Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania events and community

Lehigh Valley Events & Festivals

Your local guide to community events, concerts, and seasonal celebrations across the Lehigh Valley.

The Lehigh Valley is home to one of Pennsylvania's most active event calendars, from nationally recognized festivals like Musikfest — the largest free music festival in the country — to beloved seasonal markets and neighborhood celebrations. Whether you're a longtime resident or considering a move to the area, these events showcase the culture, community spirit, and quality of life that make the Lehigh Valley a special place to call home.

Major Annual Events

The Lehigh Valley's signature festivals draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Musikfest

Bethlehem · August

The nation's largest free, non-gated music festival, held annually in Bethlehem. Musikfest features hundreds of performances across multiple stages over 10 days, drawing more than one million visitors. The festival spans the city's historic downtown and SteelStacks campus, with national headliners, local acts, food vendors, and artisan craft markets.

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Great Allentown Fair

Allentown · Late August – Early September (Labor Day week)

One of the oldest and largest fairs in Pennsylvania, the Great Allentown Fair has been held since 1852 at the Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex. The event features agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, live entertainment, competitive livestock shows, and a wide selection of food vendors from across the region.

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Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival

Bethlehem · Late September

One of the largest free Celtic festivals in North America, the Celtic Classic celebrates Celtic culture with highland athletic competitions, traditional music and dance, cultural exhibits, and food. The three-day festival takes place in historic downtown Bethlehem and is organized by the Celtic Cultural Alliance.

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PA Bacon Fest

Easton · November

Easton's signature fall festival celebrates the region's culinary heritage with a weekend of bacon-inspired dishes, live music, craft vendors, and family-friendly activities throughout the city's historic Centre Square and surrounding streets.

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Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem

Bethlehem · November – December

A beloved holiday tradition at SteelStacks, Christkindlmarkt is a multi-weekend Christmas market inspired by the historic German tradition. Visitors enjoy artisan vendors, live performances, ice skating, glassblowing demonstrations, and seasonal food and beverages.

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Easton Heritage Day

Easton · July

A community celebration of Easton's history and culture, Heritage Day features parades, live music, historical exhibits, local food vendors, and family activities throughout the city's downtown district.

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Seasonal Event Guide

There's something happening in the Lehigh Valley every season of the year.

Spring

  • Lehigh Valley Auto Show — regional showcase of new vehicles and automotive technology
  • Saucon Valley Restaurant Week — area restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus
  • South Whitehall Community Day — family-friendly event with food, music, and activities
  • Easton Farmers' Market opens — one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the U.S.

Summer

  • Musikfest — 10 days of free music across Bethlehem (August)
  • Great Allentown Fair — rides, livestock, food, and entertainment (late August)
  • Celtic Classic Highland Games — Celtic culture, athletics, and music in Bethlehem
  • Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series — free outdoor concerts at SteelStacks
  • Riverside Festival of the Arts — juried art show along the Delaware River in Easton
  • VegFest Easton — plant-based food, wellness vendors, and community programming

Fall

  • Roasting Ears of Corn Festival — traditional Native American food and culture in Bethlehem
  • Easton Garlic Festival — garlic-inspired dishes, live music, and cooking demos
  • Egypt Park Festival & Curt Simmons Day — Whitehall Township's community celebration
  • Annual Youth Fishing Derby — family recreation event in Whitehall Parkway
  • Haunt at Hotel Bethlehem — seasonal haunted attraction and dinner theater

Winter

  • Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem — German-style Christmas market at SteelStacks
  • Live Bethlehem Christmas Story Pageant — annual community tradition since 1937
  • Easton Candlelight Walking Tour — historic home tours and holiday festivities
  • Whitehall Parkway Haunted Hayrides — family-friendly seasonal event
  • Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Winter Weekend — local wineries host tastings and tours

Ongoing Activities & Venues

Year-round cultural venues and recurring activities across the region.

Levitt Pavilion Concert Series

Bethlehem

A summer concert series at SteelStacks featuring free live performances from local and touring artists on the outdoor Levitt Pavilion stage.

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Easton Farmers' Market

Easton

One of the oldest continuously operating farmers' markets in the U.S., held Saturday mornings in Centre Square from May through November. Features local produce, baked goods, meats, cheeses, and artisan products.

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Allentown Farmers' Market

Allentown

A year-round indoor farmers' market at the Allentown Fairgrounds offering fresh produce, meats, baked goods, prepared foods, and specialty items from regional vendors.

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SteelStacks ArtsQuest Campus

Bethlehem

A cultural campus built on the former Bethlehem Steel site, hosting year-round concerts, film screenings, art exhibits, comedy shows, and community events at the ArtsQuest Center and surrounding venues.

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Miller Symphony Hall

Allentown

Home of the Allentown Symphony Association, this venue hosts orchestral performances, touring shows, and special events throughout the year.

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Local Event Venues

Popular venues hosting community events, concerts, and private gatherings.

Northampton Banquet & Event Center

1601 Laubach Ave, Northampton, PA 18067
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Vault 634

634 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101
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Levitt Pavilion

789 E 1st St, Bethlehem, PA 18015
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Fegley's Allentown Brew Works

812 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101
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More About Events in the Lehigh Valley

The Lehigh Valley hosts a robust calendar of events throughout the year, with the three major cities — Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton — each contributing distinct cultural programming. Musikfest alone attracts more than one million visitors over 10 days each August, making it the largest free music festival in the United States. The Celtic Classic Highland Games in Bethlehem is among the largest free Celtic festivals in North America, while Easton's PA Bacon Fest and farmers market programming have become signature regional drawcards.

For a complete listing of events happening across the region, visit the official tourism resources at Discover Lehigh Valley and each city's official events calendar: City of Bethlehem, City of Easton, and Whitehall Township Parks & Recreation.

Whether you're looking for weekend activities, seasonal festivals, or community gatherings, the Lehigh Valley's event scene is one of the many reasons people choose to call this region home. If you're considering a move and want local insights, Tim Tepes is happy to share his 36+ years of Lehigh Valley expertise.

Experience the Lehigh Valley

Considering a move to the Lehigh Valley? Tim Tepes can help you find the perfect community with easy access to these events and more.