Get Out: First Friday, Arts on Main and Bach Festival

For all the moms who do so much for so little recognition, this weekend is all about you.  Mom should get to do whatever she wants, whether it is breakfast in bed or dinner and show on Saturday night and here are the best picks for this weekend, keeping everything mom’s love in mind—beautiful art, moving music, entertaining theatre, of course, do things with the children she loves so much. 

First Friday has come back around on the calendar and it isn’t pulling out any stops, celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Whether mom like’s the art or the margaritas, she will surely have a great night out in South Side Bethlehem. If classical music is more her thing, she might enjoy the two day even celebrating all things Bach with the 104th Annual Bach Choir and Festival Orchestra. Hop over the bridge, another festival, the 46th Annual Bethlehem Fine Arts and Craft Show will be sprawling through downtown Historic Bethlehem.

For the mom with little ones still in tow, the Mom’s Day Tea at the Kemerer Museum, the performance of Lucinda in Jam Town and All Around the Maypole would be a fun Saturday activity to spend time with her precious little offspring, or take the family our for a a little tour of yesteryear at the Saucon Valley History Day.

If it is a night on the town mom wants, though, she might think about wishing upon a star at the Star Party on South Mountain. She could always have a laugh at the State Theatre with some of the least well known comedians in the industry— still guaranteed side-splitting laughter, no worries there. For dinner and a show, the Robin McKelle Jazz Cabaret and Dinner Show is the best bet this week.

BEST PICKS FOR MOM’S DAY WEEKEND

• FIRST FRIDAY ()

Where/When: S. New and 3rd Streets, Bethlehem, Friday, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Why Go: Everyone loves First Friday in Bethlehem for the open galleries, the great art, music and entertainment. Now, take it up a notch with a Cinco de Mayo theme featuring food samples from Looper's Grill & Bar, Molly's Irish Grille & Sports Pub and Tulum.

Pricing: Free; sponsored the Downtown Bethlehem Association.

• THE 104TH ANNUAL BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM & BACH FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA  (BACH CHOIR)

Where/When: Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Friday, 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Why Go: Bethlehem can’t get enough Bach but, this two day dose should satiate even the most die-hard lover of classical music. Brilliant vocal and instrumental performances as well as lectures concerning Bach and his music will be spread throughout Lehigh Campus. 

Pricing: Free; sponsored by Air Products, PGB Trust and Investments

• SAUCON VALLEY HISTORY DAY ()

Where/When: 150 W Walnut St, Hellertown, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Why Go: Learn about the history of Hellertown and Upper Saucon with tours of the Grist Mill, Heller Homestead and Lutz Franklin Schoolhouse.  There will be entertainment, food, demonstrations of Early American colonial craftwork and lots more fun for the family.

Pricing: Free; sponsored by Lower Saucon Township Historical Society

• 46th ANNUAL BETHLEHEM FINE ART AND CRAFT SHOW (BETHLEHEM FINE ARTS COMMISSION)

Where/When: Main Street, Historic Bethlehem, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. & Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Why Go:  Over 80 juried artists and crafters display their art in a side-walk show along Main St. in Historic Bethlehem. Traditionally held on Mother’s Day weekend, bring mom to view the finest of local and regional talent and, just maybe, let her pick out something that is just as beautiful as her. 

Pricing: Free. 

• A MOTHER’S DAY TEA ()

Where/When: 427 N. New St. Bethlehem, Saturday, noon – 4:00 p.m.

Why Go: Children will investigate the plant Camellia senensis, used to make traditional Victorian tea and how it was served on their continuing Hunt for History. Following tea, they will make a Camellia blossom to give to mom or grandma.

Pricing: $5 for adults, free for children. 

• LUCINDA IN JAM TOWN ()

Where/When: Banana Factory, 25 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem, Friday 7:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, 1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

Why Go: It’s opening night for this specially commission musical in honor of the 25th Anniversary Season. An updated musical of the Cinderella story, it is an eclectic mix of dance, physical comedy and outrageous costumes that the whole family will enjoy.

Pricing: Tickets—$12 Child/Senior; $15 Adult, Premiere Reserved Seating for $20.

• ALL AROUND THE MAYPOLE  (MOCK TURTLE MARIONETTE THEATRE)

Where/When: Charles Brown Ice House, 6 River St., Bethlehem, Saturday, 10:00 am

Why Go: Celebrate Spring with the melodies of the lute, guitar, fiddle and recorders that compose the Renaissance music performed by Cambiata. The workshop will have a dance around the Maypole for all ages.

Pricing: Tickets—$5 per person, $7.50 for performance and workshop.

• STAR PARTY (THE LEHIGH VALLEY AMATEAUR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY)

Where/When: South Mountain Observatory, Bethlehem, Saturday, 7:00 p.m.

Why Go: While you love your mom to the moon, she always loved you to the moon and back. Now, you can see how really far that is with a Night Sky Network talk about NASA missions and other topics. After the planetarium show, look through the telescope not only at the moon but planets, stars and deep sky objects.

Pricing: Suggested donation, $2.

• NOBODIES OF COMEDY (STATE THEATRE)

Where/When: State Theatre, 452 Northampton Street, Easton, Friday, 8:00 p.m.

Why Go: This is hilarious side-splitting laugh a minute comedy with talent that you have never heard before, featuring Mike Vecchione , Andy Woodhull, Rachel Feinstein, Kurt Metzger and James Johann.

Pricing: Tickets: $25 per person, Sponsored by Enter.net and WZZO Z-95.

• ROBIN MCKELLE JAZZ CABARET DINNER AND SHOW (ZOELLNER ARTS CENTER)

Where/When: 420 East Packer Ave., Saturday, 6:00 p.m. dinner/ 7:00 p.m. show & 9:00 p.m. show only  

Why Go: This is a great event to take mom for an evening reminiscent of those smooth jazz vocals of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan in a jazz cabaret.  Promoting his new album new album Mess Around, McKelle had a great command of rhythm and blues, soul and jazz.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and the show.

Pricing: Tickets, dinner and show $57, show only $20, alcohol available for purchase.