Main St. across from Historic Hotel Bethlehem. Owner Tom Dubreuil has a close connection to Santa Claus — He's portrayed him for several years as part of Christmas season festivities organized by the Downtown Bethlehem Association.

The series of 10 Wednesday night movies will feature new and classic Disney fare, recent blockbusters and some films with important anniversaries.

Sugar Ray, which had the chart-topping hits "Fly" in 1997 and "Every Morning" in 1999, will take Musikfest's Steel Stage on Aug. 2, the first full night of the festival.

Sounds of the Underground, at 7:30 p.m. June 21, will showcase eight Lehigh Valley-connected music acts.

C.F. Martin & Company has unveiled a vivid new museum display focused on sustainable manufacturing practices, highlighting years of innovations which focus on quality instruments with an environmentally-friendly orientation.

Forty-six concerts (the same as last year) are scheduled for Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks' 14th year, announced Sunday at a season reveal event at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

With Orthodox Easter just around the corner, we spoke with artists about the rich history of pysanky, passed down through generations and a product of detailed, ornate handiwork.

Meet staff and learn about the studio's art and music classes at the open house on Sunday, April 28.

The free Blast Furnace Blues will be from 5-11 p.m. July 19 and from 2-11 p.m. July 20 on two stages, both outdoors: Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks and ArtsQuest Center’s Town Square.