Lehigh Valley welcomed 2026 with festive events, including a drone show, Peep drop, and safety concerns after a bicyclist’s death.

The Lehigh Valley celebrated New Year’s Eve 2025 with diverse events marking the start of 2026, including a debut drone show in Allentown, a 400-pound Peep drop in Bethlehem, and family-friendly festivities like balloon releases and pajama parties. Communities offered midday alternatives such as Noon Year’s Eve in Lehigh Township, while national news highlighted a drop in jobless claims, Wall Street’s final decline of 2025, and cultural milestones like the public domain entry of Betty Boop and Blondie. Preparations for the Mummers Parade continued, and a bicyclist died in Whitehall Township amid safety concerns over fireworks.