Arts & Culture

Check out a roundup of activities, places, and times to see the fireworks as the Lehigh Valley celebrates Independence Day.

Next year marks 250 years since the colonists produced a bold declaration of freedom and self-governance that still echoes today. It will be an occasion celebrated and recognized across the land — and we at Lehigh Valley Public Media are no exception.

In addition to live music, there will be more than a dozen local vendors, businesses and crafters, as well as trail and outdoor demonstrations, and group walks.

Steel Panther, which has had five albums top Billboard's Comedy chart, will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 11 at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, it was announced.

In the spirit of Shakespeare, Saturday's celebration will feature entertainment for all ages, including musical performances by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, alpaca and ponies, and a student-led Latin band.

From 8 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 27, you'll be able to buy tickets for five of Musikfest's 11 headline shows, two paid-ticket Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks shows and nine Musikfest Cafe shows without paying any service fees.

Howie Mandel, who since 2010 has been a judge on “America’s Got Talent,” will perform with fellow comedian Brad Garrett at 8 p.m. Aug. 24. And Alan Parsons Live Project, which continues the work of Alan Parsons Project, will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 2.

Now in its 14th year, the festival honors Puerto Rican culture in the city. The three-day celebration starts on Thursday with a documentary screening, a tribute to the women of salsa, and a flag-raising on Friday, and more Latin music and food on Saturday.

Lehigh Valley Dodgeball is building an inclusive, community-driven space for players of all skill levels in Easton. Open gyms are now underway every Monday night.

Shankweiler’s, renowned as the oldest continuously operating drive‑in theatre in the country since 1934, will soon be showcased to millions across the country on "Good Morning America."

State Senator Pat Browne has secured funding from PA's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for three local projects — including $1 million for the new downtown Allentown Da Vinci Science Center project.

The new work by Bill George tackles a work close and impactful to him takes stage Wednesday at the Bethlehem theatre.

Thousands gathered for Allentown’s revamped Halloween parade Saturday, and many said they liked the new format.

State Senator Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) has helped bring a $100,000 grant to the Lehigh County Historical Society in an effort to support historic property renovations and new programming.

Paired with the return of the borough's Fall Festival, a local councilman took the lead on bringing the vision of a new, bigger Halloween parade to life. The weekend will include food trucks, floats, festivities and, of course, candy.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs held their annual Suites N Treats event Thursday, providing a safe and inclusive environment for at-risk children and children with disabilities to enjoy the Halloween tradition of trick or treating.

U.S. Chaos, which performed alongside some of punk rock's seminal bands, continues to tour with three original members 40 years later. It performs at Gas House Dance Hall in Catasauqua on Saturday.

The lavish life of million-dollar homes isn't as far away as you'd think. A lot of multi-million dollar homes can be found right here in the Lehigh Valley.

This week, the LehighValleyNews.com digital desk has handpicked three events for you to enjoy, including the "Starstruck: An American Tale" art exhibit, Screamin' Green Hauntoween at Crayola Experience and some indoor activities.

The story of serial killer Charles Cullen, who admitted to killing dozens of victims while working as a nurse in PA and NJ - including at hospitals the Lehigh Valley - will debut Wednesday, Oct. 26, on Netflix.

Pat's Pizza & Bistro in Bethlehem, which went viral for its pasta flights earlier this year, is offering up a seasonal menu of fall comfort foods. It features (what else?) a sage pumpkin gnocchi in a homemade pumpkin cream sauce.

Tickets on the secondary market for the much anticipated matchup between the Phillies and Astros are going as high as $3,228 in Philadelphia, according to TicketIQ. That's much higher than the average World Series price tracked by the event ticket search engine and aggregator since 2010.