Featured Image: L.L.Bean kayaking
BETHLEHEM, PA—Expanded hours on Bethlehem’s SouthSide, L.L.Bean kayak and stand-up paddleboard courses on the Lehigh River, Architects of Air’s 25th Anniversary Structure and an a screening of “The Song of Bethlehem” documentary are among the many new highlights guests can enjoy when they attend the 35th Musikfest Aug. 3-12.
At SteelStacks, Musikfest will start earlier than ever before, with live music getting underway at noon on weekends. The Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square will feature dynamic tributes like Sugar Mountain (Neil Young), We May Be Right (Billy Joel), Experience Janis (Janis Joplin) and Keystone (Jerry Garcia), while the BB&T Jazz Cabaret Stage will start at 1 p.m. and Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz will offer its first performances starting at 2 p.m. Select SouthSide food vendors like Baby Blues BBQ and the Yuengling Bar & Grill will also open early. With the expansion, the festival has added more than 25 additional shows to its 2018 concert lineup.
“One of the most frequent requests we’ve heard since we opened SteelStacks is that we should consider expanding the Musikfest hours on the festival’s SouthSide,” says ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan. “Since it’s our 35th year, we thought this year offered the perfect opportunity to add additional programming to the campus. Starting at noon on Saturdays and Sundays, patrons will find a dynamic mix of great tribute acts, singer-songwriters and America’s music, jazz. Two of the three venues that will open early – Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz and the BB&T Jazz Cabaret Stage – are inside the air-conditioned ArtsQuest Center, so it’s a great way to beat the heat and still enjoy the ‘fest with tremendous music and food.”
Also new this year, L.L.Bean will be onsite at Experienceplatz offering 60-minute kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) courses on the Lehigh River Aug. 8-12, noon-7 p.m., with shuttles to and from the Sand Island boat launch. Led by L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery School experts, these introductory courses are designed to teach beginners of all ages the ins and outs of paddling and kayaking, as well as the ecosystem and history of the area.
For experienced paddlers L.L.Bean will also be renting kayak and SUP equipment for solo or group adventures. For life post ‘fest, attendees can stop by the L.L.Bean Summer Pop-Up Shop at Wells Fargo Festplatz Aug. 8-12 to pick up L.L.Bean Boots, Wicked Good Slippers, hats, packs and other summer favorites. Additional details on the new kayaking and SUP experiences will be announced later this summer.
Architects of Air, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, returns to Experienceplatz with the new “Albesila Luminaria,” a massive inflatable art installation that delights with its mix of light and color. As big as half a football field, this monumental attraction offers a dazzling experience as visitors walk through a maze of winding paths and marvel at the structure’s 30-foot tall domes. Designed by British artist Alan Parkinson, Architects of Air has enchanted audiences around the world since 1992, with more than 600 appearances in over 40 countries. Hours are Aug. 3, 6-11 p.m., and Aug. 4-12, 1-11 p.m., with last entry each night at 10:30 p.m. Admission to Architects of Air, which is wheelchair accessible and accommodates special needs, is $10 or $5 for children ages 12 and under, payable only in Musikfest Food & Beverage Tickets.
Other new attractions include:
‘The Song of Bethlehem’ Screening and Concert
Aug. 4, 4:30 p.m., Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz
Before a special acoustic performance by Ken Goldstein and The LA HUSTLE, catch a screening of Goldstein’s “The Song of Bethlehem,” a 30-minute documentary film which focuses on the rebirth of Bethlehem through the arts.
Wine’d Down Workshops
Glass Windchime | Aug. 4, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Familienplatz
Succulent Woven Wall Hangings | Aug. 11, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Familienplatz
Take a moment to make some beautiful art for your home! Teaching artists will lead participants through an hour-long workshop; all materials and a glass of wine or beer are included! Workshops are for ‘festers ages 21 and older; to sign up or learn more visit www.musikfest.org.
Create + Connect Skateboard Design Competition
In partnership with HomeBase610, Lost Soul Skateboards & Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations
Aug. 10-12, Crayola Creativity Tent at Familienplatz
View and vote for your favorite skate deck design created by local emerging artists based on the theme of community. Finalists will have the opportunity to collaborate with local businesses and gain experience in the production and design process, including a limited-edition printing of skateboards.
ArtsQuest Glass Studio Classes
Aug. 3-12, Familienplatz
Join the ArtsQuest Hot Glass Studio artists for the Hot Glass Experience: Mushroom (available noon-8 p.m. daily except Aug 3), where ages 6 and older can work with an artist to make their own glass mushroom, or the Flame Working Experience: Mushroom Pendant (4-8 p.m. daily) for ages 10 and older. To sign up or learn more visit www.musikfest.org.
Musikfest Poster Printing at National Museum of Industrial History
Aug. 2-3 & 6-10, 4-6 p.m., and Aug. 4-5 & 11-12, 12-6 p.m.,
Festival-goers will have a chance to use a Chandler & Price Platen Press, dating back over 100 years old, to create a one-of-a-kind Musikfest keepsake. Join the volunteers and staff of NMIH and print your own version of this year’s Musikfest poster using this historic artifact.
One of the largest music festivals in the nation, Musikfest features more than 500 performances on 16 stages throughout Bethlehem over 10 days. Proceeds from Musikfest 2018 will support ArtsQuest’s free concerts and programming for the community year-round at the Banana Factory arts center and the SteelStacks arts and cultural campus. Dates for the 35th edition of the festival are Aug. 3-12; for more info visit www.musikfest.org.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
