The fourth annual Route 22 Filmworks Film Festival will celebrate independent and student filmmakers at the Charles A. Brown Ice House in Bethlehem on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Running from noon to 9 p.m., the festival will screen 40 films produced by independent filmmakers, most of whom are from Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival is celebrating its 35th anniversary season in 2026, and Artistic Director Jason King Jones joined the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast to talk about the milestone, this year’s “Legends & Legacy” theme, and why Romeo and Juliet continues to connect with audiences generation after generation.
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Founded in 1992 at DeSales University, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has grown into one of the region’s premier summer theater destinations, blending Shakespeare, musicals, dramas, and contemporary productions into a packed annual season.
This year’s lineup includes Romeo & Juliet, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Million Dollar Quartet, Moriarty, and more running through August 2 in Center Valley.
During the conversation, Jones talks about balancing classic works with modern audiences, what makes live theater special in the Lehigh Valley, and why PSF continues to attract both longtime theatergoers and first-time visitors.
Learn more about the festival at https://pashakespeare.org/
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Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com
Girls on the Run has the word “run” right there in the name, but this program is about a lot more than running.
On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, George Wacker is joined by his daughter Dahlia, a first-year Girls on the Run participant at her elementary school, for a conversation with Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono Executive Director Liz Fones, coach Jennifer Leffler, and Laney, a program alumna who now gives back as a junior coach.
Yes, there is running. Yes, the season ends with a 5K. But the real work happens during the practices, where trained coaches help participants build confidence, make friends, set goals, talk through emotions, and learn how to handle the kinds of social pressure that can show up early in elementary and middle school.
Liz explains that the program gives girls tools at a critical age, especially as they begin thinking more about how they fit in, what others think of them, and how they see themselves. Jennifer, who has coached for many seasons, talks about helping girls navigate friendships, peer pressure, negative self-talk, and the simple but powerful idea of changing “I can’t do this” into “I can’t do this yet.”
Laney shares how her own experience with Girls on the Run helped her meet new people, build a love of running, and eventually return to the program as a junior coach. She now runs cross-country and track in high school, and talks about how running gives her a way to deal with stress and reset when life feels overwhelming.
Dahlia also shares what she has enjoyed as a first-year participant, including making new friends and getting to be part of something that gives girls a chance to try running in a supportive way.
The episode also looks ahead to the Girls on the Run 5K Celebration at DeSales University on Sunday, May 17. The event brings together girls, coaches, families, running buddies, mascots, music, and plenty of cheering as participants complete the season together.
Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono serves communities across the region and is open to girls of all abilities. The organization also emphasizes that financial need should not stop a girl from participating, with scholarships and support available for families.
Learn more about Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono at:
https://www.gotrlehighpocono.org/
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The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF) is celebrating the region’s brightest young performers with The Muse of Fire Project, a new educational theatre initiative featuring a cast and crew made up entirely of high school students from across the Lehigh Valley.
To celebrate or not to celebrate? For the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the answer is a resounding “yes” as it marks 35 years of bringing world-class theatre to the Lehigh Valley.
The Festival has announced its 2026 Summer Theatre Series, themed “Legends and Legacy,” a season designed to honor its remarkable history while looking toward the future.
Running from May 27 through August 2, the lineup celebrates major milestones, including PSF’s 30th year as the official Shakespeare Festival of Pennsylvania, the 25th anniversary of its educational WillPower Tour, and the nation’s upcoming Semiquincentennial.
We’re excited to announce that George Wacker, founder of Lehigh Valley with Love Media, will be a panelist at the Young Professionals Council’s Leadership Summit on February 21, 2025, at DeSales University!
As part of the “Building Your Personal Brand” breakout session, George will share insights from over a decade of experience in media and storytelling. With more than 15 million video views and 8 million podcast downloads, Lehigh Valley with Love Media has been recognized regionally and nationally for creative and impactful work that connects businesses, nonprofits, and communities with their audiences.
This is an amazing opportunity to learn how to leverage storytelling, build a personal brand, and make an impact. We’re proud to contribute to this event and share some of the strategies and lessons we’ve learned along the way.
Click to learn more about the event and secure your spot: 📅 2025 Leadership Summit Details: https://bit.ly/3O1D1TR
