Touchstone Theatre’s “Festival UnBound” returns for its sixth year with a hyper-local, arts-based community celebration featuring one dozen events Oct. 2 to Oct. 6 at various locations in Bethlehem.

This year’s festival focus is on disability and the arts. Events include visual arts, live music, dance, theater, community dialogue, as well as two guest residencies with disability arts ensemble Kinetic Light, in collaboration with Zoellner Arts Center; and London’s Single Shoe Productions.

“Festival UnBound” was founded in October 2019 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Touchstone Theatre’s “Steelbound,” Sept. 9 to 19, 1999, centerpiece of “Steel Festival: The Art of an Industry,” Touchstone’s multi-arts festival that celebrated Bethlehem’s steelmaking heritage.

Bethlehem Steel Corp. stopped producing steel in November 1995, filed for bankruptcy in 2001 and was dissolved in 2003.

Bethlehem Steel’s former Southside Bethlehem plant is the site of ArtsQuest’s SteelStacks; WLVT Channel 39 studios and Wind Creek Bethlehem casino and hotel.

Kinetic Light presents “DESCENT,” the group’s first touring production, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5, Zoellner Arts Center, 398 W. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem.

Led by disabled artists, the ensemble creates, designs and performs work that is a blend of movement, light and sound. “DESCENT” is performed by two artists in wheelchairs on a custom-designed architectural ramp installation with hills, curves and peaks.

Inspired by the art of French sculptor Auguste Rodin, “DESCENT” reimagines the mythological characters of Venus and Andromeda as interracial lovers. Combining dance, architecture, design and technology, the evening-length duet challenges cultural assumptions of what disability, dance and beauty can be.

Kinetic Light is offering workshops, 4:30, 7 p.m. Oct. 2, DeSales University, and a behind the scenes look, 11 a.m. Oct. 6, Zoellner Arts Center.

As part of the festival, four visually-impaired artists will present “Another Point of View,” an exhibition of their works, Sept. 30 to Nov. 4, Bethlehem Town Hall Rotunda Gallery, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. The artists are Mary Ann Dunwoodie, Michael Freeman, Dianne Michels and Terry Newhard. Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission and Touchstone will host an opening reception, 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 6.

In partnership with the Bethlehem Area Public Library, Touchstone will kick off “The Big Read,” 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6, Zoellner Arts Center. The program, which will continue through spring 2025, is centered around “Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body” by Rebekah Taussig. Free copies of the book will be provided.

Single Shoe Productions’ “A Wall Between Us” will be performed, 2 p.m. Oct. 5 and 6, Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem.

“Festival UnBound”

- 6 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, “Twilight with Touchstone,” Bethlehem Rose Garden: Music, poetry, dance and a participatory light parade.

- 8 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, “Stargazing,” Bethlehem’s Rose Garden: Nature Nurture Center, Easton, staff provide telescopes and guide visitors in viewing the stars, moon and planets.

- 9 a.m. Oct. 5, “Reflections on the River,” Sand Island: Wildlands Conservancy staff lead a canoe tour on the Lehigh River to inspire participants in creative writing.

- 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6, “Tales from the Trail,” South Bethlehem Greenway: Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor staff lead a walk as a creative writing prompt.

- 4 p.m. Oct. 6, “Community Jam,” Touchstone Barrio Stage, 321 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem: Latin folk group Herencia Jibera, led by Daniel Class, provides traditional music from Puerto Rico.

“Festival UnBound,” various times, stages, Oct. 2 to 6. Most events are free. Some require registration. Tickets: 484-767-2456; http://www.touchstone.org/

Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor,

pwillistein@tnonline.com