Celebrations are around the corner this weekend in the Lehigh Valley, from a hallmark of Easton’s food scene to Bethlehem’s historic Downtown.
The Morning Call has a list of events to check out.
‘Strings of Hope’
Distinguished musicians will host a multimedia concert Sunday at Lafayette College, playing violins that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and the Holocaust in World War II.
The concert, titled “Strings of Hope,” will include a musical performance, a film screening and spoken word, according to a news release. The event — produced by cellist Udi Bar-David, and featuring violinists Niv Ashkenazy and Mio Imai — is part of the college’s Williams Center for the Arts series.
“The result is a rare, deeply human event that honors what was endured and carries forward resilience, courage, and hope,” read a news release from organizers.
If you go: Concert begins at 3 p.m., with a reception following at 4:30 p.m.; Williams Center for the Arts is located at 317 Hamilton St., Easton. Tickets can be purchased at williamscenter.lafayette.edu/event/strings-of-hope.
Heritage festivities
Two years after Historic Bethlehem was deemed a historic World Heritage site, and in the United States’ 250th year, the city is ready to bring families together to reflect on some 18th century history.
Community Heritage Day, planned for Saturday in the Colonial Industrial Quarter, will feature family-friendly programming at no cost. The event will be held for the first time since 2019, according to organizers.
Historic buildings such as an 18th century blacksmith, the newly restored Grist Miller’s House, and the country’s first pumped municipal water system, are among the locations open to guests — with fun crafts, games and more.
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites will offer reduced priced walking tours, at $10 for adults and $6 for kids. The event will also feature food trucks, bake sales and local Bethlehem drinks.
If you go: The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, across Colonial Industrial Quarter’s 10-acre site. Public parking is available throughout Downtown Bethlehem, and detailed schedule information can be found on Historic Bethlehem’s website, historicbethlehem.org.
An anniversary for a public market cornerstone
Historic Bethlehem isn’t the only organization celebrating an anniversary. Easton Public Market will mark the start of its second decade this weekend.
Beginning Friday and spanning all of next week, the market will host family programming, special events and more to celebrate its 10th anniversary in Downtown Easton, according to a news release.
The weeklong festivities kick off Friday with a celebration at 6 p.m. “Spring into Easton,” held on Saturday afternoon, is a shopping and tasting crawl throughout the city, with food and drink samples. Later events include a Sunday “songwriter’s series,” drag bingo and “Cake and Coffee Celebration.”
If you go: Easton Public Market is located at 325 Northampton St., Easton. Tickets for “Spring into Easton” can be purchased at springintoeaston.com/.
The Easton Public Market is one of many Lehigh Valley institutions that has been honored by USA Today’s 10Best. (Harry Fisher/The Monring Call)
Bingo and prizes
For those hanging around the Slate Belt this weekend, a designer purse bingo and basket raffle, will create some friendly competition over bingo and designer purses. Held on Sunday at Walnutport’s Diamond Fire Company Bingo Hall, popular designer purses such as Vera Bradley and Kate Spade will be showcased for lucky — or strategic — winners.
A ticket includes 20 bingo games, according to organizers. The event, in its fourth year, benefits St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church. Tickets start at $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
Basket and gift card raffles, on top of a bake sale, will occur throughout the event.
If you go: Event runs from 1 pto 4 p.m. Sunday. Diamond Fire Company is located at 110 Main St., Walnutport. Tickets can be through Eventbrite.
Andreas Pelekis is a freelance writer. Reach out to him with weekend tips for next weekend at atp3417@gmail.com.