Arts & Culture

Last year more than 700 families enjoyed the festivities.

Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre is America’s oldest drive-in movie theater to still be in operation. It will celebrate its 89th birthday on April 15, 2023.

In the theater's latest production, "The Last Play," theater co-founder Bill George teamed up with his daughter, Anisa, to explore their journey as playwrights and actors.

This year's event promises to be a celebration of local history, architecture, interior design, original art, and fascinating stories.

Teams from Brandywine and Philadelphia will meet at Burnside Plantation to kick off their seasons, in an event hosted by Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.

La Santa Cecilia, which in 2014 won the Grammy for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album and has been nominated twice, will perform at Levitt SteelStacks at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26.

The 1982 hit includes the lyrics, “Well, we’re livin’ here in Allentown/And they’re closin’ all the factories down” – marking the city a symbol of the American rust belt. Some people who live in Allentown say it's not fair and not true.

Soviet-born Israeli-American classical pianist Yefim Bronfman, whose works have won a Grammy Award and also appeared in Disney films, will open the 73rd season of Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall.

28 string musicians, most in middle school or younger, performed in Allentown's Miller Symphony Hall Sunday, as part of the Allentown orchestra's education program.

The concert will feature music from local composers and presented by a string quartet.

Now that Musikfest has completed the announcements of the headliners on its main Steel Stage, the festival still has to reveal the wide offerings on the festival's 15 free stages.

The Struts, whose style recalls bands such as The Rolling Stones and Queen and who has had the hits “Could Have Been Me” and “Kiss This,” will perform at 7 p.m. June 28 at Archer Music Hall, it was announced Monday.

Jesse Royal, a Jamaican who blends traditional roots reggae with modern influences and socially conscious lyrics, will perform at the July 11 festival on the SteelStacks campus. Royal will be among more than a dozen acts across three stages scheduled for the festival, set for noon-1:30 a.m.

Brian Regan, who has starred in several Comedy Central specials and refrains from profanity and off-color humor, will play State Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25, the venue announced. And Lewis Black, known for his cantankerous comedic style and also as an author, playwright, social critic and actor, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

Jessica Simpson, known for her 1999 platinum single "I Wanna Love You Forever," as well as for starring in the MTV reality show "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" with her husband, singer Nick Lachey, will perform at 8 p.m. June 11.

The Major Arena Soccer League announced Thursday that league owners have approved a team for Allentown.

Zach Top, who in just two years has had four gold or platinum songs and is best known for his 2024 double-platinum hit "I Never Lie," will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 21, the venue announced.

The May 22 show will kick off five monthly concerts in the second year of free, family-friendly series "with an expanded and diverse lineup designed to bring the community together through live music, culture and shared experiences in the heart of Allentown," presenter ArtsQuest said in a release.

Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival will return, reimagined as Red, White & Blues for 2026, from noon-8 p.m. June 13 in downtown Allentown.

The festival, returning to the college campus for an eighth year, will be held 4-10 p.m. Friday, May 22, and noon-10 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24.

Night Ranger, best known for its hits “Sister Christian” and “When You Close Your Eyes,” will perform at 8 p.m. May 22.

Comedian Bobby Collins, known for his appearances on "The Tonight Show" and VH1 and Showtime comedy specials, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16. And The Fab Faux, which for more than 25 years has recreated iconic Beatles tunes and solo songs of its members behind guitarist and former "Conan" bandleader Jimmy Vivino, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30.