Good morning, Bethlehem.

On June 30, Sara Collins, president of the Bethlehem Aquatic Club and coach of The Bethlehem Tides, welcomed community members at Memorial Pool for the new shade structure; she noted the team grew from 94 to 120 swimmers in a year+ officials including State Sen. Lisa Boscola and Mayor William Reynolds were recognized for their roles in supporting the project.

Ranch City Brewing will have its grand opening Saturday, July 19 at the Simon Silk Mill in Easton after soft openings on Thursday and Friday to fine-tune its craft beer offerings — owners AJ Mitchell and Kyle Randell have replaced the former Böser Geist brewery.

In Bethlehem, 3 Broke Blokes Grille is opening Friday, July 18 with a soft opening and then holding its grand opening Saturday, July 19 at Lost Tavern, where the three partners plan to expand their food truck menu with new items.

Insomnia Cookies had a soft opening Tuesday at its first Lehigh Valley location on East Third St. in South Bethlehem and is set to hold its grand opening at 11 a.m. today, offering warm cookies, brownies and ice cream treats until late at night.

District Manager C.J. Johnson said the shop, located in the Six 10 Flats building, expects a large crowd during Musikfest.

King's Expressions opened Saturday at 708 E.

Fourth St. in south Bethlehem and is a Christian-based clothing store where husband and wife Lafonte and Liz King share their faith with custom apparel featuring crosses and crowns of thorns—offering shirts, hats, and accessories. The store operates Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites' 38th annual Blueberry Festival will run July 19-20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Burnside Plantation and feature blueberry desserts from local vendors.

New items include blueberry grilled cheese from The Taste Budz food truck and blueberry matcha from The Rolling Brew — blending classic treats with new flavors — along with offerings from vendors like Aroi Mango and Taco Town.

On July 15, the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation announced it received two major grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the Main Street Matters program + one grant will support planning for the SouthSide Arts District while the other will provide microgrants for improvements in Northside Alive and SouthSide Arts District. BEDCO will begin deploying these projects in late summer + the initiatives are set to boost local business and community revitalization.

Nazareth Area HS won five Freddy Awards on May 22 at Easton’s State Theatre for its production of Seussical, including the Outstanding Overall Production award.

Other local schools such as Freedom HS, Moravian Academy and Bethlehem Catholic received accolades for technical design and performance+ highlighting Bethlehem high school talent.

In June, home sales in Lehigh and Northampton counties reached a record-high median price of $370,000—up from $361,550 last June.

Closed sales increased by 9.3% with 684 listings while inventory fell to 742, showing a robust yet affordable market.

200th Anniversary Celebration

5:30-9:30 p.m. — Hanoverville Road House — Ticket purchase grants raffle entry — Celebrate with a BBQ buffet, live music, and a fireworks finale.

Judy Collins Live

7:30-9 p.m. — ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks — Ticket prices vary — Experience the timeless melodies of Judy Collins, a true icon of folk music.

Wilson Phillips Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — The Club at Wind Creek Event Center — Check website for price — Enjoy the iconic sounds of Wilson Phillips in a fun and accessible venue.

Christmas in July Celebration

12 PM – 5 PM — The Outlets at Wind Creek — Free entry — Celebrate halfway to Christmas with festive activities and shopping deals.

Mosaic Lamp Making Workshop

10:00 AM – 12:30 PM — Homewood Suites by Hilton Allentown-Bethlehem Airport — Cost varies — Create a stunning Turkish mosaic lamp while enjoying delicious Turkish treats.

Nelly Performance at Musikfest 2025

12-9 p.m. — SteelStacks — Free entry — Nelly returns to Bethlehem to blend covers and originals in a solo performance at Musikfest.

McKinney Media Presents: 4th Anniversary Photo Gala

Join McKinney Media on August 9 for a powerful celebration of creativity, innovation, and community at our 4th Anniversary Photo Gala in Bethlehem, PA. From multimedia showcases and live entertainment to gourmet cuisine and on-the-spot photography, this immersive experience honors the stories that shaped us—and the future we’re building together.

McKinney Media Presents: 4th Anniversary Photo Gala

Join McKinney Media on August 9 for a powerful celebration of creativity, innovation, and community at our 4th Anniversary Photo Gala in Bethlehem, PA. From multimedia showcases and live entertainment to gourmet cuisine and on-the-spot photography, this immersive experience honors the stories that shaped us—and the future we’re building together.