ArtsQuest seeks suggestions in naming contest, running through March 11, for new Musikfest venue and stage
BETHLEHEM, PA—Make your mark at Musikfest! The public is invited to help “Name That Platz” by submitting its ideas as the nation’s largest free music festival renames the venue formerly known as Experienceplatz.
Joining the ranks of Banana Island, Kunstplatz, Bandstand, Technoplatz and RiverPlace, Musikfest’s Experienceplatz is being retired as the site is transformed into a new music and art venue. Taking its place will be a “platz” with a name chosen by the public through online submissions and voting.
The new venue, to debut at Musikfest 2019, will feature a variety of vendors, the new Prismatica art installation and a music stage featuring some of the region’s best original artists during the day, including Summer Scouts and Ruby Dear, as well as a headlining tribute acts to close out the night. Headliners confirmed so far include Boat House Row Aug. 3, Romeo Delight-The Ultimate Van Halen Tribute on Aug. 6 and Van Morrison tribute Into the Mystic Aug. 7.
“Musikfest began as a community event and we’ve grown into the nation’s largest free music festival thanks in large part to the support of our entire community,” says ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan. “It’s only fitting, then, that we offer our fans and the community the opportunity to help us name our newest venue. The only criteria we have in this process is be creative, have fun and, of course, use the word ‘platz.’”
Festers can visit www.musikfest.org/name today through March 11 to enter their creative names. The entries will then be vetted by ArtsQuest with three finalists announced March 12. Public voting runs March 13-20, with the winning name announced in spring.
When Musikfest was founded in 1984, five of its six venues were named “platzes” in honor of the rich history of the city, which was founded by Moravians from Germany and Austria in 1741. Platz, in the German language, means ‘place.’ Hence, Festplatz is “festival place” in German, Liederplatz is “song place” and Volksplatz mean the “people place.”
Now celebrating its 36th year, Musikfest features more than 500 performances on 17 stages throughout Bethlehem Aug. 2-11, 2019. Sands Steel Stage headliners announced so far include The Chainsmokers Aug. 2, Steve Miller Band with Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives Aug. 3, Lady Antebellum Aug. 4, Train & Goo Goo Dolls Aug. 6, Incubus Aug. 7 and Brad Paisley Aug. 11.
Proceeds from Musikfest support ArtsQuest’s free programming for the community year-round at the Banana Factory arts center and the SteelStacks arts and cultural campus. For more information, please visit www.musikfest.org
Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
