FESTIVAL UNBOUND

In October 2019, twenty years after the closing of Bethlehem Steel, Touchstone launched the inaugural ten-day Festival UnBound, using the arts as a vehicle to explore questions of community and identity: Who are we, now that the Steel is gone? What are the challenges ahead, and what are the values that hold us together as we shape our future?

Six years later, Festival UnBound has evolved into an annual five-day celebration full of arts-infused events, performances, and hands-on workshops for all who call the Lehigh Valley home. Featuring visual arts, live music, participatory dance, original theatre, workshops, and more, the Festival is a unique, hyper-local smorgasbord of arts taking place from October 2-6 at venues throughout Bethlehem, with Festival pop-up events occurring throughout the rest of the year and into 2025.

Check out the full schedule of events, below! Just click on any box to learn more.

The Big Read

UNBOUND YEAR-ROUND - Year-round programming focused on the acclaimed autobiography by Rebekah Taussig.

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Big Read: Book Discussion Series

2ND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, DEC-FEB @ 6PM - A series of monthly book discussions based around "Sitting Pretty" by Rebekah Taussig.

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UnBound Year-Round: Becoming Practitioners of Peace

SUNDAY, FEB 2 @ 3PM - All are welcome at this art-filled interfaith gathering that unites us around the mystery of life and the gifts of being together.

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Big Read: Panel Discussion

SATURDAY, MARCH 8 @2PM - A panel discussion around Rebekah Taussig's "Sitting Pretty".

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Big Read: Creative Writing Workshop

MARCH 22-APRIL 12 @ 10AM - Join nationally recognized artist/writer Jan Cohen-Cruz on a four-part exploration of Writing the Stories We Need.

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Big Read: Pop-Up Events

Two pop-up events celebrating Where We Live through art and story.

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El Asilo

FRIDAY, AUG 9 & SATURDAY, AUG 10 @ 7PM - A playreading from prominent Lehigh Valley playwright José Díaz

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Festival UnBound History and Sponsors

An annual hyper-local, arts-infused community celebration and conversation for those who call the Lehigh Valley home.

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Artist in Residence – Kinetic Light

Featuring a performance at Zoellner Arts Center, two dance workshops, a talkback, and more!

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Artist in Residence – Single Shoe Productions

Bringing us their two-person performance, A Wall Between Us, as well as some guest spots in other Festival activities.

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Kinetic Light Integrated Dance Workshop: Level 1

WEDNESDAY, OCT 2 @ 4:30PM - A workshop from Kinetic Light open to disabled and nondisabled dancers of all experience and ages.

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Kinetic Light Workshop: Dance DESCENT

WEDNESDAY, OCT 2 @ 7PM - An advanced Kinetic Light workshop for experienced disabled and non-disabled dancers.

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Twilight with Touchstone: A Rose Garden Odyssey

THURSDAY, OCT 3 & FRIDAY, OCT 4 @ 6PM - A multi-sensory outdoor evening experience that celebrates the places we grow community.

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Stargazing

THURSDAY, OCT 3 & FRIDAY, OCT 4 @ 8PM - An expert led guided tour through the night-sky of the Lehigh Valley.

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Reflections on the River

SATURDAY, OCT 5 @ 9AM - A guided canoe tour showcasing the natural beauty of Sand Island.

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A Wall Between Us

SATURDAY, OCT 5 & SUNDAY, OCT 6 @ 2PM - A performance by Single Shoe Productions about our need to belong to a place - and how this affects us, others, and even the land itself.

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DESCENT

SATURDAY, OCT 5 @ 7:30PM - A performance by disability arts ensemble Kinetic Light that celebrates the pleasure of reckless abandon.

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Inside Disability Arts and DESCENT

SUNDAY, OCT 6 @ 11AM - A behind-the-scenes discussion around Kinetic Light's DESCENT.

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“Another Point of View: 4 Visually Impaired Artists” Exhibit Reception

SUNDAY, OCT 6 @ 2PM - Come celebrate works of art created by local visually impaired artists.

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Tales from the Trail

SUNDAY, OCT 6 @ 2:30PM - An accessible, guided walking tour exploring the beauty of the Southside.

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Fiesta UnBound: A Community Jam

SUNDAY, OCT 6 @ 4PM - Celebrate the end of the 6th year of Festival UnBound with a collaborative and upbeat musical fiesta!

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Entre Lápidas y Mausoleos

FRIDAY, NOV 1 - A playreading from prominent Lehigh Valley playwright José Díaz.

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