Festival Rules

The ‘fest is all about fun and there are a handful of rules in place to help ensure good times for all. 

ACTIVITIES NOT PERMITTED

For the safety and convenience of our guests, the following activities are NOT PERMITTED at the event:

• POSSESSING WEAPONS OF ANY KIND – Musikfest has full discretion to restrict possession at the festival of any item which it deems may be used as a weapon. Including, but not limited to, wallet chains, studded, spiked, or oversized jewelry such as rings, necklaces, or bracelets.
• Tailgating in the parking lots including consuming alcoholic beverages, cooking under any method, broadcasting loud music, erecting tents, playing games (beer pong, corn hole, frisbee, etc.) or standing in drive lanes or parking spaces between vehicles (see below for further details).
• Bringing outside food, beverages, coolers and/or pitchers to the festival grounds.
• Removing alcoholic beverages from the festival grounds.
• Bringing any pets or animals onto festival grounds other than trained ADA compliant service dogs ONLY (comfort pets do not qualify as trained service dogs).
• Bringing large bags or backpacks (smaller bags are permitted, but may be subject to search at the discretion of Musikfest – see below).
• Riding bikes, skateboards, roller blades or hoverboards.
• Bringing and/or using laser pointers.
• Conducting unauthorized marketing or solicitation of guests.
• Reserving chairs or tables, except at venues where chairs or tables are reserved through ArtsQuest.
• Smoking in any tented areas, indoor venues or Wind Creek Steel Stage seating area.
• Climbing on any scaffolding, towers, stages or any structure whatsoever.
• Swimming or wading in the creek, canal or river.
• Defacing or damaging property within festival grounds.
• Unauthorized recording via audio or video (see recording policy below).
• Wearing costumes, masks or disguises on festival grounds without Musikfest’s prior knowledge.
• Launching or operating drones on or over the festival grounds without prior approval from ArtsQuest.
• Bringing umbrellas and signs into the Wind Creek Steel Stage venue.

Musikfest Code of Conduct

Musikfest strives to create a safe, clean, comfortable and enjoyable environment for all guests. We are committed to providing excellent customer service and a courteous staff. As such, when attending the festival, guests are required to exhibit appropriate behavior, as determined at the discretion of Musikfest, and MUST REFRAIN FROM THE FOLLOWING:

• Engaging in behavior that is unruly, disruptive or illegal in nature or disturbs other guests’ enjoyment of the event.
• Becoming intoxicated or alcohol impaired which results in irresponsible behavior.
• Fighting, using foul or abusive language or obscene gestures, or displaying obscene, harassing or indecent messages or images on signs or clothing.
• Physical, verbal or abusive harassment of any person, including but not limited to artists, staff, volunteers, vendors or guests.
• Standing on chairs/seats and/or blocking aisles at any venue.
• Interfering in any way with the progress of the event.
• Failing to follow instruction of emergency responders and event personnel or festival management.
• Violating any local, state or federal laws.

Guests engaging in any of the above actions may be ejected immediately from the festival grounds. Ejected guests will not receive a refund of their ticket purchase price (where applicable) or be compensated in any way. Guests are encouraged to report all inappropriate behavior to the nearest Musikfest staff, security and/or emergency responder or call 911.

Guests will sit only in their ticketed seats/area (where applicable) and will present tickets when requested by ArtsQuest volunteers, staff or security.

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVS)/DRONE POLICIES

To ensure the safety and enjoyment of all our guests, ArtsQuest strictly prohibits drones on our campus, events or venues without specific written permission via a signed contract. This includes all UAVs regardless of size, weight or purpose.

SELFIE STICKS

Use of photo-arms, more commonly known as “selfie sticks,” is strictly prohibited at all events, including concerts, festivals and family shows at all ArtsQuest operated venues to ensure the safety of our guests. We encourage you to keep all selfie-sticks locked securely in your vehicle. Guests failing to comply with this policy may be subject to ejection without refund of any prepaid ticket price, if applicable.

RECORDING POLICY

ArtsQuest’s recording policy is determined by the artists’ contracts. Artists generally reserve the right to restrict all photography including but not limited to cell phone photography and video. Video recording devices (i.e. GoPro’s and other video cameras) are strictly prohibited during all professional productions at any ArtsQuest venue. Before an event, guests who wish to know about the particular limitations regarding recording devices should check with ArtsQuest.

In most cases, simple point-and-shoot cameras (i.e. cell phone cameras) may be brought into the venue, unless restricted by artist contracts, as long as the following guidelines are adhered to:

• Simple point-and-shoot cameras are defined as still photography cameras that do not have a detachable lens.
• Even when cell phone cameras are permitted, VIDEO RECORDING using a cell phone camera is NOT PERMITTED, unless otherwise allowed by the particular artist.
• Flash photography, tripods and monopods are NOT PERMITTED.
• Cameras and cases are subject to search upon entering the venue.
• Please be courteous to those guests around you when taking photographs.

SEARCHES

ArtsQuest reserves the right to inspect, search and wand all guests entering ArtsQuest venues. Guests should be prepared to have all hand carried items open and ready for inspection. Allowable hand carried items include, but are not limited to, bags, purses, satchels, fanny packs, small backpacks, etc.

ArtsQuest reserves the right to employ metal detection devices as necessary to promote a safe environment for guests, performers and employees. Failure to comply with a request to be searched or have your bag searched will result in your restriction from entering any ArtsQuest venue or property, without any refund of ticket purchase price (where applicable) or any other compensation.

PARKING LOT AREAS/TAILGATING

Tailgating is NOT PERMITTED in parking lot areas, including satellite locations.

Guests may assemble at their vehicles but may occupy only the parking space that they selected upon entering the lot, and adjacent parking spaces and all driveways must remain clear.

Under the “NO TAILGATING” rule, the following are NOT PERMITTED:

• Erecting tents and canopies.
• Cooking on propane and/or open flame grills.
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• Broadcasting loud music.
• Playing “yard games” such as beer pong, cornhole, frisbee, quoits, etc.

Freedom of Assembly

ArtsQuest and Musikfest fully respect the right for individuals to assemble peacefully to share their viewpoints and opinions. In an effort to accommodate groups who wish to gather peacefully, designated areas for assembly have been established at:

• Musikfest’s SouthSide Arts District– First and Polk streets on the south sidewalk near the barricades.
• Musikfest’s Historic Moravian District (North Side) – Main and Church Streets across the street from the Main Street Ramp Bridge.

Anyone wishing to use any fixed location to assemble on any street, sidewalk or other property of the City of Bethlehem should contact the City of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation Bureau, at 610-865-7079 for further information concerning the City’s licensing and permit requirements.