Catasauqua This Week: Trunk or Treat, Home Football, and Bethlehem's 105th Parade

This week in Catasauqua and North Catasauqua builds straight toward Halloween. Catasauqua's Trunk or Treat fills the American Street parking lot Saturday night, the Rough Riders host Salisbury at Alumni Field Friday, Bethlehem marks its 105th Halloween Parade on Sunday, and Wednesday night's joint Halloween Parade is just two days away. 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 civic calendar opens Monday night: Catasauqua Borough Council holds its monthly business meeting Monday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. at Borough Hall, 90 Bridge Street, livestreamed via GoToMeeting, on the council's usual third-Monday cadence. Later in the week, the borough's Civil Service Commission meets Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Borough Hall, per a notice the borough posted October 15.

Two practical notices from the borough this week: October water and sewer bills were mailed, and the borough office asks residents to call if their bill has not arrived; payment is due October 30. The water department also notes hydrant flushing is underway in the borough, which can temporarily discolor water, so checking before doing laundry is wise.

Halloween season moves into high gear. The joint Catasauqua/North Catasauqua Halloween Parade steps off Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m., with a rain date of Wednesday, October 28; the route runs from Walnut and 14th streets through Catasauqua and ends at the North Catasauqua Playground, and ATVN airs it Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m. with a repeat Thursday at 9:00 p.m. Then Catasauqua's annual Trunk or Treat takes over the American Street parking lot at Catasauqua Park on Saturday, October 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with decorated vehicles handing out treats and families in costume. Both Catasauqua and North Catasauqua hold trick-or-treat on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

At the Catasauqua Area School District

The district item to circle this week is the early dismissal on Wednesday, October 21, when all CASD buildings let students out early for a faculty meeting; the downloadable district calendar on cattysd.org lists the full year of holidays, in-service days, and board dates. The board of education held its October meeting last Tuesday, October 13, at the District Administration Office, 201 N. 14th Street; its next meeting is Tuesday, November 10, and agendas and minutes stay posted on the district site.

Friday night, the varsity football team hosts Salisbury Township at Alumni Field at 7:00 p.m. in Colonial League Division B play, the Rough Riders' home date before the season's final stretch. Fall schedules for soccer, volleyball, and cross country, plus any game changes, post to the athletics site at roughriderathletics.org as the season winds down.

Things to Do in the Area

The weekend belongs to trunk-or-treats and parades. Catasauqua's own Trunk or Treat runs Saturday, October 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Catasauqua Park American Street parking lot, 501 American Street, with decorated vehicles handing out treats; vehicles must pre-register with the borough, per its calendar. For families with younger kids, St. Luke's Sports Center at 3323 7th Street in Hokendauqua, just outside the borough, hosts a Trick or Treat and Play! event Saturday, October 24 at 12:45 p.m., $10 per child with advance registration required, per the Lehigh Valley Moms 2026 trunk-or-treat roundup.

The region's marquee Halloween tradition lands Sunday: the 105th Annual City of Bethlehem Halloween Parade steps off at 2:00 p.m. on October 25, with a rain date of Sunday, November 1. The roughly 1.5-mile route starts on West Broad Street at 9th Avenue, heads east on Broad, then turns south on Main Street to Lehigh and Spring streets. Expect floats, marching bands, costumed marchers, and big crowds along Broad and Main. Can't make it in person? ATVN airs the parade Sunday at 4:00 p.m. and repeats it Monday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. It is about a 15-minute drive from Catasauqua.

For the older crowd, Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt runs Friday through Sunday this weekend, October 23-25, with the park open in the evening until about 11:00 p.m.; this year's line-up includes the new Blair Witch: No Signal haunted maze, five scare zones, and nighttime rides, with maze access requiring a separate Haunted Attractions Pass. In the daytime, Grim's Orchard and Family Farms in Breinigsville keeps its Fall Festival going weekends through November 1 with apples, pumpkins, hayrides, and a corn maze, and Seiple Farms in Bath runs its fall festival with a hayride to a 34-acre pumpkin patch and a big corn maze. Foliage is near peak, so a leaf-peeping drive through the Lehigh Valley or up toward Jim Thorpe in Carbon County makes a good afternoon.

Good Places to Eat Nearby

This week's picks are all new to the blog. Pie's On Pizzeria at 106 Pine Street in Catasauqua, across from the Pine Street Bridge, is a family-owned spot that has been making New York-style pizza since the early nineties, with dough hand-tossed daily and fresh-cut toppings, plus Italian classics from pasta with red or white clam sauce to chicken vodka and shrimp diavolo. It consistently ranks near the top of Catasauqua dining; closed Mondays, open Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 10 p.m.; call (610) 264-7000 or see piesonpizzeria.com.

Assante Ristorante Italiano at 2050 Main Street in Northampton, about ten minutes north, is a family-owned room offering refined Southern Italian cooking with an extensive wine list; lobster ravioli and chicken parmigiana are standouts, and the dining room takes reservations. Closed Mondays, open Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.; call (610) 262-1301 or see assanterestaurant.com. And Samuel Owens Restaurant and Bar at 128 Chestnut Street in Coplay has been a family-run American bar and grill since 2006, with a pub, lounge, and TVs, daily food and drink specials, and a weekend breakfast Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the Bill's Favorite Burger and scallop scampi are local favorites. Closed Mondays, open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; call (610) 262-2860 or see samuelowens.com.