What's Happening in Bethlehem This Week: September 28-October 5, 2026

The week of September 28 through October 5, 2026 is Oktoberfest season in the 18017 community. The free festival runs at SteelStacks, Lehigh hosts its Family Weekend football game against Fordham, Liberty plays an EPC league game at Pocono Mountain West on Friday night, and Ann Wilson and Jordan Jensen headline the Wind Creek Event Center. This roundup covers the City of Bethlehem, Hanover Township (where 3650 Stephen Crane Ln sits), Bethlehem Township, the Bethlehem Area School District, Wind Creek Bethlehem, Lehigh and Moravian universities, and well-reviewed places to eat. Everything below was checked against official and current sources this week.

Around Bethlehem: Hanover Township, the City, and Bethlehem Township

In Hanover Township, Northampton County, where 3650 Stephen Crane Ln sits, the next item on the township calendar is the Board of Supervisors regular 7:00 PM session Tuesday, October 13 at the Municipal Building on Jacksonville Road, the second meeting of the month under the township's second-and-fourth-Tuesday schedule. A published notice notes that a Hanover Township Planning Board work session set for Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 PM has been changed to a regular public meeting where formal action may be taken. The township's special-events page also lists an upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection event; check hanovertwp-nc.org for the date and details.

In the City of Bethlehem, the week's centerpiece is Oktoberfest at SteelStacks, Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4 at 101 Founders Way, with a second weekend October 9 through 11. The free festival brings German food and beer, live music, local artisans, and dachshund races; hours are Friday, 5:00 to 10:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 10:00 PM. The Yuengling Oktoberfest 5K starts at SteelStacks Sunday, October 4 at 10:30 AM. Also on stage, Randy Feltface performs his GIMMICK! comedy show at the Musikfest Cafe Friday, October 2 at 8:00 PM. Earlier in the week, ArtsQuest hosts the free Improv JAM-BER-REE at the Bethlehem Visitor Center at SteelStacks Monday, September 28 at 7:00 PM. Historic Bethlehem's guided tours keep a steady rhythm: "Branching Out: Tour the Moravian Museum and Nearby Historic Sites" at noon Monday and the "Rise and Fall of Bethlehem Steel" walking tour from the SteelStacks area 1:00 to 2:30 PM Monday. Runners and walkers can join the free weekly group run from Aardvark Sports Shop at 559 Main Street Wednesday, September 30 at 6:00 PM. Just beyond the window, Harvest Fest returns Saturday, October 10 and Oktoberfest's second weekend runs October 9 through 11.

Bethlehem Township has a civic week. The Planning Commission meets Monday, September 28 at 7:00 PM and the Zoning Hearing Board Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 PM, both in the Municipal Building at 3535 Orth Street, followed by the Board of Commissioners regular meeting Monday, October 5 at 7:00 PM, livestreamed for residents. Two road projects are worth planning around: Church Road improvements between Country Club Road and William Penn Highway run September 14 through December 18, and the Hecktown Road project keeps the southbound lane closed September 14 through October 30 with no street parking between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Confirm schedules on the township site before heading out.

Bethlehem Area School District, Freedom, and Liberty

On the district sports slate, Liberty varsity football plays an EPC league game at Pocono Mountain West Friday, October 2 at 7:00 PM, per Liberty's 2026 schedule. Freedom's varsity football game for the week was not yet listed in the sources reviewed for this roundup; the district publishes the full day-by-day high school varsity athletics calendar, including field hockey, soccer, volleyball, cross country, golf, and tennis, on its website, so check basdschools.org for Freedom's contests, the week's home matches, and the district-wide calendar.

Good Places to Eat in Bethlehem

Fresh picks for Oktoberfest week, all real, verifiable places and most a short drive from Hanover Farms:

• Vincenza's Italian Pizzeria & Trattoria at 2980 Linden Street, in the 18017 zip, serves pizza and Italian plates with a neighborhood trattoria feel.
• Anna's Brick Oven Pizza at 313 South New Street holds a 4.2-star average across more than 120 reviews.
• Fratelli Pizzeria at 1230 North New Street is a first-floor pizzeria on Bethlehem's north side.
• Lit Coffee Roastery & Bakeshop at 26 East 3rd Street roasts and bakes in house.
• The Joint Coffee Co. at 77 West Broad Street, facing the Sun Inn Courtyard, holds a 4.8-star average.
• Bitty & Beau's Coffee at 74 West Broad Street holds a perfect 5.0-star average across roughly 40 reviews.
• The Wise Bean at 634 North New Street is a small cafe with a 4.9-star average.
• Jumbars at 1342 Chelsea Avenue is a bakery and cafe with a 4.1-star average across more than 100 reviews.

Call ahead on festival days; several of these are small kitchens or cafes with limited seating, and hours tighten around holidays.

Events at Wind Creek Bethlehem

Two headliners anchor the week at the Wind Creek Event Center at 77 Wind Creek Boulevard. Ann Wilson, the voice of Heart, performs Friday, October 2 at 8:00 PM with Tripsitter, and comedian Jordan Jensen follows Saturday, October 3 at 8:00 PM. Beyond the window, the October lineup continues with Whiskey Myers with The Ransom Brothers Saturday, October 10, The Basement Yard Live podcast show Friday, October 16, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox on its "The Future Is Vintage" world tour Saturday, October 17, The Beat Goes On: A Tribute to Cher Thursday, October 22, The Price Is Right Live On Stage Friday, October 23, and Night of the Living Drag Saturday, October 24. Tickets run through the Wind Creek Event Center's official channels.

Lehigh University and Moravian University

At Lehigh University, Family Weekend centers on Mountain Hawks football hosting Fordham at Goodman Stadium Saturday, October 3 at noon, presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health. The Department of Theatre production of "Witch" continues in the Diamond Theater at Zoellner Arts Center with performances Wednesday, September 30 through Saturday, October 3; check zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu for curtain times. The Lehigh Valley Space Fest is on the university's fall calendar, so see the official events calendar for dates and registration as details are posted.

At Moravian University, Greyhounds football plays at Western Connecticut State Saturday, October 3 at 1:00 PM, its second straight road game in a 100th-season schedule. The next home game at Rocco Calvo Field is Saturday, October 10 against Juniata at noon. Payne Gallery at 346 Main Street keeps free public hours Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 PM; check moravian.edu and the Payne Gallery page for the fall exhibition schedule and campus events as they are posted.

The Week Ahead in One Glance

• Mon Sept 28: Free Improv JAM-BER-REE at the Bethlehem Visitor Center at SteelStacks 7:00 PM; Branching Out: Moravian Museum tour at noon; Rise and Fall of Bethlehem Steel walking tour 1:00 PM; Bethlehem Township Planning Commission 7:00 PM.
• Tue Sept 29: No confirmed township or city events in the sources reviewed; check the BASD varsity athletics calendar for Tuesday contests.
• Wed Sept 30: Bethlehem Township Zoning Hearing Board 6:30 PM; Aardvark Sports Shop group run 6:00 PM; Lehigh Theatre: "Witch" in the Diamond Theater.
• Thu Oct 1: Lehigh Theatre: "Witch" in the Diamond Theater; check the BASD calendar for Thursday varsity matches.
• Fri Oct 2: Liberty at Pocono Mountain West football 7:00 PM; Oktoberfest opens at SteelStacks 5:00 PM; Randy Feltface at the Musikfest Cafe 8:00 PM; Ann Wilson at Wind Creek 8:00 PM; Lehigh Theatre: "Witch".
• Sat Oct 3: Lehigh vs Fordham noon at Goodman Stadium (Family Weekend); Moravian at Western Connecticut State 1:00 PM; Oktoberfest noon to 10:00 PM; Jordan Jensen at Wind Creek 8:00 PM; Lehigh Theatre: "Witch".
• Sun Oct 4: Yuengling Oktoberfest 5K at SteelStacks 10:30 AM; Oktoberfest noon to 10:00 PM.
• Mon Oct 5: Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners 7:00 PM.

As always, event details, times, and lineups can change, so confirm directly with the township, city, school, venue, or university before heading out. I research this roundup fresh every week from official and current sources, and I never publish an event I cannot verify.

While you are out enjoying Oktoberfest season in Bethlehem, remember that 3650 Stephen Crane Ln in Hanover Farms is listed at $414,900, with 3 bedrooms plus an office or possible 4th bedroom, 1.5 baths, an in-ground pool, and a covered patio. To arrange a private tour, call Tim Tepes at (484) 275-0056 or use the contact page.