BLESSING OF ANIMALS: All are welcome to participate in the annual “Blessing of the Animals” event offered Sunday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. by First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. It will be held on the east lawn of the church campus, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem. This is a ‘rain or shine’ event; in case of bad weather it will be set up as a drive-through.

Blessings will be offered to pets of all kinds; it is requested that dogs be on leashes. There will also be live music, and opportunities to visit with other participants and their pets.

This is a free event. If interested, participants are invited to bring donations of pet food and supplies that will be shared with the Animal Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley.

CROP WALK 2023: The Bethlehem Area CROP Hunger Walk kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 8, rain or shine.

“We walk because the people we help walk for fresh water, food, and for a safe place to live,” comments Matt Piszel, coordinator of the annual Bethlehem event.

Funds raised are used to alleviate hunger, to aid refugees, and help victims of natural disasters through Church World Service. One quarter of the money raised each year has helped local soup kitchens, social agencies and food pantries, including New Bethany Ministries, Star of Bethlehem Emergency Food Pantry, Pennsylvania Avenue Interfaith Food Pantry, Victory House and the Salvation Army. Last year, Bethlehem walkers raised over $ 15,000 and distributed $3,700 locally.

For more information, contact the coordinator, Matt Piszel at bethcropwalk@att.net.

Wednesday, Sept. 27

Registration deadline for Oct. 4 Octoberfest by Traditions of Hanover and The Birches. Live polka music, soft pretzels, bratwurst, apple squares, cider. Along the walking path, Traditions of Hanover, 5300 Northgate Drive. Rain date: Oct. 5. Call 610-492-7077.

FESTIVAL UnBOUND, Touchstone Theatre, 321 E. Fourth St. Annual hyperlocal, arts-infused community celebration and conversation envisioning our future together. Music, theater, visual art, dance, zebras, wrestlers and more. Visit touchstone.org/community/unbound/ for information and schedules.

Thursday, Sept. 28

Lehigh Valley Pops Orchestra rehearsals, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Conductor: George Fennell. 1633 W. Elm St., Allentown. Information: call 610-437-3700 or visit https://lvactivelife.org/

Current Events Informal Discussion Group: Moderator: David M. Bell. World, national, state and local topics. Free. 2 p.m. Lehigh Valley Active Life, 1633 W. Elm St., Allentown. Information: call 610-437-3700 or visit lvactivelife.org/

Friday, Sept. 29

Elm Street Jazz Workshop rehearsals, 9 a.m. Director: Allan Meyerson. 1633 W. Elm St., Allentown. Information: call 610-437-3700 or visit lvactivelife.org/

Steel Weekend & Steelworkers Reunion 2023 10 a.m. Sept. 30 through 5 p.m. Oct. 1.

Schedules and information: visit nmih.org/event/steelweekend23/ and steelworkersarchives.com

Faces of Steel: honoring men and women Bethlehem Steel workers; photo gallery shared via PBS 39 outdoor screens; photographs from the company’s corporate files by “Steel” in-house photography team; Ed Leskin photography with large-scale banners. Foundry Park demonstrations, events with NMIH staff and volunteers. Hands-on STEAM activity stations. Bethlehem Area Public Library reading nook. South Bethlehem Historical Society featuring Northampton Heights and mining pop-up exhibits.

Friday, Sept. 29

Metal Health Iron Casting Workshop, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. NMIH workshop with Jay Elias of Evolution Art Studios. The Gulf War era Marine created the studio to promote healing with other veterans and community members via creating three-dimensional sculptural forms in cast-iron patternmaking, mold-making and casting. Free for veterans; otherwise there is a cost. Preregistration required; visit nmih.org/event/metalhealth/

Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1

Steelworkers Storytime, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Former Steelworkers interactive story time with Tug, the subject of a children’s book produced in collaboration with the Bethlehem Area Public Library. Meet Tug in person.

Steelworkers Archives one hour walking tour. Evolution of iron making in the Lehigh Valley to the history of the Bethlehem Plant. 1 and 3 p.m. Costs, reservations (online only): steelstacks.org/event/13703/steelworkers-archives-walking-tours/

Where Steelmaking Began – A Conversation with Bethlehem Steel Coke Oven employees. Panel discussion with former Coke Ovens Division employees about their experiences and memories. 2 p.m. Visit nmih.org

Strategic Minerals & the Amazon: Excavating Bethlehem Steel’s History in Brazil. The company’s transnational history and the corporation as a multinational mining company. 2 p.m. nmih.org/event/steelweekend23/

Steelworkers’ Archives Hoover-Mason Trestle walking tours through the former plant site. 11:30 a.m. rain or shine from plaza of the National Museum of History, 602 E. Second St. Information and costs: call 610-861-0600 or visitsteelstacks.org/event/13703/steelworkers-archives-walking-tours/

Sunday, Oct. 1

A German Festival in a Tea Cup with handclapping German music. Bring your favorite tea cup or purchase one at event. Cost. Call Linda for reservation and information, 610-837-9015. 2 p.m. Governor Wolf Historical Society, 6600 Jacksonville Rd., Bath, 18104; visit govwolf.org/

Harvest Fest, noon. Downtown Bethlehem. (getdowntownbethlehem.com/harvest-fest/)

Beer and wine tasting, soup trail, live music, more. Oct. 2)

Monday, Oct. 2

Scarecrow Showdown contest along Main and Broad Streets from Oct. 2 to 29 and live on the website for voting. For information, visit visithistoricbethlehem.com/event/scarecrow-showdown/

Wednesday, Oct. 4

Bloom for Women, a faith-based nonprofit organization providing sanctuary and care for women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation; open to the public benefit dinner, 6 to 9 p.m., Saucon Valley Country Club, 2050 Saucon Valley Road, 18015. For information and tickets, visit bloomforwomen.kindful.com/e/freedom-benefit-dinner

The Bethlehem Press calendar listings are, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of printing. We are not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of information submitted by external parties.