Arts & Culture

Total attendance figures won't be released until later in the week, but they likely were helped by a week of splendid weather. The six-day fair started last Wednesday and wrapped up, as usual, with the demolition derby at the grandstand on Labor Day.

Keith Urban at the Allentown Fair grandstand played an astounding 13 gold or platinum hits — or was it 16? — on a night that cooled off a "Long Hot Summer" day.

The Great Allentown Fair's final day is Monday. Sunday hosted the Barnyard Olympics, a homemade chocolate cake competition and a Keith Urban concert.

The team from LehighValleyNews.com lost — just barely — to a trash-talking team of 'movers and shakers' that included Mayor Matt Tuerk and County Executive Phillips J. Armstrong.

The rapper and social media sensation performed his hits "Mr. Clean" and "Betty (Get Money)" on Saturday night at the Allentown Fair grandstand.

Davenport's spin on Christmas pudding wowed the judges at the competition, which is part of the fair's farm-to-table series.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Early-aught hip-hop hitmakers Nelly and Chingy performed Friday at third night of the Allentown Fair grandstand.

Yung Gravy on Saturday night brings his maddeningly catchy — but absurdist — raps about wooing your girlfriends ("Oops!") and your moms ("Betty (Get Money)" and "Mr. Clean") to Allentown Fair's grandstand.

Lehigh County 4-H Livestock Club members are the biggest winners at the Great Allentown Fair, which runs through Labor Day on Monday.

The 19th annual Emmaus Arts Commission Student Film Festival has opened registration, giving students throughout the Lehigh Valley opportunities to make something for the big screen with a kickoff event taking place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 in the Emmaus Community Park's Arts Pavilion.

Laura Brady is hosting a reception on Friday, Sept. 22.

The Sigal Museum's "Forged by Fire" exhibition opens at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, featuring relics from Northampton County's long history of firefighting.

Now in its 35th year, the event — organized by the Celtic Cultural Alliance (CCA) — will feature five stages of Celtic entertainers, Irish food, beer and whiskey, a Haggis Bowl contest, a youth fiddle competition and a Tartan parade with pipe bands.

Ryan Cabrera, who had the 2004 Top 10 Pop chart singles "On the Way Down" and "True," will perform at Bethlehem's Harvest Fest — the free street fair that runs noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 at Main and Broad streets.

The Berks Fiddle Festival, an annual celebration of folk music, held its 40th anniversary edition at Bear Creek Mountain Resort on Sunday. "It's the music that's in my heart," said one festival-goer.

The historical site celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Apple Days Festival and the 275th year of the plantation.

Bill George will present a solo retelling of Homer's classic Greek tale on Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17.

Two Bethlehem Area School District art teachers created a colorful stairs mural designed to inspire those faced with life's obstacles.

The annual Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium will take place at Braden Airpark on Sunday, Sept. 17.

The Ice House in Bethlehem will host a singer-songwriter showcase Thursday night. Tickets are available online and at the door.

Ayat, the Lehigh Valley's first Palestinian restaurant, welcomes diners to savor authentic Palestinian cuisines such as hummus, laffa and mashawy.