Catasauqua This Week: Board Night, PSAT, and a Running Festival Weekend

This week in Catasauqua and North Catasauqua settles back into a rhythm after the long Columbus Day weekend. Schools reopen Tuesday, October 13, the Catasauqua Area School District board meets that evening, and Catasauqua High School juniors sit the PSAT Wednesday morning. The big weekend draw is the Jefferson Bethlehem Running Festival, October 16-18, which brings a 5K, 10K, half marathon, relay, and kids run to historic Bethlehem, about 15 minutes from the borough. Here is what is happening in and around the two boroughs this week, plus three places to eat that are new to this blog.

Local News and Community Happenings

The boroughs wrapped up their marquee fall festival over the weekend: the North Catasauqua Betterment Committee's Autumnfest returned to William J. Albert Memorial Park, 701 Grove Street, on Sunday, October 11, with a rain date of Saturday, October 17 announced by the borough. If the weather forced a postponement, the rescheduled edition would land this coming Saturday. Past editions run roughly 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a food court, craft and flea market, games, police and fire displays, pumpkin decorating, kids' activities, live music, and a car show; details post on the borough's news page.

For the civic calendar, Catasauqua Borough Council holds its next business meeting Monday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. at Borough Hall, 90 Bridge Street. Agendas and minutes post on the borough's site ahead of time. Halloween season continues to firm up: Catasauqua's Trunk or Treat is set for Saturday, October 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and both Catasauqua and North Catasauqua list trick-or-treat on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The joint Catasauqua/North Catasauqua Halloween Parade usually steps off in the third week of October; the official date and route post on the borough sites and the parade committee's pages once set.

At the Catasauqua Area School District

All district buildings are closed Monday, October 12 for the Columbus Day holiday, so families get a three-day weekend. Classes resume Tuesday, October 13, and the board of education's next regular meeting follows that evening from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the District Administration Office, 201 N. 14th Street, with agendas posted on the district site ahead of time. On Wednesday, October 14, Catasauqua High School juniors take the PSAT from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., per the district's October calendar.

The next early-dismissal day is Wednesday, October 21, when all buildings let out early for a faculty meeting; the downloadable district calendar on cattysd.org has the full year of holidays, in-service days, and board dates. Fall sports continue under the Rough Riders banner through the middle of the Colonial League season, with varsity football, soccer, volleyball, and cross country all in action; dates, times, and any schedule changes post on the athletics site at roughriderathletics.org.

Things to Do in the Area

The standout event this weekend is the Jefferson Bethlehem Running Festival, October 16-18, with a 5K, 10K, half marathon, relay, and a kids run winding through historic Bethlehem. Registration and course details are on the RunSignUp event page, and the festival gives spectators a lively downtown scene even if you are not racing. It is about a 15-minute drive from Catasauqua.

Fall farm season is in full swing nearby. Grim's Orchard & Family Farms in Breinigsville runs its Fall Festival weekends through November 1, with apples, pumpkins, and a corn maze. South of Easton, Olde Stone Farm's Harvest Nights offer Friday and Saturday evening moonlight hayrides, a flashlight corn maze, and glow-in-the-dark face painting throughout October. Historic Bethlehem also runs its 90-minute Mystery & History walking tours on October Fridays through Sundays for an easy afternoon outing.

Closer to home, the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall hosts its Fall Fest on Saturday, October 18 at noon, a family-friendly stop about ten minutes from the borough. Foliage is moving toward its typical mid-to-late-October peak in the Lehigh Valley, so this is also a good week for a leaf-peeping drive; the Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival continues through late October in Carbon County, a scenic route for an afternoon trip. And Easton's farmers market keeps its Saturday run going at Centre Square, an easy stop if you are already out that way.

Good Places to Eat Nearby

This week's picks are all new to the blog and all within about ten minutes of the borough. Assante Ristorante Italiano at 2050 Main Street in Northampton is a well-reviewed Italian spot, 4.4 stars on Google across more than a hundred reviews, serving pasta, seafood, and classic mains; call (610) 262-1301 or see assanterestaurant.com. Samuel Owens Restaurant & Bar at 128 Chestnut Street in Coplay is a neighborhood tavern and kitchen with a loyal local following, 4.1 stars on Google, offering pub fare and comfort food; call (610) 262-2860 or see samuelowens.com.

For a casual family meal, the Northampton Diner and Family Restaurant at 1205 Main Street in Northampton serves breakfast and lunch standards all day; call (610) 596-9740 or see northamptonfamilydiner.com. Back in Catasauqua itself, Catty Corner Neighborhood Pub & Pie on Bridge Street and Tony's Top Cat Bar & Grill on Front Street remain steady local favorites for a bite or a drink after an afternoon out.