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)

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

Nightcrawler: 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 2025 on Friday, Aug. 8 | PHOTOS

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

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

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

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

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

17 hours ago
Musikfest 2025: Here’s the complete schedule for Saturday, Aug. 9

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

1 day ago
Bethlehem police investigating double shooting at South Side restaurant

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Apollo 13 moon mission leader James Lovell dies at 97

20 hours ago
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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
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
Bethlehem police investigating double shooting at South Side restaurant
Bethlehem police investigating double shooting at South Side restaurant
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
Musikfest 2025 on Thursday, Aug. 7 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Thursday, Aug. 7 | PHOTOS
Vehicle crashes into Allentown market, seriously injuring 2 people
Vehicle crashes into Allentown market, seriously injuring 2 people
Allentown police officer pistol-whipped man after car chase, charged in ‘unjustified assault’, DA says
Allentown police officer pistol-whipped man after car chase, charged in ‘unjustified assault’, DA says
Crash on Route 22 ramp to Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem cleared
Crash on Route 22 ramp to Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem cleared
Money for a Lehigh Valley bike trail is part of a multistate lawsuit against Trump, federal government
Money for a Lehigh Valley bike trail is part of a multistate lawsuit against Trump, federal government
Man who died after being hit by vehicle on Route 22 in Northampton County is identified
Man who died after being hit by vehicle on Route 22 in Northampton County is identified

Local News

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)

Third Eye Blind performs at Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS

Third Eye Blind performed at Musikfest’s Wind Creek Steel Stage in Bethlehem on Friday. See photos.

Sports

Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber runs the bases after hitting a solo home run off Rangers pitcher Merrill Kelly on Friday in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh lead the way as Phillies rout Rangers

Schwarber hits 41st homer and Marsh goes deep among four hits as Phillies beat Rangers 9-1

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

LaTarsha Brown, accused of making up a story about a noose being left on her desk in Allentown City Hall, has been accepted into a first-time offenders program. (Rick Kintzel/The Morning Call)

Allentown employee charged with lying about City Hall noose incident enters first-time offenders program

LaTarsha Brown's criminal charges will be expunged if she finishes two-year program and pays fines...

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

FILE – Homes sit in Cranberry Township, Pa., on March 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

A climate-friendly home starts with an energy assessment. Here’s how my 100-year-old house did

Our shelter accounts for one of our biggest personal climate impacts.

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

Anthony Contreras won his franchise-record 287th game as IronPigs manager in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

IronPigs record-setting manager focuses on relationships, not milestones

IronPigs manager Anthony Contreras recently heard from former boss Mike Nutter when it was announced...

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.