27TH CHILIFEST: ChiliFest arrives in Bethlehem’s Southside Arts District Saturday, Oct. 21. Over 20 local shops and restaurants will be going toe to toe, competing for the titles of People’s Choice Best Chili and Celebrity Judges’ Top Choice Chili, a feature in Lehigh Valley Food Magazine, and the coveted ChiliFest pepper trophies which are handmade at the local Banana Factory’s glass blowing studio.

ChiliFest tickets or “passports’’ can be purchased online until Oct. 20 at southsideartsdistrict.com. A passport entitles the holder to one chili tasting at each location, and includes a map of the competition, your very own ChiliFest spoon, as well as a scannable QR code to vote for your favorite chili. Tastings will run between noon-4 p.m. in South Bethlehem, with the winners announced at 4:30 p.m. outside of Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub at 4 E. Fourth St. Purchased passports may be picked up at the Southside Art District Office, located at 324 S. New St. Oct. 19-20 between 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and on the day of the competition between 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

STORY SHRINK: Greater Lehigh Valley Writers’ Group (GLVWG) will hold “Story Shrink,” a one-day workshop for authors ready to develop three critical elements for marketing a book-synopsis, pitch and logline – Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. online via Zoom. Kathryn Craft, developmental editor with WritingPartner.com, will lead the workshop.

Attendees will receive the Zoom link upon registering for this unique individualized workshop. One-on-one participants are asked to submit their synopsis and elevator pitch by Oct. 8. As an added benefit, those who register for the afternoon workshop will be given the first choice of agent appointments at the 2024 Write Stuff Conference, scheduled for April 11-13, 2024.

For more information or to register, visit glvwg.org.

OKTOBERFEST RACES: Runners and Weiner dogs rejoice – Both the Yuengling Oktoberfest 5K and Weiner Dog Races return to ArtsQuest this fall. The Weiner Dog Races will be held on the Saturdays and Sundays of Oktoberfest, (Oct. 14 and 15). To register for the Oktoberfest 5k you can go to runsignmeup.com/Race/PA/Bethlehem/Oktoberfest5k.

APPLE FESTIVAL: The Lower Saucon Township Historical Society’s Apple Festival is Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse. 4216 Countryside Lane in Hellertown. A fun-filled day with activities for all ages. Free admission. Contact 610-625-8771 or lshistorical@gmail.com. Visit lutzfranklin.wordpress.com.

To Oct. 29

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. 11

Karaoke with host Bobby James. Free and open to the public. Lehigh Valley Active Life, 1633 W Elm St. Allentown. Call 610-437-3700. Visit lvactivelife.org/

Thursday, Oct. 12

Lehigh Valley Pops Orchestra, 9 a.m. Conductor Ron DeGrandis. 9 to 10:30 a.m. 1633 W. Elm St., Allentown. Information: call 610-437-3700 or visit 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, Oct. 13 to Sunday, Oct. 15

Octoberfest. Brewers village, food, live music, local artisans, dachshund races and parade, “Taste of Austria: (wine, liquoring, food pairing)”. Friday, 5 -10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon -6 p.m. SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way. Presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport. Visit steelstacks.org/festivals/oktoberfest/ for tickets and information.

Friday, Oct. 13

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

Socrates Café 10 a.m. Moderator Saul Coplan. Begins with a question chosen by the group and ends with even more questions. Free to members. Lehigh Valley Active Life, 1633 W. Elm St., Allentown. Call 610-437-3700 for information.

Saturday, Oct. 14

14th annual NorCo Festival: Food / food trucks, demonstrations, crafts, live entertainment. Ceremony to recognize veterans, EMS and municipal workers, volunteers, and more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Louise Moore Park, 151 Country Club Road, Easton. Visit facebook.com/ NorthamptonCountyFestival/

Saturday Night Dance. 7 to 10 p.m. “KATO.” Cost per person; includes light refreshments. Singles and couples welcome. Lehigh Valley Active Life, 1633 W Elm St. Allentown. Call 610-437-3700.

Monday, Oct. 16

Monthly veterans’ support program, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rep. McNeil’s office, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall; must make an appointment. Call 610-266-1273.

Tuesday, Oct. 17

Good Vibrations Chorus led by Nancy Shumaker. All singers welcome. 9:30 a.m. Lehigh Valley Active Life, 1633 W. Elm St.

Wednesday, Oct. 18

Great Decisions series introductory lecture: “Artificial Intelligence: The Good, Bad and the Ugly” with Dr. David P. Lopresti of Lehigh University. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 3000 Building, Kirkland Village. Park behind First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center St. Series continues at 11 a.m. Wednesdays in February and March, 2024. Call 610-866-2655 or visitywcabethlehem.org

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.