The Performers

Musikfest 2016 welcomes a record 387 artists from more than 20 states, as well as eight countries. This year’s event features well over 500 performances on 15 stages during its 10-day run.

New Attractions & Activities

Summer Games Viewing Party
Aug. 5-14
Spark Orthodontics Familienplatz
Cheer on your favorite U.S. teams in your red, white and blue at the Summer Games Viewing Party at Familienplatz, formerly Kinderplatz! Watch the coverage from Rio on a large outdoor LED television, including all your favorite sports like soccer, gymnastics, swimming and basketball. Plus, meet and get autographs from the 6abc Action News Team, embark on the Rothrock vehicle test drive, take advantage of great giveaways from Spark Orthodontics and check out the PNC Bank Mobile Learning Adventure, a traveling exhibit focused on early childhood education through fun activities for parents and kids. The Bridgestone Experience Trailer is also in town, offering the opportunity to test your gaming skills at the Bridgestone Performance Institute, get your name on the racing simulator leaderboard or take part in the Road Trip Tracker, which maps your travels to share with family and friends.

Creativity Tent at Spark Orthodontics Familienplatz
Celebrate the Summer Games with the Banana Factory Arts Center’s fun-filled crafts! The Creativity Tent will provide themed, hands-on art activities that revolve around the games, plus encourage critical thinking and problem solving in children.
Aug. 5          Let the Games Begin (Torches)
Aug. 6          Olympic Rings
Aug. 7          Field Day (Sports crafts)
Aug. 8          Rio Instruments
Aug. 9          Go Team! (Country-themed projects)
Aug. 10        On the Water (Sports crafts/community boat project)
Aug. 11         Around the World at Musikfest (Flags)
Aug. 12        Rio Carnival (Masks)
Aug. 13       Goals! (Metals)
Aug. 14       Closing Ceremony (Crowns)

Lagerfest Platz
Aug. 5-14
Wells Fargo Festplatz
This new outdoor courtyard at Festplatz features popular Yuengling beers like Yuengling Traditional Lager, Light Lager and Summer Wheat; a great selection of Yuengling merch and apparel; fun games like bean bags; and the opportunity to enter selfie contests to win free Musikfest tickets and other awesome prizes.

Grassroots Mobile Boutique
Volksplatz
Step inside this unique boutique on wheels as it debuts at Volksplatz. Browse dozens of selections from the acclaimed boutique “Grassroots,” a Delaware-based, family-owned specialty shop that sells clothing, jewelry, home décor and children’s items. Grassroots has been nominated for NICHE Magazine’s Top 100 Retailers of American Craft and featured on Delaware Today Magazine’s and Newark Post’s “Best Of” lists.

PHOTOPASS Summer Camp – Musikfest Concert Photography Experience
(For students in Grades 6-8)
Aug. 8-12
Guided by professional photographer Ryan Hulvat, young photographers spend the morning learning tips and techniques for taking successful concert photographs in the Olympus Digital Imaging Center at the Banana Factory Arts Center. After lunch, they travel to the Musikfest grounds to enjoy special access to prime photography spots including side stage and backstage access usually reserved only for working media.

Musikfest Sculpture Garden
Martin Guitar Handwerkplatz
Don’t miss this one-time opportunity to step out of the busy festival grounds to view engaging and thought-provoking sculptures by artists Khalil Allaik and Ann-Katrin Spiess! These meditative sculptures engage the viewer in a dialogue between the built and natural environment, and are a great photo opportunity.

Gotta Catch ‘Em All – Exclusive Promotions for Pokemon Go Players
Attention Pokemon trainers: there are more than 24 PokeStops and several Gyms across the Musikfest grounds. Follow @Musikfest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to receive updates and alerts on special promotions, discounts and contests for Pokemon Go players! A little Pidgey even told us that a few bands will be leading Pokemon crawls across the festival grounds!

New Events:

PBS39’s TeleBear Summer Jam
Aug. 10-14, 2-4 p.m.
PBS Air Products Tell Me More Stage at SteelStacks
The TeleBear Summer Jam joins the Musikfest lineup this year, offering live music from nationally acclaimed artists, make-and-take art activities and lots of family fun! Artists are:
Aug. 10    Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke
Aug. 11    Kira Willey & Friends
Aug. 12    Dave Fry
Aug. 13    Brady Rymer
Aug. 14    Ernie & Neal

FREE Late Night Comedy Shows
Aug. 5-6 and 11-13, 11:15 p.m.
ArtsQuest Center Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas
For the first time ever, all late-night comedy shows are free admission. Join stand-up comics and improv troupes for an evening of laughter!
Aug. 5       ManDudeBro
Aug. 6      Standup Showcase with headliner Randy Tonge
Aug. 11    The Best of Musikfest
Aug. 12    ManDudeBro
Aug. 13    The Associated Mess

Chartsfest
Aug. 6
FLYLVIA Plaza Tropical
This year ArtsQuest and the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) have partnered to present an afternoon of free, live music, developed out of the innovative music-in-education program that ArtsQuest offers to area high schools called “Marketing Musikfest.” As part of this program, the students worked closely with festival staff to learn everything that goes into planning, booking and presenting the event. More importantly, they’re presenting some awesome acts for your enjoyment:
12 p.m.        Brian Colburn Band
1 p.m.          The Mellowells
2 p.m.          JUTAUN
3 p.m.          The Line of Fire

Lehigh Valley Music Awards Showcase
Aug. 7
FLYLVIA Plaza Tropical
Celebrate the best of the Valley’s local music scene at this showcase presented by the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association! Each year, the Lehigh Valley Music Awards honor the music industry of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Now, see some of these dynamic acts perform live:
8-8:20 p.m.     Another Day Dawns
8:35-9:05 p.m.  Doubting Thomas
9:20-10 p.m.    The Cherry Bombs
10:15-11 p.m.   Social Call

Musikfest Opening Ceremonies
Aug. 5, 6 p.m.
Wells Fargo Festplatz
Musikfest’s opening ceremonies return to their roots as the event moves back to Wells Fargo Festplatz. This year’s opening ceremonies will include a performance by Living Vines and the presentation of Founders Awards to WFMZ-TV, Sands Resort Bethlehem and Donegal Square/McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub.

Great New Merch for Little ‘Festers!
Dress your littlest ‘festers in the latest Musikfest apparel. If you have an aspiring young rock star, then check out the new “I’m With the Band” Children’s T-Shirts in eye-catching blue and orange. Plus, new onesies in green and blue feature the owl from this year’s Musikfest poster design!

New Musikfest-Themed Coloring Book
Kids aren’t the only ones who enjoy coloring now. Artists of all ages can get creative and color away stress with this new 32-page coloring book.

Drawn in an intricate mosaic and ready for a splash of color, this coloring book includes eye-catching images like the SteelStacks blast furnaces, Musikfest’s Artie the Owl, the Musikfest mugs, historic Hotel Bethlehem, Moravian stars and an array of musical instruments! Coloring books are available for $9.99 and designs range in complexity from beginner to expert-level.
 
More Buskers Than EVER Before!
Our street performers keep growing in popularity and this year we’re showcasing a record five each day. Some of the new must-see highlights include:

• Kobbler Jay – Winner of the 2015 Artist of the Year at the Biz X Awards. Jay juggles knives, eats fire, cracks whips, rides unicycles, walks barefoot on broken glass and performs mind boggling balancing acts. He’s performed all over the U.S., Canada and Europe.
• Her Majesty’s Secret Circus Show – Winner of the 2015 People’s Choice Award at the Kingston Buskers Rendezvous in Ontario. Agents Butterfly & Honeymoon have been performing their action-packed spy-fi comedy circus show since 2009.
• Isabella Hoops – This charming, energetic circus performer hailing from Toronto entertains with everything from fire, to LED light shows, to clowning and of course, hula hoops!
• Copper Cowgirl – Your friendly living copper statue from the Midwest! Interact with her as she performs a dazzling blend of performance and comedy, all while in cowgirl character.

New Artists in Residence:

Living Vines
Aug. 5 at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 6 at 3, 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 7 at 3, 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Martin Guitar Handwerkplatz
Marvel at the splendor of these lush “living vines” as they come to life and roam Handwerkplatz! This entertainment troupe performs a nature’s ballet that evokes the four seasons and mimics the movements of real fauna and flora.

STX by Close Act Theatre
Aug. 9, 11 and 13: 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
Main & Spring Streets
Watch a boisterous bunch of black-clad drummers express themselves in a unique combination of discipline and rebellion – all while on stilts. This amazing interactive street performance is from the Netherlands street theater group Close Act Theatre, the same people who brought you SAURUS! Did we mention the dinosaurs are back too (Aug 10, 12 and 14 at 4, 6 and 8 p.m.)?

The Privy People
Aug. 10-14, 3-8 p.m.
Volksplatz
Looking to enhance your restroom experience? We are too! Join the Privy People, a comedy troupe dedicated to making bathroom experiences clean and uplifting, as they bring two themed portable toilets to Musikfest. Toilets include cover cozies on toilet seats, plenty of reading material, a variety of bathroom tissues and pleasant scents/pictures to make you feel right at home. Reservations are accepted; visit www.privypeople.com.

DanceNOW SteelStacks presents Good to Go Girls
Aug. 5 at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 6 at 7 and 9 p.m.
Aug. 7 at 6:30 and 9 p.m.
TD Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square
Enjoy unique performances by Jillian Hollis, Molly Merkler and Jessy Smith, whom the New York Times calls the “bubbly trio of classically trained dancers whose skits toy with physical comedy and burlesque.”

DanceNOW SteelStacks presents LMNO3
Aug. 12-14, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
TD Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square
LMNO3 offers captivating performances that fuse characterization, costumes, theatrics and dance for an evening of entertainment and fun!