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."

The 2025 season, led by artistic director Jason King Jones and managing director Casey William Gallagher, includes nine productions.

I Want My 80s Tour, featuring 1980s chart-toppers Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung and Paul Young, will perform at the event center at 8 p.m. July 13.

Following successful openings in Pittsburgh, Layne's Chicken Fingers is expanding across Pennsylvania. The chain is planning multiple locations in the Lehigh Valley.

Terry Fator, who won the second season of “America’s Got Talent” in 2007 with his puppets, who sing in a wide variety of styles, will perform at 8 p.m. July 12.

Tonya Johnson, known affectionately as "Mama B," cheered on her son in New Orleans while wearing a custom-made sequin jacket by Bethlehem designer Lara Bly.

A new tradition is taking shape in Easton, with the Big Easy Easton Brass Band encouraging people to assemble Krewes for a Mardi Gras parade and ball with a $1,000 cash prize.

A pair of river otters at the Lehigh Valley Zoo offered their predictions for the winner of Super Bowl LIX during the zoo's annual Otter Bowl. Eagles fans may not like it, depending on their perspective.

"The Geologic Podcast" is no geology. Just Geo(rge) and his logic. Writing sketches and voicing multi-character dialogues has landed a Bethlehem podcaster a Hall of Fame spot.

Bethlehem native Michael Joyce spent 25 years working in restaurants in Philadelphia and New York City. After developing a passion for baking bread and studying local grain, he opened Bub's Breads within Lit Coffee Roastery & Bakeshop.

The Love, Lust & Marriage tour by Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites offers insight into the intimate life of Moravians. The tour runs through Feb. 22 at the Moravian Museum on Church Street.

From Coplay to Caesar's Superdome: Saquon Barkley made a name for himself at Whitehall High and Penn State. He's been a top performer in the NFL this season. Here are Barkley's best plays of the 2024 season ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

A dozen Pennsylvania puppies will compete for the "Lombarky" trophy and Most Valuable Puppy starting at 2 p.m. Sunday.