SOUPER DAY: New Bethany will host its 35th annual Souper Day fundraiser Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem, bringing together community leaders, donors, partners and residents to address hunger, homelessness and related community challenges.

This year’s event will focus on the connection between health, hunger and housing, with a panel discussion featuring leaders from regional health and social service organizations. The discussion will be moderated by Kelly Chando, chief of staff at BSI Corporate Benefits.

Proceeds from the event will support New Bethany’s food access, housing and social service programs. Attendees will be served a soup-and-salad lunch inspired by meals offered at the organization’s South Side Drop-In Center.

ARTIST RECEPTIONS: Regional artists Paula Kay and Victoria Lawrence will be featured in an artist talk and meet-the-artists reception from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at The Gallery at Musselman Jewelers, 420 Main St., Bethlehem. The artists will discuss their work, creative processes and sources of inspiration during presentations scheduled for 2:30 and 3 p.m.

The event is part of the ongoing exhibition, “The Creative American Spirit,” which showcases the work of regional artists and benefits the Judith Adele Agentis Charitable Foundation. The exhibition, curated by Tina Cantelmi and Janet Pressler, features works by more than a dozen artists and continues through Oct. 3. A closing reception is planned from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 3. Admission is free.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The Lehigh Art Alliance will host an artist reception for MOSAICO! from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 19 at Luckenbach Mill, 459 Old York Road, Bethlehem. The exhibition highlights Latino artists and creators from across the Lehigh Valley and celebrates the region’s Latino culture, heritage and community. Featured artists include Ismael Checo, Ramon Peralta, Monica Salazar, Jonas Arquello, Ana Hamilton, Rigo Peralta and Emmanuel Valleio. The exhibit will remain on display through Sept. 26. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

VINTAGE MARKET: The inaugural Bethlehem Vintage & Harvest Market will be held Saturday, Sept. 19, at Historic Burnside in Bethlehem. The event, a collaboration between Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites and Bethlehem Vintage Market, will feature nearly 75 vintage vendors, food trucks, a dessert barn with seasonal treats, live music from a DJ spinning vintage vinyl, and family-friendly activities.

Organizers said visitors can shop for vintage clothing, vinyl records, furniture, jewelry and collectibles, while children can participate in hands-on historical activities, crafts and tours of the Burnside Farmhouse and grounds. Admission is $3 when purchased in advance. The event also coincides with the Bethlehem Historic District Association’s annual Neighborhood Yard Sale.

50TH ANNIVERSARY: Godfrey Daniels, a longtime fixture of Bethlehem’s arts and music scene, celebrated its 50th anniversary Sept. 9 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of its 2026-27 season. Founded in 1976, the nonprofit venue has hosted live folk, blues, bluegrass, Americana, jazz and roots music performances for five decades and continues its mission of connecting the community through live music and cultural experiences. The celebration at its home at 7 E. Fourth St. recognized the venue’s legacy while looking ahead to a new season of programming. [REMINDER:...elebration | Outlook]

HI NEIGHBORS: First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem, is offering a free Monday speakers program featuring local presenters on topics including music, history, travel and technology. Programs begin with social time at 9:30 a.m., followed by presentations at 10 a.m. No registration is required.

The Sept. 21 program, “The Practice of Mindfulness and Its Benefits for Stress Management,” will be presented by longtime practitioner Matthew Wolf of the Pratyush Sinha Foundation.

For more information: info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

BRIDLES&BADGES: The Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police will host its ninth annual Bridles & Badges open house from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 20 at Quadrant Private Wealth Stables, 615 E. Langhorne Ave.

The free community event will feature the official badging ceremony for the mounted unit’s two newest patrol horses, Fossor and Otto, who recently completed specialized training and are preparing to enter active service.

Visitors can tour the barn, meet mounted officers and horses, enjoy food trucks, watch riding demonstrations and take fall-themed photos with a patrol horse.

Opening ceremonies and the badging of Fossor and Otto begin at noon and will be led by Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle L. Kott and the horses’ sponsors.

The Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police, a volunteer-run nonprofit, supports the city’s mounted unit by funding the purchase and care of its six patrol horses. Admission is free. More information is available at bethlehemmountedpolice.org.

BRAIN HABITS: The public is invited to attend “Building Brain-Healthy Habits,” a free presentation 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at The Birches of Lehigh Valley, 5030 Freemansburg Ave., Easton.

Pamela Haas, community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association, will discuss how diet, exercise, cognitive activities and social connection can help support cognitive health. To RSVP, call Jillian at 610-438-6600 or email jberry@thebirchesoflehighvalley.com.

CAR SHOW: Registration is open for the Hanover Township America250 Car Show, part of the township’s America250 Celebration scheduled for Sept. 26 at First Responders Park, 4025 Airport Road, Allentown. Owners of classic, custom and specialty vehicles are invited to participate and showcase their vehicles. Awards will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Residents are also invited to attend the event and vote for their favorite vehicle. Registration information is available through Hanover Township

DOG COOKIES: Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania has announced two new additions to its 2027 cookie lineup: Patch Pals™, the organization’s first dog treat, and Girl Scout Sparkables™, its first allergy-friendly cookie. Developed with BARK and Partake, respectively, the products were created in response to requests for more inclusive options for families and pets.

Patch Pals are blueberry muffin-flavored dog treats, while Sparkables are oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and sprinkles made in a facility free of the nine major food allergens recognized by the FDA.

Both products will be available exclusively online for direct shipping during the 2027 cookie season, which runs from Jan. 21 through late March.

GRANDPARENTING SUMMIT: Grace Church Bethlehem, 4301 Hecktown Road, will host a Christian Grandparenting Summit from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. The “A Heart for Eternity” simulcast will feature nationally known speakers and resources for grandparents seeking to strengthen their families’ spiritual legacy. Doors open at 8:15 a.m.; coffee, lunch and snacks will be provided. Register at gracechurchcb.org/events under Grandparenting Summit 2026. For information, contact Cathy Perna at 610-844-3935 or cathy.perna@gmail.com, or Deb Klepeiss at 610-349-9449 or abbey4942@msn.com.

GARDEN CLUB: The Bethlehem Garden Club is having a presentation on “Extending the Gardening Season” by Lynn Dautrich, a Penn State Master Gardener on Thursday, Sept. 17 at Advent Moravian Church, 3730 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem. Doors Open at 12:30, Program at 1:00 followed by club meeting and refreshments.

SUN INN: The Sun Inn Preservation Association and The Bachmann Players will present Edge of Revolution, an interactive historical theater production, on Nov. 5 and Nov. 7 at the Sun Inn in Bethlehem.

The production blends drama, humor, history and audience participation as guests experience a divided colonial community grappling with loyalty, conscience and independence during the American Revolution.

An evening dinner-and-show performance is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, followed by a lunch-and-show matinee at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.

Reservations are required by Oct. 29. The event is hosted by the Sun Inn Preservation Association, 564 Main St., Bethlehem

POP-UP SHOW: M.I.R.A. Resources, a Lehigh Valley nonprofit serving migrant, immigrant, refugee and asylee families, will present ICE Resistance, a one-night pop-up art exhibition Sept. 12 at Soft Machine Gallery, 105 Ridge Ave., Allentown. The exhibit, featuring works by nine Lehigh Valley artists, will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and explore themes of migration, identity, justice and resilience.

The exhibition will feature a large-scale painting by Lehigh Valley artist and educator David Sommers, whose work has been displayed in solo exhibitions and is included in private collections and at Penn State Health hospitals.

According to organizers, M.I.R.A. Resources provides services including English classes, legal referrals and assistance, Thanksgiving meals, space heaters and immigration-related community support. More information is available at M.I.R.A. Resources.

YOUTH COUNCIL: The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley is seeking high school students to join its 2026-27 Youth Volunteer Council. The program offers volunteer opportunities, leadership development, service hours and networking with students from across the Lehigh Valley. There is no fee to participate, and members are eligible to apply for $1,000 scholarships. For information, email youth@volunteerlv.org or call 610-807-0336.

BIKE TOUR: Community members and families can learn about the people, places and industries that shaped the Lehigh River corridor during a guided bike tour Sept. 27.

The approximately 22-mile round-trip ride will follow a casual pace. Participants must provide their own bicycles and helmets. Lunch will be provided.

Space is limited and registration is required by Sept. 25. The fee is $15. More information and registration are available through Penn State Extension.

ROTUNDA GALLERY: The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission will present “Assemblages & Collages” through Sept. 22 at the Bethlehem City Hall Rotunda Gallery, 10 E. Church St.

The exhibit features works by Linda Kondikoff, Anna Kuo, Domenick Naccarato, Maryann Riker, Barbara Schulman and Rhonda Wall, highlighting contemporary approaches to mixed-media art using found objects, fabrics, paper, metal and other materials.

The exhibit is sponsored by BFAC and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. More information is available at Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission.

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.

HALLOWEEN EVENT: The Northeast Community Center will host a Trunk or Treat and Resource Fair from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at 1161 Fritz Drive, Bethlehem. The event is free and open to Bethlehem families.

The event will feature food, resources and candy, along with a costume contest for children ages 0-18. Partner organizations are invited to participate in a trunk-decorating contest.

The rain date is Oct. 29.

For more information, call the Northeast Community Center at 610-691-3355 or email info@neccbethlehem.org.

HELP WANTED: The Bethlehem Vintage & Harvest Market will be held Sept. 19 at Burnside Plantation, 1461 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem. Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is seeking volunteers to help with the event.

Volunteer opportunities include kids’ activities, food and dessert stands, admissions, parking support, supply runners and the Take Home Dessert Tent. Tavern volunteers must be 21 or older. Morning vendor load-in and parking setup volunteers must be at least 18.

Volunteers receive free admission and their choice of a scoop of ice cream, hot dog or slice of pie. Volunteers also are needed for setup Sept. 17 and 18, Market to Go on Sept. 18 and cleanup Sept. 19.

Junior volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian e-signature. Volunteers ages 12-13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during their shifts; children under 12 are not eligible.

For information or to volunteer, contact Charlotte Filiciotto at cfiliciotto@historicbethlehem.org.

FITNESS TOGETHER: Penn State Extension is offering Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together, or LIFT, classes for adults 40 and older who want to improve strength, flexibility and overall fitness.

The eight- or 12-week programs meet twice weekly for one-hour sessions and include strength exercises, warm-ups, cool-downs and basic nutrition information. Classes are offered at various locations through mid-December.

Some insurance plans may provide reimbursement for participants with at least 80 percent attendance.

Registration dates vary by location. For information and registration, visit the Penn State Extension website and search for LIFT.

FIBER FESTIVAL: The ninth annual Lehigh Valley Fiber Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allentown Agri-Plex.

The festival will feature more than artists and makers offering hand-dyed yarns, raw fleece, finished fiber work, tools, jewelry and other handcrafted goods. Artists and vendors are coming from throughout the region and as far away as Wisconsin.

The event also will include a Fleece Sale, Stash Bash and Make a Square project benefiting the Allentown Rescue Mission and Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley.

The first 30 customers each day will receive early-bird gift bags featuring mini-skeins hand-dyed by Cape May Fiber.

For more information, visit lvfiberfest.org.

BLOOM BENEFIT: Bloom has announced its fourth annual Freedom Benefit Dinner will be held 6 p.m. Oct. 22 at Lehigh University’s Iacocca Conference Center.

The keynote speaker will be Becca Stevens, founder and president of Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tenn. The event, hosted by Olav and Gina Sandnes, raises funds to support Bloom’s programs serving survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Bloom provides safe exit strategies, trauma-informed residential services, workforce development and other support to help survivors build independent futures. The annual fundraiser has generated more than $100,000 each year to support the organization’s mission.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For information, contact Vickie Nisbet, Bloom’s director of development, at 610-866-5755 or vickie.nisbet@bloomforwomen.org

VETERANS: Office of Veterans Affairs: staffed with VA-accredited Veteran Service Officers: Northampton County: 610-829-4875, orcopa.gov/veterans-affairs; Lehigh: 610-782-3295, veteransaffairs@lehighcounty.org.

Veterans Support: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.- usually third Monday of the month, State Rep. McNeil’s district office, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall. Information on education, health care and death benefits. For appointments with an American Legion Service Office representative, call 610-266-1273.

STEWARDS NEEDED: Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is launching a new Colonial Industrial Quarter Stewards Program and is seeking volunteers and team leaders to help maintain paths, walkways and grounds at the historic site. The program comes ahead of the opening of the Overlook on History this fall. Volunteers interested in serving as Trail Tenders or team leaders can learn more and sign up at historicbethlehem.org.

ZUG EXHIBIT: Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is presenting Jeanette Barres Zug: A Life in Service to Moravian Bethlehem at the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, 66 W. Church St. The exhibit highlights the life and contributions of Zug, a longtime volunteer, educator and preservation leader who helped shape the museum and train generations of tour guides. Through photographs, archival materials and personal artifacts, the exhibition explores her lasting impact on preserving Bethlehem’s Moravian history.

More information is available at historicbethlehem.org.

HELLER REUNION: Hellertown, PA – The Hellertown Historical Society (HHS) will host a Heller Family Reunion for descendants of Hellertown’s founder – Johann Christian Heller – at its annual Heritage Day celebration May 15, 2027.

Heller descendants across the United States with genealogical ties to Johann Christian are invited to attend the reunion, which is being organized by the HHS and Heller family members living in eastern Pennsylvania.

Heller descendants interested in learning more about the reunion are asked to contact the historical society at info@hhstours.org. Responses already have been received from descendants in states from Maine to Washington and Florida to the Southwest.

NORTHAMPTON AWARDS: Northampton County will hold its 2026 annual Awards Ceremony Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. in Courtroom 1 at the Northampton County Courthouse.

Northampton County will present awards to residents in the categories of Volunteer, Youth, Business, Veteran, Samaritan, and Emergency Personnel.

Community members are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals and organizations using the form on the DCED website at norcopa.gov/dced. To submit a nomination, please contact Dawn Tomaino at dtomaino@norcopa.gov.

Nominations for Outstanding City and Municipal Employees will be submitted directly by their municipalities.

The event is free and open to the public.

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.

KILIMANJARO FUNDRAISER: Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem board member Dylan Stroup will take his support for local youth to new heights this summer as he climbs Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for the Club’s programs.

Stroup, who joined the Club’s board of directors in 2024, is leading the “Climb for Kids” campaign with a goal of raising $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem, which has served local children and teens since 1930. Today, more than 650 Club members take part in programs focused on education, recreation and character development.

His climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, is scheduled to begin in early August. Donations to the campaign will help support Club kids and teens as they build confidence, overcome challenges and prepare for bright futures in the Bethlehem community.

To support the effort: Contributions may be made to Dylan Stroup’s Climb for Kids campaign benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem.

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.

LITTER CONTEST: The Pennsylvania Resources Council is accepting entries for its annual Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo Contest through Oct. 31.

Open to amateur photographers, the contest invites participants to submit photos highlighting litter in Pennsylvania communities. Categories include students, adults, and new Before & After divisions recognizing cleanup efforts. First-place winners in each category will receive $500.

For contest rules and entry information, visit prc.org/what-we-do/lens-on-litter-contest or email lensonlitter@prc.org.