BETHLEHEM, Pa. — For Kassie Hilgert, Christmas is over.
“For me, Musikfest is an 11-day holiday, like Christmas,” said Hilgert, chief executive officer of ArtsQuest, the nonprofit organization that presents the annual festival.
“Being part of this is the greatest adrenaline rush. Just walking around seeing the long lines for food and things. People walking around drinking from Musikfest mugs. Hearing people singing along to all the music.
- The 40th Musikfest drew to a close on Sunday evening
- Musikfest organizer Kassie Hilgert believes attendance at this year's event will eclipse the 2022 record of 1.24 million
- More than 500 free performances and paid headliners were presented
And this year, Christmas was one of the best ever.
On Sunday, the lights were turned off on yet another successful Musikfest.
For the 40th year, folks from the Lehigh Valley and beyond descended upon Bethlehem's historic district and the SteelStacks arts campus to revel in free and ticketed musical performances, a vast and delectable variety of food, refreshments and camaraderie.
“This has been a fantastic festival.”ArtsQuest Chief Executive Officer Kassie Hilgert
And Hilgert said she is certain that when the final attendance number is tabulated, it will be a festival record, eclipsing the 1.24 million from last year. An announcement is expected Tuesday.
“We’ve had record days throughout this year,” she said. “The initial counting shows that on the first Saturday we had a record number.
"And then Sunday and Wednesday were spectacular numbers. And even with the rain Monday and Thursday, we had large crowds.
“This has been a fantastic festival.”
'Blown away and humbled'
What Musikfest is at its core, Hilgert believes, is a mirror to the Lehigh Valley at its finest.
Musikfest's reach has stretched beyond the Lehigh Valley. Data from the event's website lists visitors from 39 states, Washington, D.C., and eight countries.
“It’s a celebration of people coming from all over having a great time.”Kassie Hilgert, president and CEO of ArtsQuest
“It’s a celebration of people coming from all over having a great time,” Hilgert said.
Musikfest showcased more than 500 musical acts, including 15 of the 16 stages free of charge.
Two of the acts on the main Steel Stage at PNC Plaza sold out — Goo Goo Dolls and AJR — and Train on the final night Sunday appeared it would, too.
That ties the festival's record for most main-stage sellouts in a year.
“We look for [selling] about 60 percent of the venue to break even on those acts,” Hilgert said. “So, again, we did very well.
“Overall, I was blown away and humbled by this year’s festival. The volunteers, the patrons, the vendors, everyone. And we have had phenomenal community support.
"Everyone pitching in. Everyone appeared to have a fun time.”
Overcoming COVID, breaking division
Hilgert said she believes the reason for the climbing total attendance numbers the past few years is connected to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve heard a lot from patrons and vendors about how much COVID changed their thinking,” she said. “I used to hear people complaining about the long lines and how they maybe didn’t want to deal with that anymore.
“Then COVID came. People were shut down and couldn’t go where they used to go. It was a correction for a lot of us for a lot of things. Being locked inside gave people an appreciation for getting out and being with people.”
“In 2021 and a little bit in 2022, I think there was some apprehension about coming out. This year, people came out. Coming out of COVID, there was a renewed sense of enjoyment and embracing of the festival.”ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Kassie Hilgert
COVID infections and hospitalizations are again on the rise across the U.S. For the week ending July 29, admissions were around 9,000, an increase of about 12 percent from the previous week. Deaths nationally are 500-600 per week.
Despite the large numbers of Musikfest attendees, Hilgert is not overly concerned about a large spike in infections.
“I know there is a concern,” she said. “But the department of health for the City of Bethlehem gave us their blessing. They said it was safe to hold the festival.
“In 2021 and a little bit in 2022, I think there was some apprehension about coming out. This year, people came out. Coming out of COVID, there was a renewed sense of enjoyment and embracing of the festival.”
Another reason Hilgert pointed to for the large attendance at Musikfest this year is political.
“We came out of COVID, but then are now in a divided environment,” she said. “They could come out for 11 days and just enjoy people, listen to music, have something to eat, and just have fun.
"Musikfest gave people a break from the division in the country.”
'Tweaking all the time'
Musikfest has become such a Lehigh Valley event, many residents hold warm-up events at their homes prior to heading off to the festival.
“I know people who have hosted ‘platzes’ at their homes before going to Musikfest,” Hilgert said. “They have actual parties and invite people to join them before they come to the festival.
"That’s how popular Musikfest has become. The community owns this festival.”
Forty years into Musikfest, the blueprint appears set: Terrific free and paid music with fair-priced food and drink. The assumption being the festival is on autopilot.
Such an assumption would be wrong.
“The blueprint is not down pat,” Hilgert said. “Every year, we ask our volunteers to submit advice and ideas for the next Musikfest. We go through the suggestions and implement some of them.”
For example, Hilgert recalled a suggestion to the Musikfest committee to add a music event to represent the Latino communities in the Lehigh Valley. What it spawned was Plaza Tropical in 2000, a free venue at which music performed was Latin, world, funk, reggae and more.
“We keep tweaking all the time,” Hilgert said.
40 year of hitting the right notes
The year was 1982. The dark days for Bethlehem had arrived, as Bethlehem Steel Co., the economic engine for the city and region, was on the decline.
A challenge was issued. While serving as the chairman of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce’s Tourism Committee, Jeff Parks was asked to come up with an event to drive people to the city during August — a notably slow part of the year. An event to generate revenue and optimism for the city.
Two years later, Musikfest accomplished that mission. And for four decades has hit all the right notes.
"We love the music, the beer, walking around talking to people. There’s nothing like this back home. We’ll keep coming back.”David Andrews of Burlington, North Carolina
Just ask the Andrews family.
“We’re from Burlington, North Carolina, and we love Musikfest,” David Andrews said from the crowd at Musikfest. “This is our fourth year coming up.
"We love the music, the beer, walking around talking to people. There’s nothing like this back home. We’ll keep coming back.”
Andrews was asked what he felt is the worst part of Musikfest. His response: “When it’s over.”
