What's Next in Coplay: Late September and October 2026

The first leaves are turning, and the next six weeks are among the busiest of the year in Coplay Borough and the surrounding Lehigh Valley: the Coplay Saengerbund Oktoberfest, Whitehall-Coplay School District parent-teacher conferences, a 100th season of Whitehall football, and the region's biggest Celtic and Oktoberfest celebrations in nearby Bethlehem. This update covers what is happening from mid-September through late October, gathered from borough, township, school district, and festival sources. Details below were verified during research on September 9, 2026; check with the organizers before heading out, since times and venues can change.

Missed the first half of the month? Our earlier guide, What's Happening in Coplay: September 2026, still covers the Saengerbund concerts, the Ironton Rail Trail races, and the rest of this month's calendar.

Oktoberfest at the Coplay Saengerbund

The Coplay Saengerbund on South Fifth Street hosts its 2026 Oktoberfest on Sunday, September 13, per the club's events page. That Sunday celebration is the club's biggest fall event after its Friday-night concert series, which runs through September 25. Later in the season, the club is part of one of Coplay's favorite traditions: the Coplay Halloween Parade is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 PM, with staging on Chestnut Street and the route heading toward the Saengerbund, followed by a public Halloween Bash at the club on Friday, October 30 at 6:00 PM.

Whitehall Township News and Recreation

Whitehall Plaza, the shopping center at MacArthur Road and Grape Street just minutes from Coplay, is under new Florida-based ownership and getting new tenants this fall: the discount retailer Forman Mills is expected to take a former Bed Bath & Beyond space, and Lululand Adventure Park, an indoor family entertainment venue of roughly 53,000 square feet, is planned for the center. Both were reported this month, so watch the plaza and the developers' announcements for opening dates.

Two Whitehall programs are worth putting on the calendar now. The Whitehall Township Historical Preservation Society holds its fall flea market on Saturday, September 12 at the Helfrich Springs Grist Mill, 506 Mickley Road, the historic mill that anchors the township's preservation efforts. And for active residents, the township's aqua aerobics fall session runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 15 through November 12 at the municipal pool facilities, a low-impact way to keep moving as the weather cools.

Whitehall-Coplay School District: October Ahead

Coplay is served by the Whitehall-Coplay School District, and the board-approved 2026-27 academic calendar pins down the key dates for families. Elementary parent-teacher conferences are Tuesday, September 15, and secondary (middle and high school) conferences follow on Tuesday, September 22, both on the district's published calendar. The first marking term ends Friday, October 9, and students are off Monday and Tuesday, October 19-20 for the district's fall break.

On the field, Whitehall football is celebrating its 100th season, moving through a competitive October schedule. The Zephyrs are on the road October 2 at Dieruff, October 9 at Emmaus, and October 23 at Parkland, with home games at Zephyr Stadium against Allen on Thursday, October 15 and Allentown Central Catholic on Friday, October 30, both at 7:00 PM. The district's live calendar page is the best place to watch for homecoming and building-level events, which are posted as they are scheduled.

Celtic Classic and Harvest Fest in Bethlehem

Two beloved Bethlehem traditions anchor the area's fall calendar this year. The 39th Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival takes over downtown Bethlehem's historic district Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, with pipe bands, Highland games, Celtic music, and the annual Tartan parade, all with free general admission, about twenty minutes from Coplay.

A few weeks later, the Historic Bethlehem Harvest Fest fills the downtown on Saturday, October 10 from 12:00 to 5:00 PM, a free fall street festival with live music and local shopping, a good pairing with strolling the shops at the Colonial Industrial Quarter nearby.

Oktoberfest at SteelStacks

Around the corner in South Bethlehem, ArtsQuest presents the free Oktoberfest at SteelStacks, presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport, on two weekends: October 2-4 and October 9-11, with Friday evening hours plus Saturday and Sunday daytime sessions. The festival brings German food and beer, live music, a local artisan market, the always-entertaining dachshund races and dog parade, and the Pennsylvania State Stein Holding Championship. Runners can also sign up for the Oktoberfest 5K in Bethlehem on Sunday, October 4, timed around the first festival weekend.

Pumpkin Patch Season Ramps Up

As the nights cool, the orchards surrounding Coplay begin their fall season. Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard opens its pumpkin patch on Saturday, September 19 and runs festival weekends through October with live country music and farm activities. Closer to home, Grim's Orchard in Breinigsville keeps its corn maze, hayrides, and pumpkin patch open daily through November 1, following the guide in our earlier September post. Both are classic fall drives from Coplay for picking apples, walking mazes, and capturing the season.

One seasonal note from the borough: the last Friday yard waste collection of the year happens September 25, so if the leaves beat you to the pile, this is the week to rake and bag. Details are in the borough newsletter.