Rob Thomas leads the new year’s batch of entertainment highlights coming to local and regional entertainment over the next two weeks.

The singer-songwriter, with both solo and Matchbox Twenty hits to his credit, will perform at Wind Creek Event Center. The show supports Sidewalk Angels Foundation, a nonprofit organization Thomas co-founded to provide critically needed funds and support to no-kill animal shelters and animal rescues.

A number of tribute acts, meanwhile, will play area spots. The music of U2, Bon Jovi and Chris Cornell will fill Mauch Chunk Opera House, while tributes to Tom Petty, Steely Dan, Spice Girls and Led Zeppelin take over the Musikfest Café.

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe

570-325-0249, mcohjt.com

• Unforgettable Fire, 8 p.m. Saturday. The tribute act, performing the music of U2 since New Year’s Day 1995, takes its name from the Irish rock band’s 1984 album “The Unforgettable Fire.” In 2015, U2 members The Edge and Adam Clayton crashed Unforgettable Fire’s show at The Cutting Room in New York City. They joined UF onstage to perform “Out Of Control” and “Where The Streets Have No Name.” In 2021, a “Tribute Bands” category on “Jeopardy!” featured UF. That same year, the group competed and won on the series premiere of E!’s “Clash of the Cover Bands.”

• Don Jovi, 8 p.m. Jan. 16. The band, formed in Long Island, New York, in 2023, pays tribute to rock group Bon Jovi. Frontman Don Chaffin’s band history includes Voices of Extreme, Red Lamb, Ram Jam, Riot Act, Road Crew and American Mafia.

• Superunknown, 8 p.m. Jan. 17. The act, paying tribute to Chris Cornell, performs the music of rock bands Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. Superunknown takes its name from Soundgarden’s same-titled 1994 album.

PENN’S PEAK

325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe

866-605-7325, pennspeak.com

• Jimmy Kenny & the Pirate Beach Band, 8 p.m. Jan. 17. Based on Long Island, New York, the band performs the music of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band.

WIND CREEK EVENT CENTER

77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem

610-224-4625, windcreekeventcenter.com

• Rob Thomas, 8 p.m. Jan. 16. The singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of the Florida-based rock band Matchbox Twenty, will perform the group’s hits, plus solo material. Matchbox Twenty, formed in 1995, has released five studio albums, scoring hits such as “Push,” “3AM,” “Bent,” “If You’re Gone” and “Unwell.” Thomas released his sixth studio album, “All Night Days,” in September. Solo hits include “Lonely No More,” “Little Wonders” and “Her Diamonds.”

• Andrew Santino, 8 p.m. Jan. 17. Born in Chicago, the comedian was an actor and writer on the final season of MTV’s “Punk’d” in 2012. Other TV credits include FXX’s “Dave,” Showtime’s “I’m Dying Up Here” and NBC’s “This is Us.” Santino, a host on the podcasts “Bad Friends” and “Whiskey Ginger,” has three stand-up specials to his credit, including “White Noise.” Film appearances include the recent releases “Happy Gilmore 2” and “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.”

MUSIKFEST CAFÉ

101 Founders Drive, Bethlehem

610-332-1300, artsquest.org

• Damn the Torpedoes, 7:30 p.m. Friday. Hailing from Central/North New Jersey, the act pays tribute to rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Takes its name from the same-titled 1979 album.

• Hey Nineteen, 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The group performs the music of rock band Steely Dan, taking its name from Steely Dan’s same-titled 1980 song.

• Wannabe, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16. The act pays tribute to the Spice Girls, taking its name from the British pop group’s same-titled 1996 song. Shows have expanded to include hits from other 1990s superstars such as Madonna and Janet Jackson. Members have appeared on stages alongside 1990s acts such as TLC, Goo Goo Dolls, Aqua and 98 Degrees.

• Kashmir, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17. The group performs the music of Led Zeppelin, taking its name from the British rock band’s same-titled 1975 song.

STATE THEATRE

453 Northampton St., Easton

610-252-3132, statetheatre.org

• Mania, 7:30 p.m. Friday. The act, formed in 1999, pays tribute to Swedish pop group ABBA. The group, formed in 1999, took residence in London’s West End in 2002 and 2021, and has toured the U.S. annually since 2009.

SHERMAN THEATER

524 Main St., Stroudsburg

570-420-2808, shermantheater.com

• “Spring Awakening,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. In2YouArts presents the rock musical, based on Frank Wedekind’s same-titled 1891 German play. “Spring Awakening,” exploring the journey from adolescence to adulthood, fuses morality, sexuality and rock ‘n’ roll in a story of discovery and rebellion. Max Kubiak directs. The original show won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical for Steven Sater, and Best Original Score for Duncan Sheik and Sater.

• Poconos Punk Rock Flea Market, 2 p.m. Jan. 17. The event includes handmade crafts and jewelry, vintage clothing, custom art, accessories, vinyls and tattoo artists. In addition, the following music acts will perform: Suburban Downgrade, Indeyevid, Filthtraction, Adrift Featuring Lenny Kaye, Disposable, The Spiky Tops and The What Nows?!

• Winter Drag Fest: “Where the Frost Meets the Fierce,” 1 p.m. Jan. 18. Black Cherry Loveé hosts, along with Urethra Vas D’Ferens and Jovanna. The event includes drag performances, vendors and sets from DJ Eve.

POCONO CINEMA & CULTURAL CENTER

88 S. Cortland St., East Stroudsburg

570-421-6684, poconocinema.org

• Popcorn Poetry, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 12. Monroe County Poet Laureate and #nomorepoems present the event, set to feature poetry, comedy, acoustic music and a limited open mic. Geara Catania hosts.

F.M. KIRBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

71 Public Square., Wilkes-Barre

570-826-1100, kirbycenter.org

• Josh Johnson, 7 p.m. Friday. Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, the comedian serves as a rotating host and correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” for which he previously was a writer. Johnson also was a writer and performer on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” on which he made his late-night debut in 2017. The comic, who posts weekly stand-up sets on his YouTube channel, voices Harry Buns on the Disney Channel series “Kiff,” which premiered in March 2023. Johnson’s stand-up specials include 2021’s “# (Hashtag)” and 2023’s “Up Here Killing Myself.”

MOHEGAN ARENA AT CASEY PLAZA

255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township

570-970-7600, moheganarenapa.com

• Disney on Ice Presents: “Jump In!” today through Sunday, seven shows. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy take viewers on a journey through Magical MousePad-powered moments. The show features 50-plus characters from “Zootopia,” “Inside Out 2,” “Moana 2,” “Toy Story,” “Frozen,” “Encanto” and the Disney Princesses.