Touchstone Theatre’s Festival Unbound was in the spotlight at the Mayor’s South Side Task Force hybrid meeting at the NCC Fowler Center Sept. 24.

The annual hyperlocal arts event featuring visual arts, live music, participatory dance, and original theater runs Oct. 2 - 6 at venues throughout Bethlehem.

Chairperson Janine Santoro announced the City of Bethlehem’s Halloween parade is happening Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at West Broad and Main streets.

According to Santoro, a Climate Action Plan Update meeting at Bethlehem City Hall is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 9 a.m.

Katy Knibbs from the Southside Arts District brought up several upcoming events, beginning with the 28th annual ChiliFest Oct. 19 from noonto 4 p.m. along Third and Fourth streets.

There will be a Community Action Development Bethlehem’s Southside Cleanup on Oct. 12 at McNamara Park from 10 a.m. -noon.

A Miller Keystone Blood Drive is scheduled for Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 205 Webster St. in the BSI Corporate Benefits building’s multipurpose room. Those who donate blood between Oct. 1 and 31 can register to win tickets to a Penn State game or a $360 gift card for Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos.

Area artists are asked to create and donate ceramic bowls for the Empty Bowls fundraiser sponsored by the Moravian and Lehigh dining teams. The call to artists deadline is Dec. 4.

Susan Vitez from the Steelworkers’ Archives mentioned that partnering with the National Museum of Industrial History (NMIH), extra walking tours on the Hoover-Mason Trestle have been added to the schedule.

She promoted the upcoming Steeples and Steel bus tours for Oct. 26 and Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each departs from the NMIH. These focus on Bethlehem Steel plant sites, and a church or cemetery gets explored on each tour. A Bethlehem Steel “overtime lunch” will be provided at the end of each tour.

Eric Fontanez from the Bethlehem Area School District spoke about that week’s BASD Hispanic Heritage Month celebration held at Northeast Middle School.

Bethlehem Community Police Officer William Rodriguez said the police department continues to seek recruits. He also described a couple of public outreach events the officers are involved with.

Santoro mentioned that there are still open seats on several authorities, boards and commissions, especially on the Human Relations Commission and Civil Service Board. There are open positions at city hall that need to be filled as well.

The Mayor’s South Side Task Force regularly meets on the last Tuesday of the month.