Musikfest FAQ
What is Musikfest?
Musikfest is the nation’s largest free-admission festival, with more than 500 performances on 17 stages over 10 days every August. Founded in 1984 by ArtsQuest, a community-based nonprofit organization, the first Musikfest featured 295 performances on six stages, attracting more than 180,000 people to historic Bethlehem. Over the past three decades, the event has evolved into one of the largest and most diverse music festivals in the nation, with more than 400 performers taking the stage during the event’s 10-day run. Each year nearly one million people make their way to the Lehigh Valley and the festival, with their sights set on experiencing all the music, food and fun of this musical extravaganza.
How many people do you expect?
Attendance at the past seven festivals has been near or more than one million visitors, with last year’s attendance being 957,000. Guests came from more than 40 states, as well as 10 different countries.
What are the festival dates & hours?
NORTH SIDE
Friday, August 2 | 5 – 11 p.m.
August 3-11 | 12 – 11 p.m.
SOUTH SIDE
Friday, August 2 & 9 | 4 p.m.–1 a.m.
Saturday, August 3 & 10 | noon–1 a.m.
Sunday, August 4 | noon–midnight
August 5 – 8 | 4 p.m.–midnight
Sunday, August 11 | 4–11 p.m.
Are there any tent guidelines?
Complete details can be found by reviewing our official guidelines.
When should we be set up by?
We ask all vendors to be setup and ready for the festers a 1/2 prior to the start of Musikfest.
Where do we park?
Parking on the festival grounds is coordinated by Nicole Dotta at ndotta@artsquest.org, Nicholas Michael at nmichael@artsquest.org or Jenna Minetola at jminetola@artsquest.org. Parking is at a premium and we are only able to supply limited passes each day.
Additionally, Musikfest has remote parking with shuttles to the North and South Sides of the festival grounds. Please see additional details at www.musikfest.org/info/directions-parking/
What are your sampling guidelines?
Liquid samples must be 2oz or less. Solid food samples must be 1.5oz or less.
What kind of security and medical staff will you have at the festival?
If you’d like personal security, please contact our team.
Health tents, located on both sides of the festival, are staffed with Lehigh Valley Health Network personnel. Ambulances are present on both sides and staffed with trained first responders. If there is an emergency always call 911.
Do I need permits?
Please click here to see the permits needed. If you are serving food, you will need a health permit.
Are there restrictions on what I can giveaway?
You may not sell or give away food and/or drink. Any planned activities or giveaways at the festival must be approved by ArtsQuest.
Where are the restrooms?
North Side – Porta-johns are located in Familienplatz, at the corner of W. Lehigh St. & Main St., Festplatz, and W. Walnut St.
SouthSide – Restrooms are located in the ArtsQuest Center on the first floor past the bar and on the first floor of the Visitor Center.
Please refer to the Musikfest brochure, app or website for a map of the festival detailing the location of the restrooms!
Insurance
ArtsQuest must have a copy of a certificate of commercial general liability from your organization. It should name ArtsQuest as an additional insured, with minimum coverage of $1 million per person, per incident.
Is there a lost and found?
Yes, they are located at the following locations:
North Side – Base Radio location (location TBD). At night all unclaimed objects are taken to the Banana Factory Arts Center.
SouthSide – The ArtsQuest Center front desk.
What is there to eat at the ‘fest?
We pride ourselves on having an outstanding selection of 60 vendors throughout the festival including snacks, entrées and desserts! We challenge you to try as many different foods as possible.
Where can I get something to drink?
We have Coca-Cola Stations throughout the festival grounds where you can purchase water, soda, iced tea and energy drinks. You are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages while working the event.
Is smoking allowed at the festival?
Smoking in any tented areas, indoor venues or Wind Creek Steel Stage seating sections is prohibited.
Can I watch the festival on television?
Yes! Service Electric Cable TV has an immense amount of coverage on its channel before, during and after the festival!
What’s up with the food/beverage tickets?
These tickets help us get through the lines quicker and increase the fluidity of the event. You only need to use them on the North Side. The vendors on the SouthSide take tickets, cash and cards.
I see a lot of people carrying mugs!
The Musikfest Mug is a staple of the festival. Every year there is a new design, which has prompted Musikfest’s faithfuls to begin a collection! The mug itself gets you a discount on beer and keeps your beer cold. It also helps reduce the waste generated.
Are you ADA compliant?
All Musikfest stages are accessible to persons with disabilities and offer areas for ADA seating. The Wind Creek Steel Stage offers ADA seating at the venue’s soundboard; tickets for this section may be purchased by contacting the ArtsQuest Box Office at 610-332-1300.
Where can I stay in the area?
You can find all our favorite places to stay here: www.musikfest.org/info/where-to-stay/
Additional Informational Pieces
Make sure to check out our Musikfest Program book and Musikfest App for iOS and Android. They make it easy to quickly find more information on the festival!
Additional Exposure
- Sponsorship and Co-Sponsorship of a ticketed Wind Creek Steel Stage performance
- Branded items such as a performer towels, to give to 500+ performers on our free and ticketed stages
- Advertisement on a Jumbotron on the Musikfest campus
- Television Advertisement
- 30,000+ coupons in the popular Musikfest mugs
- And More!
Rentable/Purchasable Items
Water to fill up your weights for tents is FREE.
Ice is charged at $5.00 per 20lbs bag.
Tents (10’ x 10’) are $300.00. Please email us about larger tents.
Nicholas Michael
Director of Corporate Partnerships
610-332-1339 · nmichael@artsquest.org
Jenna Minetola
Business Development Manager
610-332-1357 · jminetola@artsquest.org
What is ArtsQuest?
ArtsQuest is a Bethlehem-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, festivals, cultural experiences and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center and SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.5 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, approximately 65 percent of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $117 million annually in the region.
What are SteelStacks & Bethlehem Steel?
SteelStacks is a 10-acre campus dedicated to arts, culture, family events, community celebrations, education and fun. Once the home plant of Bethlehem Steel, the second largest steel manufacturer in the nation, the site has been reborn through music and art, offering more than 1,000 concerts and 12 different festivals annually.
Inside the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks are The Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, a two-screen independent, foreign and arthouse cinema; and The Musikfest Café, a dynamic concert venue. With an awe-inspiring, bird’s-eye view of the historic Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces, the past and present converge in this music lover’s paradise and multi-purpose concert venue. At night the ArtsQuest Center is truly special, with its floor to ceiling windows that look out onto the beautifully lit furnaces. The Musikfest Café can also accommodate more 400 guests for a dining event.
The St. Luke’s University Visitor Center and the National Museum of Industrial History are both within walking distance of the ArtsQuest Center and offer an even more in depth story of the Bethlehem Steel. Check out www.steelstacks.org for more about the history of the site and the SteelStacks campus.
What can I do in Bethlehem?
Hidden gems. Historic landmarks. Popular food scene. Thriving arts hub. Unique holiday traditions. Vibrant festivals. Extraordinary shops. You can experience it all in Bethlehem. Attractions near SteelStacks include the Wind Creek Event Center and Wind Creek Casino Resort Bethlehem, the National Museum of Industrial History, Historic Bethlehem’s Museums and Sites, the Zoellner Arts Center and the city’s two shopping districts (Historic and SouthSide).
Tell me more about the Lehigh Valley?
From the arts and culture of Bethlehem, to the foodie haven of Easton and sports entertainment of Allentown, the Lehigh Valley is a growing community that bridges the vibrancy of downtown nightlife with wholesome family fun. Area highlights include Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Coca-Cola Park, Crayola Experience, Martin Guitar Factory & Museum, The Lehigh Valley Zoo and Allentown Symphony Hall.
