{"id":143699,"date":"2025-07-14T19:52:52","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T23:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=143699"},"modified":"2025-07-14T19:52:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T23:52:52","slug":"whats-new-at-musikfest-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=143699","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s New at Musikfest 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Surprises at every turn with laughs, music, magic and memories made for \u2018fest friends big and small<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. July 14, 2025 \u2013 Musikfest 2025 is just around the corner, and this year, the nation\u2019s largest non-gated music festival is bringing more magic and more moments than ever before! Spanning 50 acres across Bethlehem\u2019s vibrant North and SouthSides, Musikfest will once again feature 15 free stages showcasing every genre imaginable, plus a sixteenth ticketed headliner stage at the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza, offering major acts nightly.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not all! Here\u2019s what\u2019s NEW and returning at Musikfest 2025:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the first time in festival history, the official Musikfest poster is a fully felted fiber artwork. Created by artist Mallory Zondag, the piece blends wet felting, needle felting and embroidery into a tactile celebration of music and art. Festivalgoers can snag limited-edition mugs and merch featuring her design \u2014 and meet Zondag along with past poster artists during a\u00a0special live panel discussion on July 31 at Lyrikplatz in the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Oasis experience is also getting a glow-up, with an\u00a0expanded Yuengling Flight Deck\u00a0<\/strong>offering more space to relax and enjoy select headliner shows in comfort and style. Guests will have access to a cash bar and food available for purchase, allowing them to enjoy the performance without leaving the Oasis. The expanded setup will be available during performances by Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jordan Davis and The Black Keys.<\/p>\n

And getting to and around the fest is easier than ever with the return of\u00a0EBS LANTA Blue & Green Lines<\/strong>. From points west (Fogelsville) to points east (Easton), park your car and leave the driving to us. And, the\u00a0LANTA Gold Line<\/strong>\u00a0is your convenient way to travel the festival with multiple stops including Shuttleplatz North, West Broad Street, Downtown Bethlehem, New & Walnut Streets, PNC Stadtplatz (Payrow Plaza), Bethlehem City Hall, Riverport, SouthSide Station at Polk Street Garage and Shuttleplatz South. All buses are fully ADA compliant, offer air-conditioned comfort with frequent service and ride for\u00a0FREE\u00a0<\/strong>within the Musikfest festival footprint (Fare required outside Musikfest).<\/p>\n

For complete schedule:\u00a0<\/strong>Lantabus.com\/ebs-bethlehem\/<\/a><\/p>\n

New flavors<\/strong>\u00a0are hitting the food scene too.\u00a04 Raices Tacos<\/strong>\u00a0brings bold tacos and loaded nachos, while\u00a0Red Cedar Grille<\/strong>\u00a0serves up BBQ favorites like brisket sandwiches and pulled pork.\u00a0Marley\u2019s Kitchen<\/strong>\u00a0spices things up with Caribbean platters and jerk fries, and\u00a0Humpty\u2019s Dumplings<\/strong>\u00a0offers creative dumpling flavors.\u00a0MozzArepas<\/strong>\u00a0delivers delicious arepas, from classic original and pernil to veggies, mixta, carne and pollo.\u00a0Kou Kitchen<\/strong>\u00a0fires up the grill with PB spare ribs, beef and chicken kabobs, veggie-packed fried rice, grilled vegetables and honey cornbread. For classic snacks,\u00a0Philly Pretzel Factory<\/strong>\u00a0has pretzels and dips. Cool down with\u00a0Woods Ice Cream<\/strong>‘s sundaes and floats, or try the 21+ spirit-infused treats from\u00a0K2 Creamery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Festivalgoers can also enjoy a bit of fun with\u00a0Artie\u2019s Hoot and Seek<\/em>,<\/strong>\u00a0a festival-wide scavenger hunt where guests search for the elusive Artie the Owl each day. Lucky winners will score\u00a0front row seats to a 2026 headliner show of their choice.<\/em><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Monster Energy\/BMX activations<\/strong>\u00a0return to energize crowds with jaw-dropping tricks and high-flying performances. This fan-favorite will once again bring extreme sports action to the heart of Musikfest. Catch the Monster Energy BMX Stunt Show, Breakdancers, a live graffiti artist and country-rock sensation Andy Velo during the festival\u2019s second weekend.<\/p>\n

Stop by the\u00a0Monster Energy Market at Plaza Tropical<\/strong>, where guests can purchase Monster Energy products and receive\u00a0free branded gear<\/strong>\u00a0(while supplies last<\/em>). Get a complimentary ice-cold sample of their latest innovations \u2014 including Ultra Blue Hawaiian (zero sugar) and Juice Monster Viking Berry. Don\u2019t forget to snap a photo with the Monster Energy Girls, who\u2019ll be on-site for autographs and meet-and-greets.<\/p>\n

Even more interactive activations await at Service Electric Festplatz. The\u00a0Big Bite Tour<\/strong>\u00a0returns August 1-3 with samples from popular brands like Ghirardelli Chocolate, Russell Stover Chocolate, Dunkin’ Iced Coffee and Sunsweet. New this year,\u00a0I LOVE NY<\/strong>\u00a0Mobile Tour will also be on-site August 1-3, offering immersive photo ops with the iconic I LOVE NY sculpture, interactive exhibits, destination info and giveaways that showcase the state\u2019s tourism offerings. From August 1-10, guests can explore the\u00a0U.S. Army Experience<\/strong>, where real U.S. Army musicians and personnel will guide visitors through cutting-edge tech displays and interactive features. Whether you\u2019re exploring career paths or simply curious, it\u2019s a hands-on way to see how service and talent meet. The ever-popular\u00a0Wawa<\/strong>\u00a0activation returns August 2-3 and 9-10 with its fan-favorite prize wheel, giving festivalgoers the chance to win Wawa swag and coupons. And new this year,\u00a0Sweet Baby Rays<\/strong>\u00a0will bring a flavorful new presence to Festplatz with a special activation on August 9 – distributing full-sized bottles of various flavors of Sweet Baby Ray\u2019s BBQ and hot sauces. In addition, their new \u201csauce cart\u201d will be stationed on-site, allowing guests to sample sauces without opening their bottles. Festivalgoers can also take part in a \u201cWing Sauce Ring Toss\u201d game for a chance to win a koozie, baster or hat.<\/p>\n

Also returning for 2025 is NJM Insurance Group as the presenting sponsor of\u00a0Familienplatz<\/strong>, where even more fun awaits families and festgoers of all ages. This year, the number of vendors in the area has grown, including the addition of a henna and glitter hair wrap vendor, the vibrant and colorful Pacha Mama, and a new virtual reality vendor offering over 200 different pay-to-play VR games and experiences. Accessible Festivals will enjoy an expanded footprint, giving the organization more space to connect and serve the community. Lawn games like Kong Pong and cornhole are being introduced to the space, adding more opportunities for interactive fun. The Creativity Tent has also increased in size to allow even more families to participate in hands-on arts and crafts, including a community art project. And for those looking to relax, the area now includes a bar and additional seating across from the activation zone, offering a welcoming spot for parents and caregivers to unwind.<\/p>\n

And speaking of big returns \u2014 it\u2019s been a decade, but the dinosaurs are back! The internationally acclaimed\u00a0Close-Act Theatre Saurus<\/strong>\u00a0will once again roam the fest grounds, amazing crowds with their giant prehistoric puppets.<\/p>\n

A new addition this year,\u00a0SoberPlatz<\/em><\/strong>, located on the SteelStacks campus, is a welcoming space for sober festers to meet, relax and enjoy the music without alcohol. Sponsored by SYNC Recovery Community and Northampton County, it\u2019s a meaningful new element that reflects the inclusive spirit of Musikfest.<\/p>\n

Musikfest is also going\u00a0cashless<\/strong>\u00a0in 2025. All official food and beverage vendors will now accept credit cards or ArtsQuest CashCards, which can be used year-round at ArtsQuest events. (Artisans and crafters may still accept cash at their discretion.)<\/p>\n

Comedy lovers, the laughter continues at both the\u00a0Charles A. Brown Ice House and Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas,\u00a0<\/strong>with family-friendly shows, improv and stand-up scheduled throughout the festival.<\/p>\n

Visitors can also experience the\u00a0Hot Glass Experience<\/strong>, where glassblowing artists work one-on-one with attendees to create their own unique piece. It\u2019s a fiery, hands-on experience you won\u2019t want to miss. Ages 6 and up, no experience necessary.\u00a0Registration<\/a>\u00a0for 20-minute time slots is required.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also new official\u00a0Musikfest merch<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0available this year, with fresh designs, updated apparel and exclusive gear you can only get at the fest. Plus, there are more new colors of sequin cowboy hats available this year \u2013 perfect for Megan Moroney concertgoers and anyone looking to add some sparkle to their \u2018fest look.<\/p>\n

Entrepreneurship takes the stage! For the first time ever, Musikfest will host the\u00a0StartUp Lehigh Valley (SULV) Pitch Competition\u00a0<\/strong>live at the Musikfest Caf\u00e9 on August 5. Now in its seventh year, this \u201cShark Tank\u201d style event invites early-stage founders from across the country to pitch their ideas in front of a live audience and judging panel, competing for over $26,000 in prizes, including a $20,000 grand prize.<\/p>\n

The event is free and open to the public and will also be broadcast live on WFMZ-TV Channel 69. The action begins with a networking session from 5:00\u20136:00 p.m., followed by the live competition from 6:30\u20138:00 p.m. Finalists include innovators in tech, sustainability, food systems and healthcare, showcasing the spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship that defines the Lehigh Valley. This collaboration with Lehigh University reflects its commitment to \u201cinspiring future makers\u201d and advancing economic development through innovation.<\/p>\n

And keep your ears open because\u00a0Cast in Bronze (the Bell Guy)<\/strong>\u00a0is back! A long-loved fest icon, his signature bell-ringing antics are returning to add even more personality and nostalgia to the Musikfest atmosphere.<\/p>\n

And finally, none of this happens without the help of\u00a0hundreds of volunteers<\/strong>. Musikfest welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds to join the fun and help keep the fest going strong. Those interested can reach out via email at\u00a0volunteer-dept@artsquest.org<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

With even more surprises still to come, Musikfest 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic and diverse yet. Visit\u00a0www.musikfest.org<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0or download the app for the latest announcements, schedules and ticket info \u2014 and get ready to fest like never before.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About ArtsQuest<\/strong><\/p>\n

ArtsQuest\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0mission 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\u2122 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,\u00a0Musikfest<\/a>; the\u00a0ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL<\/a>; and the ArtsQuest Center at\u00a0SteelStacks<\/a>\u00a0arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest\u2019s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization\u2019s programs and events, of which nearly 40 percent are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Information provided to TVL by:
\nBryn Keeney<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Surprises at every turn with laughs, music, magic and memories made for \u2018fest friends big and small Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. July 14, 2025 \u2013 Musikfest 2025 is just around … Continue reading What\u2019s New at Musikfest 2025<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":143615,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-143699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-valley"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/musikfest-2025-events.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143699"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=143699"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143699\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/143615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=143699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=143699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=143699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}