The Allentown Symphony Orchestra is promising to take audiences “To Hell and Back” this weekend, when it presents the so-named concert featuring Mahler’s first symphony at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown.
Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 is not just a concert – it’s a journey. The concert hall becomes the stage for a sweeping emotional arc that moves from innocence to intensity, from darkness to triumph.
With the evocative tagline “To Hell and Back,” this program invites audiences into one of the most powerful symphonic narratives ever written. The evening opens with Grażyna Bacewicz’s electrifying “Overture,” full of rhythmic drive and bold color, followed by Richard Strauss’s “Horn Concerto No. 1,” a work of youthful brilliance and lyrical warmth, before culminating in Mahler’s monumental First Symphony.
Erik Ralske
The performance is elevated by guest artist Erik Ralske, principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and soloist in the Strauss concerto. Known for his rich tone and effortless virtuosity, Ralske brings both precision and expressive depth to a piece that demands it. His presence adds a rare level of artistry to the program and makes the Strauss concerto a centerpiece not to be missed.
The grand finale is Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, also known as “Titan.” This monumental piece opens with a breathtaking string section that spans seven octaves, setting the stage for a symphonic journey of unparalleled depth. With evocative bird calls from the woodwinds, Mahler’s Titan bursts with youthful exuberance, then shifts into haunting moments of melancholy and introspection, making it an emotional rollercoaster you won’t want to miss.
The ASO is conducted by Diane Wittry.
Tickets cost $30 to $81.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
At noon on Friday, Wittry will lead a discussion during a meet-the-artist session, sharing her thoughts when putting the concert together, as well as biographical information about the composers. She will share brief recordings from the program and also allow the guest artist to contribute to the conversation. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions. Admission is free.
Young Playwrights
Touchstone Theatre will present the 21st year of its acclaimed Young Playwrights’ Festival at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Northeast Middle School, which is located at 1170 Fernwood St. in Bethlehem.
The festival is a showcase of short plays written by elementary and middle school students that is presented in partnership with the Bethlehem Area School District.
The festival is the culmination of Touchstone’s Young Playwrights’ Lab, an eight-week arts and literacy residency using theater to provide a platform for creative self-expression and encourage students to write.
Touchstone facilitators use improvisation, writing exercises, and collaborative critique, through which each student writes an original one-act play, which is considered for performance at the festival. The plays often include light-hearted elements like talking animals, space aliens, princesses, and imaginary worlds. They also explore universal themes of love, resilience, importance of family, and bravery in the face of adversity.
More than 150 plays were submitted from this year’s programs, with four scripts chosen as finalists for fully-staged production; three partially-produced semi-finalists; and six runners-up, each with a brief scene or dialogue performed onstage. All plays and scenes will be directed by a member of Touchstone’s ensemble along with guest directors Amy Putlock, theater director at Broughal Middle School, and Darah Donaher, Northampton Community College theater professor. The plays will be performed by Touchstone actors, community performers, and students from area schools.
“We are thrilled to have given a platform to young, creative minds in the Lehigh Valley for over 20 years,” said Mary Wright, Touchstone’s education director. “The Young Playwrights’ Festival is a culmination of students’ hard work and passion for imagination, and we are honored to celebrate their artistic triumphs as a community by bringing their work to the stage.”
Finalists are “Rock, Scissors, And…” by Keagen Frendt of Broughal Middle School, directed by Amber Charest, which looks at what happened when Paper is victorious over Rock; “Adam Meets Eve” by Sofia Hernandez of Freemansburg Elementary, directed by Amy Putlock, a reimagined twist on the meeting of the two beings that kickstarted the human race; “The Last Three Days” by Ben Harney of Nitschmann Middle School, directed by Darah Donaher, which asks how would spend your time is you had three days left on Earth; and “The Dream” by Zori Sawyer of Spring Garden Elementary, directed by Matt Prideaux, in which a young girl must thwart a powerful villain planning to crush the dreams of everyone on Earth.
The semifinalists are “The IKEA is Gone but the Dragons are Not” by Mia Sanchez Tejeda of Northeast Middle School; “The Queen of Charity” by Julia Bombard of Farmersville Elementary; and “Mars” by Julia Coyle of Lincoln Elementary, all directed by Lisa Jordan.
Runners-up are “The Wolf and Willow” by Nicole Young-Rivera of William Penn Elementary; “Katve’s Adventures” by Eva Williamson of James Buchanan Elementary; “The Bow Fiasco” by Layla Lopez of Donegan Elementary; “Sassy Girl” by Leslie Perez of Fountain Hill Elementary; “A Dessert Mystery” by Tyler Evans of Thomas Jefferson Elementary; and “The Pizza Place Killer” by Zecheriah Broughton Jr. of Governor Wolfe Elementary. The runners-ups are directed by Touchstone Artistic Director Jp Jordan.
A special award for excellence will be presented to “The Story of Zink” by Nathaniel Strausser of Governor Wolfe Elementary.
Tickets cost $15.
Colonial iron workers
The Friends of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site will present historian and author Daniel A. Graham, who will give a presentation on “The People Who Made Revolutionary War Cannon in Pa.: Colonial Iron Workers” at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Hopewell Furnace Visitor Center, which is located at 2 Mark Bird Lane in Union Township, Berks County. The free program will look at colonial iron workers who, among other products, created the cannon for George Washington’s army.
Graham will also be available to sign his book, which is on sale at the visitor center. Attendees should plan to arrive early, as seating is limited.
Hopewell Furnace showcases an early American landscape of industrial operations from 1771-1883. Hopewell and other “iron plantations” laid the foundation for the transformation of the United States into an industrial giant for the time. The park’s 848 acres and historic structures illustrate the business, technology, and lifestyle of the growing nation.
Hellertown Heritage Day
In Northampton County, the Hellertown Historical Society, in partnership with the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society and the Saucon Valley Conservancy, will present Heritage Day 2026 on Saturday.
Heritage Day is a free celebration of the history and culture of the borough and surrounding township, with activities held at two locations: the 1761 Heller-Wagner Grist Mill complex in Hellertown and the Michael Heller Homestead along Saucon Creek near the Water Street Bridge, connecting Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township.
Heritage Day will feature an expanded program in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, with attractions and presentations reflecting different periods of American life and the region’s Revolutionary-era roots.
At the mill, visitors can expect colonial-era living historians, 18th- and 19th-century crafts and demonstrations, antique and classic automobiles, and history presentations in the Tavern Room focused on the settlement of Pennsylvania and the founding of the United States.
There will be tours of the grist mill museum and the pole barn, where exhibits reflect the work of early farmers, woodworkers, and blacksmiths; Lower Saucon Township Historical Society exhibits and a Maypole dance; civic and church groups sharing local history, with some roots dating to the 1750s; horse-drawn carriage rides; old-fashioned children’s games and activities; a petting zoo with farm animals; concerts by Big Valley Bluegrass and the Allentown Band; and Lost Tavern Brewery sharing colonial brewing practices and offering adult beverages.
At the homestead, activities will follow the theme of “Honoring Saucon Valley Revolutionary War Roots,” including recognition of 70 Saucon Valley Revolutionary War veterans, a historic wagon collecting donations for food banks, farmhouse access for visitors, children’s activities, re-enactors, live music, and period baked goods and refreshments.
Heritage Day is open to the public free of charge. Shuttle service from off-site parking areas in Hellertown will provide transportation to and from both event sites. There also will be limited parking on site.
Farm frolic
Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, a living history museum preserving 19th-century Pennsylvania German agricultural heritage, will hold its Farm Animal Frolic on Saturday and Sunday and May 23 and 24. The farm is located at 347 Quiet Valley Rd. in Hamilton Township, Monroe County.
Organizers said the event will offer fun for the entire family as Quiet Valley comes alive with baby animals. This is a unique opportunity for children and the young-at-heart to see a variety of animals up close.
Visitors can see baby chicks hatching from their shells as well as pet baby bunnies, woolly lambs, frisky baby goats, and adorable piglets.
Other activities will include traditional children’s games, a children’s show, a spring plant sale, “Timeless Treasures” vintage collectibles for sale, wagon rides, and demonstrations.
Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $18 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. Wagon rides cost $5 per person.
All money raised will support the mission of the nonprofit farm museum.
Brewer history
The National Museum of Industrial History (NMIH) on the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem will open the exhibition, “Cheers to 250! Brewing in America,” on Saturday. Timed with the United States’ semiquincentennial, the immersive exhibition invites visitors to raise a glass to 250 years of American innovation through the lens of one of the nation’s most influential industries.
Spanning two and a half centuries, “Cheers to 250!” tells the story of how brewing evolved from colonial kitchens and neighborhood taverns into a global industrial powerhouse, one that shaped labor, transportation, science, and everyday social life.
From hand‑crafted beginnings to cutting‑edge production, the exhibition explores the technological and cultural forces that transformed American brewing. “Cheers to 250!” features a diverse collection of artifacts, many on public display for the first time, alongside hands‑on experiences and immersive interactive displays. Throughout the run of the exhibit, the museum will offer companion programming, including guest lectures, demonstrations, and workshops.
The exhibition intentionally bridges history, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, America’s first World’s Fair. This groundbreaking event showcased American achievements in “Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine,” including an entire building, Brewer’s Hall, dedicated to the craft.
“We are not just opening an exhibition; we are continuing a long tradition of celebrating American industrial innovation,” said Andria Zaia, the museum’s president and CEO. “Just as brewers demonstrated their industrial strength at the 1876 Centennial, we are reflecting on 250 years of progress while looking ahead to the future of American ingenuity.”
The “Cheers to 250!” exhibit’s opening celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Highlights will include tastings, a colonial brewing demonstration, guest lectures, pop-up displays, food, and music. The exhibit will continue through March 2027.