What’s New at Musikfest 2024?

Bethlehem, PA, July 23, 2024 – ArtsQuest is thrilled to announce an array of new and exciting attractions for Musikfest 2024, promising an unforgettable experience for festivalgoers. This year, attendees can look forward to an expanded lineup of artists, immersive art installations and unique culinary offerings that celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of our diverse community. With innovative new stages and experiences, Musikfest 2024 is set to be the most dynamic and inclusive festival yet!

NEW Bus line for added transportation options

• LANTA’s Enhanced Bus Service (EBS) system will begin its new route, the Gold Line, from North Side to SouthSide Bethlehem, beginning August 2. Along with the Blue Line from Trexlertown to Easton and the Green Line from Whitehall to the Wind Creek Casino, these bus lines will not only make your ride to and from Musikfest stress-free, but they will also allow for stops throughout the festival, along with the already running North South Transfer and the Parking Garages shuttles.
• Check musikfest.org and the app for all the details.

NEW at ComedyPlatz

• On Saturdays during Musikfest, live podcast recordings will be held at the Ice House. On August 3 at 2 p.m., Night Moves, a weekly comedy podcast hosted by comics Tyler Rothrock, Sean Preston and Lou Misiano will record. On August 10 at 2 p.m., Proper Ebonics, hosted by comedians Alan Massenburg and Kirk Griffiths, will share their takes on current events, pop culture and topics that the streets will love.

NEW Mural at the First Street bus shelter

• Located across from the Visitor Center, the First Street bus shelter will be transformed by this year’s Musikfest poster artist Lauren Beck. Thanks to a grant through Creative Communities and the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, the mural will be inspired by this year’s poster, featuring a textured sky and stars. The curved beams will continue the sky but add waves of color.

NEW Partnership/Activations

• Service Electric Network is the new partner of Festplatz
• Join Martin Guitar at their new busking stage on the North Side of the festival along the S-Curve
• Mishka Vodka, The Official Vodka of Musikfest
• Lehigh Valley Scream Park will be on the North Side to help folks prepare for the Halloween season at their space
• Bulleit Bourbon will now be served at Musikfest
• Handwerkplatz is now sponsored by Martin Guitar
• Surfside and Stateside RTD’s will be available throughout Musikfest
• Join Monster Energy for a series of high energy BMX freestyle performances during the second weekend on the North Side of the festival

NEW Box Office Trailer​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• ​​​​​​​The NEW ArtsQuest trailer presented by Burkholder’s Heating and Air Conditioner, Inc. is now in operation! ArtsQuest worked with local dealer, Cotner Trailers to purchase the 26-foot-long air-conditioned trailer stocked with two service windows, eight lockable cabinet doors, overhead cabinets for display space, 50-amp electrical service, a refrigerator and more!

NEW Musikfest Music Industry and Education Conference​​​​​​​

• This year’s festival will include the first ever Musikfest Music Industry and Education Music Conference, a two-day dynamic event focused on the intersection of music education, popular music and business leadership. The conference will be held on August 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the ArtsQuest Center located at 101 Founders Way, in Bethlehem. This conference is ideal for practicing and amateur musicians, music business professors and enthusiasts.

NEW eVenti Vericali SPHERE

• From Italy, eVenti Vertical’s SPHERE is a 30-minute outdoor performance delivered by five aerialists suspended from a crane 60 feet above the ground. The performance begins with the transparent sphere deflated and shapeless with one aerialist suspended inside. The sphere is raised by a crane, becoming a gigantic, fully inflated stunning globe, transforming into a place where everything comes alive. The aerialists take the audience on a journey reflecting on our miraculous lives here, on our planet earth.
• SPHERE is making its US Premiere at Musikfest on Aug. 9-11 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Martin Guitar Handwerkplatz.

NEW Food Vendors

• Algorithm Vegan Grill
• Philly Corn Company
• Mon and Mel’s Sweet Scoops Ice Cream Truck
• Empanada Guy
• Hungry Hound Express
• Randevoo
• The Edge Restaurant
• Uno Taqueria
• The Taste Smokers
• And be sure to check out Palette & Pour’s amazing new summer menu brought to you by our partner, Levy Restaurants.

NEW Musikfest Performers…By the numbers:

• 422 Artists total for more than 530 performances.
• Artists from 22 different US States and 7 countries.
• 48% of the festival features female members in the group.
• 36% of the festival features artists of color.  
• 42% of the groups are first-time performers while 58% are returning artists.

NEW Free Stage Artists

• Preservation Hall Jazz Band – Jazz, from New Orleans, LA
• Shwayze – Hip-Hop, from Malibu, CA
• The Warped Band – The Ultimate Tribute to the Warped Tour, from Mechanicsburg, PA
• Rift – A Tribute to Phish, from Philadelphia, PA
• Philly Nelson – A Tribute to Willy Nelson, from Philadelphia, PA
• Burn the Jukebox – Cover/Party Band, from Wilkes-Barre, PA

NEW The Aw Shucks Corn Eating Competition

• Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. in front of the PNC Stadtplatz stage
• How much do you love Aw Shucks corn? Enough to see if you can be the fastest to eat five ears of it? If you are, you’ll win $100!
• The rules:
  • Corn must be eaten horizontally.
  • All corn must be swallowed.
  • All corn must be kept down.
  • All contestants must be 18 or older at the time of the competition.
• Registration is $10. Visit Musikfest.org.

NEW The Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championship Qualifiers

• ArtsQuest has been the host of the Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championships for the past five years and will be again at this year’s Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). The competition will take place on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. in front of the PNC Stadtplatz Stage. There will be separate competitions for men and women. The participants who keep their stein held up the longest while following the rules will automatically qualify to be a part of the state championships on Saturday, Oct.12 at Oktoberfest, where the grand prize is $500 and the right to call yourself a state champ! Contestants must be 21 or older at the time of the competition and US Steinholding rules will apply. Registration is free. Visit Musikfest.org.

NEW Moster Energy BMX Stunt Team Experience

• Friday, August 9: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Saturday, August 10: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Sunday, August 11: 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• Get ready for an electrifying experience at Musikfest with the Monster Energy team! Join us for a series of high-energy BMX freestyle performances featuring a DJ and MC who will keep the crowd hyped!
• Each performance is 20 minutes packed with high-flying entertainment.

NEW Merch!

• Musikfest 2024 Mugs, Hats, and other accessories!
• This year’s mug features artwork by Banana Factory Teaching Artist Lauren Beck, previously announced as the 2024 Musikfest poster artist. The poster art depicts a night sky with Musikfest sitting below and illustrations of constellations depicting instruments and objects near and dear to Musikfest, the painted sky expands into a grand tapestry and a bright and shining moon center.
• To go along with the Limited Edition “Go Fest Yourself” Mug, there is a great selection of accessories to complement the “Go Fest ‘fit” that we will most certainly see festers pulling together.
• Together with our amazing partners at Legacy, makers of high-quality headwear, come our new line of Musikfest hats!
• As always, we’ll have brand new Musikfest tee styles that can be found on-site during the ‘fest, as well as much-loved classics on the merch site.

Not New but Highlighting The Listening Lounge – Presented by Inclusion For Everybody!

• The Listening Lounge is a dedicated and comfortable space with accessible seating options, located on south side in front of the flywheel. EVERYBODY is welcome to put on wireless headphones and/or a vibrating backpack (BASSpak) to witness the live music with increased clarity, creating a multisensory experience, at an adjustable volume that is capable of turning the sound up or canceling outside noise out. (**This accommodation may benefit people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as people who experience sensory-processing disorders, autism, social anxiety, and more.

Join us in celebrating music, art, and culture in the heart of Bethlehem!

For more information on everything Musikfest, please visit https://www.musikfest.org/

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, over 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.