This Weekend in the Lehigh Valley: October 17-18, 2026

Looking for something to do in the Lehigh Valley this weekend? Here are seven verified events happening Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Easton, Jim Thorpe, and Breinigsville. Each pick includes confirmed dates, times, locations, costs, and a link to the official event page.

Every event below was checked against its official listing on October 13, 2026. Details can always change, so please confirm times, ticket availability, and any weather notices on the official pages before you head out.

1. ChiliFest, SouthSide Arts District

The 30th annual ChiliFest returns to Bethlehem's SouthSide Arts District on Saturday. Local restaurants and businesses compete for the Glass Pepper Awards, and a passport grants chili tastings at participating venues along with a commemorative spoon. It is a walkable, family-friendly afternoon in the South Side neighborhood.

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where: SouthSide Arts District, 324 S. New Street, Bethlehem, PA
Cost: $35 passport for chili tastings and a commemorative spoon

Official source: southsideartsdistrict.com/chilifest

2. Nazareth Fall Festival

The Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the borough's annual fall celebration on Main Street between Belvidere and Walnut Streets. The festival features live music, food trucks, craft and artisan vendors, and kids' competitions. Attendance is free, with food and vendor purchases pay-as-you-go.

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 2:00 p.m.
Where: Main Street between Belvidere and Walnut Streets, Nazareth, PA
Cost: Free to attend; food and vendor items are separately priced

Official source: lehighvalleychamber.org/nazarethfallfest

3. Jefferson Bethlehem Running Festival

The Jefferson Bethlehem Running Festival runs Friday through Sunday, presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network and hosted by Bart Yasso. The weekend includes a trail run on Friday, a 5K and 10K on Saturday, and a half marathon and relay on Sunday, with a kids run across the weekend. Courses start at the SteelStacks campus and wind through downtown Bethlehem.

When: Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 2026. Trail run Friday afternoon; 5K Saturday 7:30 a.m., 10K Saturday 9:00 a.m.; half marathon and relay Sunday 8:00 a.m.
Where: SteelStacks campus, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA
Cost: Entry fees vary by race, from about $32.50 for the 5K to about $105 for the half marathon; registration fees extra

Official source: runbethlehem.com

4. Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival

In nearby Carbon County, the Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival holds its third and final weekend of the season in Historic Downtown Jim Thorpe. Craft and food vendors set up along the streets with free live music at multiple outdoor stages. Attendance is free; optional activities such as scenic railway and trolley rides, mansion tours, and vendor food and drinks are separately priced.

When: Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026
Where: Historic Downtown Jim Thorpe, Carbon County, PA
Cost: Free to attend (optional rides and tours are separately priced)

Official source: poconomountains.com/jim-thorpe/fall-foliage

5. Grim's Fall Festival & Corn Maze

Grim's Orchard & Family Farms in Breinigsville runs its fall festival and corn maze every weekend through November 1, with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and play areas. Saturdays and Sundays run 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with last admissions at 5:30 p.m. Admission packages are required for everyone ages 3 and up, and a la carte activities are priced separately.

When: Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (last admissions 5:30 p.m.)
Where: 9875 Schantz Road, Breinigsville, PA
Cost: Admission package required for ages 3 and up; activities priced separately

Official source: grimsorchard.com/fall-attractions

6. Eerie Easton Walking Tours

The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society leads lantern-light walking tours through the Downtown Easton Historic District this fall. A cloaked guide shares tales of murder, mischief, and misadventure from Easton's history, including Revolutionary War-era spirits and the legends of Hexenkopf Hill. Tours meet at the Sigal Museum and require online registration.

When: Friday and Saturday evenings in October, with tours at 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (about 1.5 hours each)
Where: Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street, Easton, PA
Cost: Ticketed, about $23; online registration required

Official source: sigalmuseum.org/event/eerie-easton-walking-tours

7. Postmodern Jukebox at The Wind Creek Event Center

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox brings its Future Is Vintage World Tour to The Wind Creek Event Center on Saturday night. The collective reworks modern pop hits into vintage jazz and swing arrangements with a full band and rotating vocalists. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 8:00 p.m. (lobby doors 6:00 p.m.)
Where: The Wind Creek Event Center, 77 Sands Blvd, Bethlehem, PA
Cost: Ticketed, $39.50 to $99.50 plus fees

Official source: windcreekeventcenter.com/events/postmodern-jukebox-2

Before You Go

Event schedules and weather plans can change, especially for outdoor festivals and races. Confirm the latest hours, ticket availability, and any rain plans on the official pages linked above, and check each venue before you travel. The weekly farmers market report has the full market schedule for the week, including the Easton Farmers' Market Apple Jam on Saturday, October 17.

This post is the refreshed edition of the weekly weekend picks for the Lehigh Valley. Check back each week for a fresh list of verified events across the region, and if you are sorting out where to live in the area, I can help with that too.

About Tim Tepes

Tim Tepes is a Pennsylvania Licensed Associate Broker and REALTOR® with more than 36 years of experience serving the Lehigh Valley. He is the founder of Tim Tepes Real Estate LLC, affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Cassidon Realty, and has helped more than 2,000 clients buy, sell, and invest in real estate since 1990. He specializes in residential resale, new construction, investment properties, probate and estate sales, downsizing, and small multifamily assets across Northampton, Lehigh, and Carbon Counties.

Tim Tepes, Broker Associate

Phone: (484) 275-0056
Email: timtepes@gmail.com
Website: timtepes.com
Schedule a Consultation: https://calendly.com/timtepes/30min

Tim Tepes is a licensed Associate Broker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA License #AB062628L), affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Cassidon Realty, and a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS (GLVR). Equal Housing Opportunity. REALTOR®.