Morning Call - Lehigh Valley & Allentown PA News, Sports, Weather, Business & Things to Do

The ‘front door of economic development’: How Musikfest and other entertainment venues contribute to Lehigh Valley’s growth

With millions attending Musikfest and other entertainment venues each year, the Lehigh Valley gets to sell itself as an attractive place to live.

Gilberto Santa Rosa performs Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, on Musikfest’s Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Crews respond to a large sinkhole Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, on Main Street in Palmer Township. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Another large sinkhole opens near Route 33 in Palmer Township

Various meat products are for sale Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, at Slate Belt Butchery in Lynn Township. The butcher shop won grand champion titles in the Specialty Flavored Fresh Sausage/Uncooked and Cured Specialty Meat Product, Ground categories at this year’s Pennsylvania Association of Meat Processors competition. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Retail Watch: Lehigh Valley butcher shop wins top honors at state competition

Third Eye Blind performs on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Musikfest’s Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza in Bethlehem. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Musikfest review: Third Eye Blind reawakens a generation’s soundtrack

A developer has purchased farmland in Upper Macungie Township with plans to build 10 homes.
(Morning Call file photo)

Developer buys $770,000 worth of farmland to build luxury homes in Lehigh Valley

Latest Headlines

Pa. Turnpike I-476 section in Lehigh Valley to be closed for part of weekend

2 days ago
Pa. state troopers recovering after Susquehanna County shooting; were ambushed by gunman who killed neighbor

1 day ago
CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police

7 hours ago
Money for a Lehigh Valley bike trail is part of a multistate lawsuit against Trump, federal government

2 days ago
Will a new plan save Gracedale Nursing Home? Some on Northampton County Council are skeptical

2 days ago
Kepler gets clutch hit, Duran gets save as Phillies edge Rangers

1 second ago
Lehigh Valley sports scores and a look at Sunday’s schedule

8 hours ago
Sign up for email newsletters
Sign Up

Most Popular

Developer buys $770,000 worth of farmland to build luxury homes in Lehigh Valley
Developer buys $770,000 worth of farmland to build luxury homes in Lehigh Valley
Another large sinkhole opens near Route 33 in Palmer Township
Another large sinkhole opens near Route 33 in Palmer Township
Musikfest 2025 on Friday, Aug. 8 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Friday, Aug. 8 | PHOTOS
Pa. Turnpike I-476 section in Lehigh Valley to be closed for part of weekend
Pa. Turnpike I-476 section in Lehigh Valley to be closed for part of weekend
95-pound tuna potentially worth $1.8 million caught in Maryland fishing tourney
95-pound tuna potentially worth $1.8 million caught in Maryland fishing tourney
Retail Watch: Lehigh Valley butcher shop wins top honors at state competition
Retail Watch: Lehigh Valley butcher shop wins top honors at state competition
Musikfest 2025 on Thursday, Aug. 7 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Thursday, Aug. 7 | PHOTOS
Allentown pharmacy to pay feds $825,000 to resolve false Medicare billing allegations
Allentown pharmacy to pay feds $825,000 to resolve false Medicare billing allegations
The ‘front door of economic development’: How Musikfest and other entertainment venues contribute to Lehigh Valley’s growth
The ‘front door of economic development’: How Musikfest and other entertainment venues contribute to Lehigh Valley’s growth
Musikfest review: Third Eye Blind reawakens a generation’s soundtrack
Musikfest review: Third Eye Blind reawakens a generation’s soundtrack

Local News

“Faces in the crowd on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, at Musikfest in Bethlehem. (Photo by Jonathan Broady, Special to The Morning Call)”

Musikfest 2025 on Saturday, Aug. 9 | PHOTOS

See photos from the second Saturday of Musikfest 2025 in Bethlehem.

Sports

Liberty senior receiver winger Jake Pukszyn stands for a photo Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Bethlehem. The Hurricanes finished the 2024 season with a 7-4 record, their best mark since 2015. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Liberty football countdown to kickoff: A look at the 2025 Hurricanes

Liberty won 7 games in 2024, but feels it can do even better with a strong returning cast

Things to Do

People enjoy foods, sounds and the sights Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, during Musikfest on North side Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

The ultimate Musikfest 2025 guide: Lineup, food, parking and more

From how to get there to who to see, here's your guide to Musikfest 2025.

Opinion

This 2015 photo depicts a portion of the Saucon Rail Trail. Bethlehem purchased a 0.9 mile patch of land that will allow the trail to be connected to the Bethlehem Greenway trail. (Douglas Kilpatrick/Special to The Morning Call)

Opinion: Trump proposal threatens public land preservation fund

Opinion: We must support Land and Water Conservation Fund projects that help to conserve public...

Crime and Public Safety

Police lights webstock

Crash on Route 22 ramp to Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem cleared

A crash on the Route 22 ramp to Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem that was closing...

Best Reviews

<p>Alvina Wang/BestReviews</p>

Best dry erase markers for classrooms and home offices

Discover the best dry-erase markers for bold color, smooth writing and easy cleanup on any...

Business

A pair of platform mule shoes and a bright blue bag are displayed at Apocalypse, a buy, sell and trade store in Boulder, Colo. on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Nicky Andrews via AP)

Your junk could be Gen Z’s treasure. How to profit from the resurgence of Y2K fashion

Early 2000s fashion is all the rage again.

Pennsylvania News

State Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre, speaks at an event in Oct. 2024 at Black Moshannon State Park in Rush Township. (Natalie Kolb / Commonwealth Media Services via Spotlight PA)

Tax relief for campgrounds in Pa. could come at the expense of revenue tool for local governments

Legislation to exempt campgrounds from local amusement taxes passed unanimously in the Pa. House, with...

National News

Security fencing around the Fulton County Jail on Aug. 22, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America/TNS)

US families shoulder nearly $350B in annual costs tied to incarceration, report finds

Families reported losing an average of $1,803 in income per month when a loved one...

Allentown

Johan Rojas drove in the IronPigs’ first run in Saturday night’s game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

IronPigs even series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre thanks to shutout win

Strong pitching plus timely hitting by Johan Rojas and Rafael Lantigua allow IronPigs to even...

Bethlehem Area

Faces in the crowd Sunday, Aug. , 2025, at Musikfest in Bethlehem. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)

Musikfest 2025 on Sunday, Aug. 3 | PHOTOS

Photos: People enjoy the sights, sounds and food of Musikfest 2025 in Bethlehem on Sunday.