Bethlehem
Today
Saturday, April 18th, 2026
Good morning, Bethlehem. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 18th of April.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Lehigh University held its first mobile polar plunge Friday to raise over $7,000 for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities, drawing over 100 participants (students and community members); organizers plan to host a similar event in October. WFMZ
- ➤ Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police received a 50,000 state grant on March 15 to build a 60-foot round pen for training their horses. The new structure will improve communication between officers and horses and help build strong community ties. The Brown and White
- ➤ United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley broke its fundraising record by raising $27.7 million during its April 2025-March 2026 campaign — marking 16 consecutive years of growth and commitment to the community. WFMZ
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ In November, local Chinese restaurant U&Tea expanded next door by opening U and T Asian Market at 123 E. Third St; the new market offers Chinese and Taiwanese groceries plus student discounts and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Brown and White
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Colonial Day Festival honors George Taylor with colonial crafts, hands-on activities, and historic house tours at his namesake house. The free event runs today in Catasauqua from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with tours costing $5 each. WFMZ
- ➤ The Greatest Works exhibition curated by Octavio Mendoza '26 is showcasing student artwork at Clayton University Center (featuring sculpture, 3D-printed models, photography, and paintings) to spark creative dialogue. The show plans to expand by including more campus work in the future. The Brown and White
- ➤ A rare comet called PanSTARRS is visible in the eastern sky until April 21 and will be closest to Earth on April 26, so stargazers are advised to bring a telescope (or binoculars) and head to dark sky sites like Cherry Springs State Park. Lehigh Valley Live
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Dieruff High School senior Christopher Dwornicki received full scholarships from Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Stanford as he plans to study Mechanical Engineering. He earned the offers through strong grades and active club work, following his family’s dream of a brighter future. WFMZ
- ➤ Students and instructors from NCC's culinary program practiced hands-on skills in a modern kitchen as they prepared dishes like lemon poppy seed scones and sushi tostada. NCC will host a Food and Wine Gala on May 29 at its Bethlehem campus to boost student scholarships (over $3.1 million raised so far). WFMZ
- ➤ In Coplay, local fencing classes bring medieval sword techniques to life by teaching both Italian longsword and Viking-age combat. Registration for these courses is available via the group’s Facebook page + the group recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers. WFMZ
- ➤ Bethlehem Area Public Library is hosting indoor book sales and free programs across its Main, Southside and Coolidge branches. The book sales run May 13 (noon–8 p.m.) and May 16 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), with events including yoga, homework help and Spanish conversation; registration details are on bapl.org. Bethlehem Press
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LKV April Sidewalk Sale
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum — Free entry — Browse and shop from over 30 vendors at this annual community sale.
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Healthy Kids Running Series - Bethlehem PA (Race #3)
Course run — Expected 100-500 participants — Bethlehem, Pennsylvania — Fun and healthy activity for kids of all ages.
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Healthy Kids Running Series - Race #4
Kids running event — All day — Bethlehem Pennsylvania — Registration fee applicable — Encouraging a healthy lifestyle through fun running activities.
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LKV May Open House
1-5 p.m. — Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum — Family-friendly fun — Explore a vast model railroad display of the Lehigh Valley from the late 50s to early 70s.
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Paint Pour Experience
6:30-8 p.m. — Painting with a Twist — Check website for pricing — Discover the art of paint pouring with guidance from experienced artists.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
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Reveal the authorAbout Bethlehem Today
Welcome to the Bethlehem Today, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania community. If you like the Bethlehem Today, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Bethlehem.
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