What's Happening in Bethlehem This Week: September 14-21, 2026

The week of September 14-21, 2026 is a busy one for the 18017 community. The Greek Food Festival fills downtown, Lehigh celebrates Family Weekend with a home football game, the Hispanic Chamber hosts its annual gala, Liberty plays a Thursday-night league game, and the school district closes for Yom Kippur at the end of the week. 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 is located, the Board of Supervisors keeps its second- and fourth-Tuesday schedule, so the next regular session falls Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00 PM at the Municipal Building on Jacksonville Road, just outside this window. The township held its Patriot Day ceremony on Friday, September 11, and the marquee late-September date remains the America250 Celebration on Saturday, September 26, 2:30 to 7:00 PM at First Responders Park, complete with a car show and an announced live entertainment lineup, replacing the township's traditional summer carnival in honor of the nation's 250th anniversary. The Community Center also runs recurring Community Bingo nights through the fall.

In the City of Bethlehem, the calendar is packed. City Council meets Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall, with its Community Development Committee the same evening. The Hispanic Chamber Annual Awards Gala is Thursday, September 17 at 6:00 PM at the ArtsQuest Center, and Billy Bauer's Dave Matthews Band Tribute plays the ArtsQuest Center on Friday, September 18. The Greek Food Festival returns Thursday through Sunday, September 17-20 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on the South Side, a beloved annual weekend of Greek food, music, and dancing. The Belleville Street Faire Fall Edition is Sunday, September 20, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival runs September 25-27 in the Colonial Industrial Quarter with free general admission. ArtsQuest has also announced that Oktoberfest returns to SteelStacks for its 16th year, October 2-4 and 9-11.

In Bethlehem Township, the Recreation Board meets Monday, September 14 at 6:00 PM at the Municipal Building, and the Community Center keeps its weekly Mahjong Monday open play, 1:00 to 4:00 PM, plus the Senior Autumn Club sessions that resumed this month. The Board of Commissioners holds its next regular meeting Monday, September 21 at 7:00 PM in the Municipal Building, and the township's Planning Commission meets Monday, September 28. Board meetings are livestreamed for anyone who cannot attend in person.

Bethlehem Area School District, Freedom, and Liberty

Two public district committee nights bookend the school week: the Facilities and Curriculum Committees meet Monday, September 14 at the Education Center's Edgeboro Room, and the Finance and Human Resources Committees meet Monday, September 21. The next regular and special Board meetings are Monday, September 28 at East Hills Middle School. Remember that schools are closed Monday, September 21 for Yom Kippur, which shifts that week's high school schedules.

On the fall sports slate, Liberty hosts Northampton in a Thursday-night EPC league football game on September 17 at 7:00 PM. The district-wide varsity calendar also lists Liberty girls varsity field hockey against Nazareth, Freedom girls varsity field hockey against Liberty, and girls volleyball matches for both schools across the week. Exact times and venues are published on the official district and school athletics pages, so check the live varsity calendar before game day.

Good Places to Eat in Bethlehem

A fresh, well-reviewed shortlist for before a game, a show, or a campus visit:

• Apollo Grill at 85 West Broad Street is downtown's contemporary American anchor, holding a roughly 4.6-star average across more than a thousand reviews.
• The People's Kitchen at 639 Linden Street is a friendly, budget-conscious favorite with a 4.6-star average and happy regulars.
• Billy's Downtown Diner at 10 East Broad Street is the dependable breakfast-anytime stop with a strong review average.
• Machs Gute Pub and Grille at 713 Linden Street is a neighborhood pub known for casual bar food and cold beer.
• Tre Scalini Ristorante at 221 East Broad Street brings Italian dinner just steps from the downtown shops.
• Aqui Es: A Taste of Mexico at 821 Linden Street and Francisco's Salvadoreño Restaurant at 100 East Broad Street (a 4.8-star standout) cover Latin classics within a short walk of the center.
• For a special occasion, Edge Restaurant at 74 West Broad Street is one of Bethlehem's most refined dining rooms, and Bolete Restaurant on Seidersville Road remains the area's most acclaimed farm-to-table fine-dining table.

All of these are within a short drive of Hanover Farms. Call ahead on the busiest game and show nights.

Events at Wind Creek Bethlehem

The week's headliner at the Wind Creek Event Center is comedian Ali Wong on Saturday, September 19 at 8:00 PM, the same evening the venue hosts a Hispanic Heritage Celebration at 6:00 PM. Looking ahead, Tom Jones visits Thursday, September 24, Boys Like Girls play Friday, September 25 with Hit the Lights, and Black Veil Brides come through Saturday, September 26. October brings Ann Wilson of Heart (October 2), Jordan Jensen's comedy (October 3), BKFC Fight Night Bethlehem (October 9), Whiskey Myers (October 10), and Postmodern Jukebox (October 17). Tickets run through the Wind Creek Event Center's official channels.

Lehigh University and Moravian University

This is the biggest campus weekend of the young fall season.

At Lehigh University, Family Weekend arrives Friday and Saturday, September 18-19, headlined by the Mountain Hawks hosting Dartmouth on Saturday, September 19 at Goodman Stadium in the Patriot League home opener. At Zoellner Arts Center, the Donald M. Gruhn Distinguished Finance Speaker Series continues Tuesday, September 15 at 4:30 PM in Baker Hall, Graham Nash plays Baker Hall on Thursday, September 24, and the theatre department opens its production of "Witch" on the evening of September 25. The LUAG Main Gallery continues "This Land: Reimagining the United States of America on its 250th Anniversary" (through December 4) alongside "VIEWFINDER: Looking at Landscapes" in the Lower Gallery. The Bethlehem Farmers Market at Farrington Square runs Thursdays, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, on September 17 and 24; it is free, open to the public, and producer-only.

At Moravian University, the Greyhounds enjoy a football bye week after their September 12 home opener, with road games ahead. Women's soccer plays at Penn State Berks on Wednesday, September 16 and at Penn College on Saturday, September 19. Field hockey hosts DeSales on Wednesday, September 23 and Juniata College on Saturday, September 26, the home opener and Senior Day. The campus holds a Nursing Open House on Saturday, September 19 at the Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Center for Health Sciences, marks Heritage Day on Thursday, September 24, and Admissions hosts a Saturday Visit on September 26, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Haubert Union. Payne Gallery is closed mid-month and reopens October 10 with the "Five from the Valley" area-artists exhibition.

The Week Ahead in One Glance

• Mon Sept 14: BASD Facilities and Curriculum Committees; Bethlehem Township Recreation Board at 6:00 PM; Mahjong Monday 1-4 PM.
• Tue Sept 15: Bethlehem City Council at 7:00 PM at Town Hall; Lehigh Gruhn Finance Speaker at 4:30 PM.
• Thurs Sept 17: Liberty hosts Northampton in league football at 7:00 PM; Hispanic Chamber Gala at 6:00 PM; Greek Food Festival begins; Farmers Market at Farrington Square 10-2.
• Fri Sept 18: Billy Bauer's Dave Matthews Band Tribute at the ArtsQuest Center; Lehigh Family Weekend begins.
• Sat Sept 19: Ali Wong at Wind Creek Event Center, 8:00 PM; Lehigh hosts Dartmouth for Family Weekend; Moravian women's soccer at Penn College; Moravian Nursing Open House.
• Sun Sept 20: Belleville Street Faire Fall Edition, 10 AM-3 PM; final day of the Greek Food Festival.
• Mon Sept 21: Schools closed for Yom Kippur; BASD Finance and Human Resources Committees; Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners at 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 September 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.