SOCCERFEST: ArtsQuest’s monthlong SoccerFest celebration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues at the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks with watch parties, live entertainment, family activities and special events.

The festival features large-screen broadcasts of World Cup matches, youth 3-on-3 soccer tournaments, soccer-themed arts and crafts, hot-glass experiences and the exhibit, “Forged in Steel: The Founders of Modern Day American Soccer,” at the Bethlehem Visitor Center at SteelStacks.

The fifth annual Ginvitational also returns, offering craft cocktails and culinary experiences inspired by countries participating in the World Cup.

Additional attractions include the Kicks & Flicks soccer film series at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas and free concerts at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks.

SoccerFest activities continue throughout June and July. For schedules and information, visit ArtsQuest

CELEBRATE AMERICA: The Good Vibrations Chorus and the Lehigh Valley Pops Orchestra will present “Celebrate America 250!” Thursday, July 2, at the Lehigh Valley Active Life Center. The patriotic concert begins at 9:30 a.m. and will commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with music celebrating the nation’s history and spirit. Refreshments will be served following the performance.

PARK PROGRAM: The Borough of Fountain Hill’s summer Park Program will run from June 10 through Aug. 14, offering free recreational activities for children, including arts and crafts, board and lawn games, and sports such as kickball, pickleball and soccer.

The program will be held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 9 p.m. Registration is required. Children age 10 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

The borough also announced the appointment of Karlene Hemerly Fluck as recreation manager. A Fountain Hill native, Fluck will oversee the program and its activities.

For information or to register, call Fountain Hill Borough Hall at 610-867-0301.

CELTIC CONTESTS: The Celtic Cultural Alliance is inviting participants to enter several contests during the 39th Annual Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival, scheduled for Sept. 25-27 in downtown Bethlehem.

Contests include the Irish Soda Bread Muffin Baking Contest, sponsored by King Arthur Baking Company; the Celtic Poetry Contest, open to writers of all ages; and the popular Haggis Bowl, in which 15 contestants compete to eat a pound of haggis the fastest.

Contest details and entry information are available at celticfest.org. The Celtic Classic will feature Highland games, music, food and Celtic culture throughout the three-day festival.

FAMILY EVENT: A free community Fourth of July celebration will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. July 4, 2026, at Life in Christ Church, Hillmond St., Bethlehem, 18018.

The event is open to the public and will feature music, snacks, games and activities for all ages. Families are encouraged to attend and enjoy an evening of festivities before heading out to view the Bethlehem fireworks display afterward.

Free parking will be available on the church lot on Greenwich Street.

More information is available at Life in Christ Church or by calling (610) 866-2000. Questions may also be directed to office@lifeinchristchurch.com or event coordinator Ryan Daniel Mulligan at ryandanielmulligan@gmail.com. Additional event details are posted at Facebook event page.

GARDEN CLUB: The Bethlehem Garden Club is having a presentation on “Dig in Differently: Regenerative Gardening for a Healthier Planet,” Presented by Megan McBride Thursday, June 18 at Advent Moravian Church, 3730 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem. Doors Open at 12:30 p.m., program at 1 followed by club meeting and refreshments. The program is free and open to the public. Please join us.

COLONIAL DINNER: Historic Hotel Bethlehem and Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites will host “Liberty & Lanterns,” an interactive colonial-themed dinner experience on Thursday, June 18, from 6-10 p.m. at Historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem.

The event, celebrating America’s 250th birthday, will feature costumed historical characters including Benjamin Franklin and Revolutionary War soldiers, along with tavern games, science experiments and a colonial-inspired dinner menu. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1776 attire.

Special overnight stay packages are available. For tickets or information, visit HistoricBethlehem.org or call 855-264-2598.

SUMMER PROGRAM: Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites has announced a series of new summer programs and events celebrating history, craftsmanship and America’s 250th anniversary.

Among the featured events is “Liberty & Lanterns,” a colonial-themed dining experience set for June 18 at Historic Hotel Bethlehem. The evening will include colonial-era food, tavern-style entertainment and costumed historical interpreters.

HBMS also announced new America 250 tours, including “Bethlehem & the Revolution” and “Ales & Tales,” along with new Maker’s Retreat weekends in June and October offering hands-on classes in blacksmithing, pottery, jewelry making and other traditional crafts.

PEACE CAMP: Young People Making Peace Summer Day Camp, aka Peace Camp, will be held July 27-31,9 a.m.-noon each day, at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Sliding scale fees are $10-$50 per camper; camperships are available. Campers and volunteers will find more information and campers can register online at www.lepoco.org/peace-camp. Registration suggested by July 1.

Peace Camp, designed for children who have completed kindergarten through 7th grade, has been offering whole child fun and activities centered around the broad topic of peace since 1990.

The day camp is sponsored by the LEPOCO Peace Center (Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern), a local peace & justice organization founded in 1965. The Peace Center is located at 53 E. Lehigh St., 1-LL (Lower Level) Bethlehem, PA, 18018 and can be reached at 610-691-8730 or lepoco@fast.net.

For more information visit lepoco.org or call the LEPOCO Peace Center at 610-691-8730.

GARDEN CONCERTS: The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission will present its free 2026 Sculpture Garden Concert Series every Friday in June from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Sculpture Garden beside Bethlehem City Hall, 10 E. Church St. The series celebrates Bethlehem’s cultural diversity with performances ranging from zydeco and Latin jazz to soul, folk and blues. Featured acts include Vernon Mobley’s Soul All-Stars June 19 in a Juneteenth celebration concert, and Jack Murray & the Blue Tarp Wranglers June 26. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic suppers. Rain locations will move indoors to the Bob Cohen Room at the Bethlehem Area Public Library. More information is available at BFAC’s website.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Leisure named Bethlehem one of the best places in the country to visit for America’s 250th birthday celebrations and the July 4 holiday.

The travel publication described Bethlehem as a “history-rich alternative” to larger, crowded destinations, highlighting the city’s colonial roots and historic attractions.

The article featured several Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites offerings, including the Ales & Tales Revolutionary Pub Walking Tour and the Bethlehem and The Revolution Tour. It also highlighted the Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem World Heritage Site and Historic Hotel Bethlehem.

HBMS President and CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch said the recognition reflects the work of the community and supporters who help preserve Bethlehem’s history year-round.

To celebrate the recognition, HBMS is offering 25 percent off featured revolutionary tours purchased through June 20 using the code “Bethlehem250” at historicbethlehem.org.

FOOD DRIVE: Organizers of the fifth annual Summer Harvest Food Drive will hold the monthlong collection in July to benefit food pantries in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties in Pennsylvania and Warren County, New Jersey.

Led by Tamie Swain of Bethlehem, the drive collected more than 6,000 pounds of nonperishable food for 15 pantries last year. Organizers hope to increase donations to 10,000 pounds this year.

Donations also will be collected during the Blast Furnace Blues Festival July 17-18 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Information on volunteering, hosting a donation site or making a contribution is available at summerharvestfooddrive.com.

CLEAN UP: 2026 Big Cleanup at the Rose Garden. Join the friends of the Garden and volunteers who maintain the garden Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Replace aging roses and plant new, sustainable varieties that support birds, bees, and other pollinators.

Email 18018mana@gmail.com. Funding etc.: there is a GoFundMe platform to make giving easier. (Please note: GoFundMe automatically suggests a 17.5 percent tip, but you can adjust it to zero or a modest 1.5 percent if you prefer.) Visit gofund.me/4dfe76cc.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP: YLEAD is a summer service leadership and service program for high school students in the Lehigh Valley. Participants develop critical leadership skills while working to support nonprofit organizations through service projects and volunteering in the Lehigh Valley. Youth in the program are provided with the encouragement, peer networks, and leadership skills necessary for them to make meaningful connections and contributions to their communities. Students will have opportunities to meet other like-minded peers, and community leaders, learn about career paths, and service opportunities to pursue after camp as well as during. Register at the VolunteerCenter website.

NORTHAMPTON HABITAT: After more than three years of hard work, perseverance, and adaptations, “Homes at Forks,”– a collaborative project being undertaken by Northampton County and Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley – has received final approval from Forks Township Board of Supervisors. The 12-acre development is located off Kesslersville Road near the Two T’s Family Entertainment Center and Braden Airpark in Forks Township.

This project will provide attainable housing for 25 families in need, a step forward in our goal of providing affordable housing options in the Lehigh Valley. In true Habitat for Humanity fashion, each future homeowner will contribute 250 hours of sweat equity in helping to build their home – a testament to the dedication and investment these families bring to their community.

BIKE FESTIVAL: Bike Broad, a car-free community bike ride and festival, will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Bethlehem Rose Garden on Eighth Avenue.

Roads will reopen around 10 a.m., followed by a festival continuing until noon. The event is open to ages 4 and older.

Information and registration are available at lvcat.org/bike-broad.

10TH ANNIVERSARY: The National Museum of Industrial History will host a cocktail reception Nov. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The gala will highlight a decade of public engagement and invites community participation through attendance, program advertising and donations for a silent auction. [10th Anniv ... la at NMIH | Outlook]

Additional details are available through the museum’s website.

ROSE GARDEN: The City of Bethlehem proudly announces the return of Live in the Garden, a beloved concert series celebrating its fifth season in the heart of Bethlehem’s West Side. This free, family-friendly series, facilitated by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Tape Swap Radio, and sponsored by Zoellner Arts Center, transforms the Rose Garden into a vibrant community gathering place, kicking off the season of warm nights, longer days, and outdoor celebration with live music, local food and beverage, and the unmistakable energy of the Bethlehem community.

Taking place Saturdays from May 9 through June 27, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., each evening features an opening act followed by a headlining performance, showcasing a dynamic mix of regional talent and emerging artists.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy a relaxed evening. The event is rain or shine, with cancellations only occurring in the event of severe weather.

For more information, contact the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce or visit: Live in the Garden.

GREENWAY MUSIC: The Southside Arts District is kicking off the summer season with the return of Live on the Greenway, a free outdoor concert series bringing live music, local food and beverage makers, and community energy to Bethlehem’s Southside. This Sunday afternoon series invites residents and visitors to enjoy live performances in an open-air setting while supporting local bands and small businesses.

The series is presented by the Southside Arts District with and supported by the City of Bethlehem, the Bethlehem Parking Authority, and community partners. Concerts take place from 1–3 p.m. on select Sundays at Harmony Pavilion, located between Webster and Taylor Streets on the Greenway.

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating. Food and beverages from local food trucks and craft beverage vendors will be available for purchase, with vendors rotating weekly.

Convenient is available in the Mechanic Street Lot #2 next to the Greenway or along Mechanic Street, and in the New Street Parking Garage. It is free to park on Sundays in Bethlehem.

For more information, visit: southsideartsdistrict.com/live-on-the-greenway/

RADIO GRANT: Northampton Community College (NCC) Department of Public Safety received $50,000 in grant funding through PA State Rep. Joe Emerick’s office to support Public Safety upgrades. This funding will enable NCC’s Department of Public Safety to replace current end-of-life radio equipment and implement a new radio system. It will also support the acquisition of a radio repeater, ensuring clear and reliable communication across all three campus locations—an essential component of maintaining a safe and responsive environment for students, faculty, and staff.

The Department of Public Safety relies on a two-way radio communication system to ensure continuous coordination among officers serving its three locations. Reliable radio communication is essential to maintaining a secure campus environment, especially during large scale events, such as commencement, guest speakers, and conferences.