{"id":148797,"date":"2026-04-22T19:29:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T23:29:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=148797"},"modified":"2026-04-22T19:29:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T23:29:58","slug":"artsquest-introduces-countryfest-a-new-celebration-of-country-music-and-culture-in-the-lehigh-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=148797","title":{"rendered":"ArtsQuest Introduces CountryFest: A New Celebration of Country Music and Culture in the Lehigh Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. April 22, 2026 <\/strong>\u2013 ArtsQuest is proud to introduce\u00a0CountryFest<\/a>, a brand-new celebration of country music and culture set to take over the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks for an unforgettable summer weekend. On\u00a0Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22<\/strong>, CountryFest will bring the heart and soul of country music to the Lehigh Valley with two full days of live performances, great food and high-energy fun.<\/p>\n

This exciting new festival will showcase a dynamic lineup of nationally touring country artists, rising stars and beloved local performers, creating a vibrant soundtrack for fans of all ages. Headlining the weekend are standout performers Clayton Mullen, Luke Borchelt and Peytan Porter, bringing their fresh country sounds to the stage. Fans will also enjoy electrifying tribute performances, including Kevin Kenny \u2013 The Chesney Show, honoring the legendary Kenny Chesney, and Lainey Nation \u2013 a Tribute to Lainey Wilson, celebrating one of today\u2019s most influential voices in country music.<\/p>\n

\u201cArtsQuest\u2019s latest festival celebration, CountryFest, arrives not a day too soon for a genre that has been a mainstay for Lehigh Valley audiences for decades now,\u201d said Patrick Brogan, ArtsQuest\u2019s Chief Programming Officer. \u201cAnd what better time. Country music is everywhere, attracting fans of all ages and delivering some of the most engaging shows on tour today. The team here has put together a mix of emerging national country headliners of tomorrow alongside some truly talented acts covering country\u2019s biggest names in Kenny Chesney & Lainey Wilson \u2013 all weekend long, all free! We can\u2019t wait to see where audiences take this festival in the years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s Schedule:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square<\/td>\n6 \u2013 7:15 p.m.<\/td>\nErin Kelly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks\u00a0presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health<\/td>\n7:30 \u2013 9 p.m.<\/td>\nKevin Kenny \u2013 The Chesney Show<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square<\/td>\n9 \u2013 9:40 p.m.<\/td>\nStomp & Shine (Line Dance Lessons with Whiskey and Roses)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square<\/td>\n9 \u2013 11 p.m.<\/td>\nWhiskey and Roses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

After more than six years of dancing and three years of teaching, Aleah\u2014the personality behind\u00a0Stomp & Shine<\/strong>\u2014has built a reputation for creating a fun, welcoming environment where anyone can feel at ease. Known for her high-energy, beginner-friendly instruction, she believes line dancing should be accessible to all. Now, she\u2019s bringing that inclusive spirit to the Lehigh Valley for the first-ever CountryFest, inviting attendees of all experience levels to join in and dance together.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s Schedule:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square<\/td>\n4 \u2013 5 p.m.<\/td>\nLuke Borchelt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks\u00a0presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health<\/td>\n5 \u2013 tbd<\/td>\nClayton Mullen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square<\/td>\n6:30 \u2013 7:30 p.m.<\/td>\nPeytan Porter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks\u00a0presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health<\/td>\n7:30 \u2013 9 p.m.<\/td>\nLainey Nation \u2013 A Tribute to Lainey Wilson<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square<\/td>\n9 \u2013 11 p.m.<\/td>\nAdam and the Armadillos<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Beyond the music, guests can indulge in BBQ favorites from Red Cedar Grill and delicious bacon from Bacon on a Stick, cool off with ice cream from Batch Micro-Creamery, sip on refreshing beverages and take part in interactive activities like Axe Throwing throughout the weekend. The festival will also feature local artisans and crafters offering unique handmade goods, country-inspired pieces and one-of-a-kind finds that celebrate the creativity of the region.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a seasoned dancer or just looking to have fun, line dancing lessons and crowd-friendly entertainment are sure to keep the energy high. CountryFest is the perfect way for the Lehigh Valley\u2019s country music community to come together and is a must-attend summer festival for country fans near and far.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

ArtsQuest’s<\/a>\u00a0<\/u>mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences, using arts and culture as drivers of economic development in our urban communities. ArtsQuest supports this mission through performing and visual arts, film, arts education and outreach, youth programming and a wide range of cultural events, anchored by signature venues and initiatives including its flagship event,\u00a0Musikfest<\/a>;\u00a0the\u00a0ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL<\/a>,\u00a0a centerpiece for the Valley’s artistic communities; the ArtsQuest Center at\u00a0SteelStacks<\/a>;<\/u>\u00a0and the\u00a0LVHN, part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop<\/a>,<\/u>\u00a0an adaptive reuse project expanding space for programming, festivals, private events and nationally touring exhibits. ArtsQuest welcomes more than 2 million people annually, with nearly 40 percent of its programs free to attend, and generated a regional economic impact of close to $193 million in 2025. ArtsQuest’s\u00a0Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign<\/a>\u00a0<\/u>supports the continued growth of its mission to make the arts accessible for all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Media Contact<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bryn E. Keeney<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. April 22, 2026 \u2013 ArtsQuest is proud to introduce\u00a0CountryFest, a brand-new celebration of country music and culture set to take over the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks … Continue reading ArtsQuest Introduces CountryFest: A New Celebration of Country Music and Culture in the Lehigh Valley<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":148798,"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-148797","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\/2026\/04\/country-fest.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148797"}],"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=148797"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":148799,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148797\/revisions\/148799"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/148798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=148797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=148797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=148797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}