On Memorial Day morning, a single solemn melody will move through Bethlehem, passed from musician to musician in a citywide act of remembrance.
The 13th annual TAPS over Bethlehem returns Monday, May 25, 2026, with 61 trumpet players lining the streets from Nisky Hill Cemetery to Memorial Park Cemetery. The first notes will sound at 8 a.m. from Nisky Hill Cemetery, beginning a continuous performance of “Taps” that carries across Bethlehem before ending at the flagpole in Memorial Park Cemetery.
The event began in 2014 through the vision of Dan Deysher, a World War II veteran, Liberty High School alumnus, Navy musician, and longtime Bethlehem resident who believed deeply in the power of a live bugler to honor fallen service members.
Musikfest 2026 is turning up the feel-good factor early.
ArtsQuest has announced a first look at next year’s free stage lineup, and two familiar names are already giving this summer soundtrack some serious throwback energy: Sixpence None the Richer and Ryan Cabrera.
Battle Borne will host its 6th Annual Walk for Wellness on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, bringing together veterans, families, local organizations, and supporters for a morning focused on mental health, wellness, and connection.
A violin that survived the Hiroshima atomic bombing will be heard in Bethlehem this month as Bethlehem Area Public Library presents “Surviving Hiroshima: Author and Hibaku Violin Music and Talk” on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Outcast Rescue is inviting the community to its Cash Bingo fundraiser on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Seven Sirens Brewing Company, 327 Broadway, Bethlehem. Doors open at noon and games begin at 1 p.m., with a $1,000 grand prize featured as part of the event.
Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District has released its full 2026 event calendar, with a mix of returning favorites and community events running from early spring through December.
Tape Swap Radio is bringing back the Lehigh Valley Punk Rock Flea Market to the Charles A. Brown Ice House in Bethlehem on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with a full day of vendors, music, and community activities. The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for shopping, followed by live music from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Looking for a fun St. Patrick’s season outing for kids? The Historic Leprechaun Hunt returns to Bethlehem’s Historic District on Saturday, March 14 from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM.Young explorers will search for hidden leprechauns, follow riddles, and finish the hunt for prizes.
Many Lehigh Valley residents still remember marking life’s big moments with cakes, pastries, and tortes from Groman’s Bakery. On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, the community can revisit that legacy during a special program at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem Catholic graduate and Lehigh Valley native Madelyn Dundon is bringing her latest film Hazel to the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at ArtsQuest for three special screenings this December AND you can find it on streaming soon!
Hazel is a survival thriller based on the true story of Hazel Miner, a teenager who tried to protect her younger siblings during a deadly 1920 blizzard in North Dakota. The film has played to sold out audiences across the Dakotas and now arrives in Bethlehem before it begins streaming later this month.
The production converted an abandoned Kmart in Bismarck into a full movie studio, complete with a snow landscape, lighting rigs, VFX elements, and even horses brought inside for filming. Local audiences will appreciate the creativity of turning a forgotten building into something new.
Dundon also spoke about what it means to bring the film home. From her years at Bethelehem Catholic High School to the Freddy Awards to her breakout in Getting Grace with Dan Roebock (who has also been on our podcast), she credits the Valley for giving her the foundation to take on roles like this one.
ArtsQuest screening dates: • Sunday, December 7 at 1 p.m. with Q and A • Monday, December 8 at 7:15 p.m. with Q and A • Wednesday, December 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Touchstone Theatre is bringing back its long-loved holiday tradition with the 26th annual Christmas City Follies, running December 4 to 21, 2025. The original, homegrown variety show has become a seasonal favorite for Lehigh Valley audiences, celebrated for its mix of music, comedy, and surprising new moments each year.
Welcome to the Lehigh Valley Small Business White Elephant. This community giveaway brings together dozens of local shops, restaurants, makers, and independent businesses for a fun, citywide gift exchange. Once we put out the call, more than fifty small businesses stepped up with gift cards, products, and experiences worth at least twenty dollars, and we are incredibly grateful for every one of them for joining in.
How it works
Look through the full list of prizes on this page.
Fill out the form below (or at this link) and rank every prize from first choice to last. Your entry must include a ranking for every prize.
After sign ups close, all participants will be randomized.
We will select all winners on Sunday, December 21. Starting from the top of that randomized list, each person will receive the highest ranked prize on their list that has not already been claimed.
We continue down the list until all prizes are assigned.
Winners will be connected directly with the business that donated their prize to arrange pickup, mailing, or digital delivery.
Disclaimer Lehigh Valley with Love Media hosts the event, manages the sign ups and prize matching, and connects winners with participating businesses. We do not provide the prizes and are not responsible for fulfillment, shipping, or delivery. NO purchase necessary.
What started as three filmmakers meeting at a Wegmans café has grown into one of the Lehigh Valley’s most collaborative creative communities. In this episode, George talks with Dawn Daignault, Michael Sheridan, and Vince Stahl, the founders of Route 22 Filmworks — a grassroots filmmaking group that now boasts more than 200 members and an annual film festival at Bethlehem’s Ice House.
We discuss the group’s origins, how they’ve built a space where newcomers and seasoned pros collaborate on no-budget films, and why their festival focuses on showcasing local talent. They also share behind-the-scenes stories, the unique challenges of keeping films under 20 minutes, and why they believe the Valley’s indie film scene is thriving.
🎤 In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, host George Wacker sits down with comedian, writer, and performer Kathleen Aldrich, whose brand-new one-woman show Tumor Baby premieres April 12 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.
We talk about how Kathleen got her start in the Lehigh Valley comedy scene over a decade ago, what it was like turning a real-life medical emergency into a heartfelt (and hilarious) show, and how Tumor Baby blends storytelling, vulnerability, and humor into something totally unique. From sketch comedy with Pigeon City to personal pieces in Dear Diary, Kathleen’s journey is as inspiring as it is funny.
You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how the show came together—from handwritten journal entries to Google Docs and years of performance experience—and why this isn’t stand-up, but something more intimate and impactful.
Kathleen Aldrich and the Comedy of Crisis in TUMOR BABY
“I’ve been talking about doing a one-woman show since 2014.”
For comedian and writer Kathleen Aldrich, Tumor Baby isn’t just a show—it’s a culmination of more than a decade of finding her voice in the Lehigh Valley comedy scene. What started as strange abdominal pressure and a reluctant trip to the ER turned into a 10-pound tumor and, eventually, the foundation for a deeply personal, unexpectedly hilarious one-woman show.
From Improvised Bits to Intimate Storytelling
Kathleen’s journey began in 2012 with improv classes at ArtsQuest, where she found her creative tribe and a passion for performance. Over the years, she honed her craft with local favorites like Dear Diary, Pigeon City Sketch, and Improvised Stand Up. Her work is rooted in real life—often uncomfortable, always honest—and Tumor Baby is no exception.
“It’s not stand-up,” she explains. “I’m a storyteller.”
Kathleen weaves her cancer diagnosis into a broader narrative—childhood memories, messy relationships, weird blog awards, and moments that are just too good not to share. It’s comedy that doesn’t flinch. And it’s all been years in the making.
The Writing Process (and a Lot of Google Docs)
So how do you write something like Tumor Baby? According to Kathleen, it all starts with pen and paper. She breaks down memories into moments, finds the funny in the pain, and then builds the show line by line.
“I write down the significant moment first,” she says. “Then I ask—how do I make this funny?”
With guidance and mentorship from fellow comic Alia Brown, Kathleen transformed those raw stories into a full-length show. It’s not just about a tumor—it’s about life, survival, and making people laugh in the face of the absurd.
A Decade of Comedy and One Big Stage
One of Kathleen’s proudest moments? A sketch she wrote for Pigeon City called Sex in Senior Living—a drag parody imagining the Sex and the City crew as Golden Girls. “The crowd just loved it,” she says. “That moment… it was electric.”
Now, with Tumor Baby, Kathleen steps into the spotlight solo. It’s vulnerable, funny, and full of heart—and it all happens live this weekend.
🎟️ Don’t Miss It Catch Tumor Baby on Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 PM 📍 Bethlehem Visitor Center at SteelStacks 🎟️ Tickets & info: steelstacks.org
