Instructions
The word 'platz' is German for "place." Most of Musikfest's sites have german 'platz' names as a tribute to Bethlehem's Germanic heritage. 'Handbuch' is German for handbook. Put the two together and, well, you've got our interactive history lesson & contest celebrating Musikfest's 25th Anniversary!
- Once the page loads, use the links above to navigate around the bulletin board.
- Find and click on the hidden 'blue flag icons' to reveal the facts about Musikfest that you'll need to win.
- Once you've found them all, click the contest button located at the bottom right of the page to take a quiz about Musikfest's history and enter to win the grand prize (see below).
- If you click the 'platz' links before the 'Loadingplatz' image disappears, not a whole lot will happen. Please wait until the page finishes loading.
- If you didn't believe us and you clicked anyways, you can reset the Handbuch by clicking the 'Back to the Instructions at the top' link above. Then wait for the page to finish loading.
The Grand Prize
- One lucky winner, who has all the correct answers, will walk away with a pair of VIP tickets to every RiverPlace show at Musikfest 2009!
Looks like you found the demo 'blue flag icon.' Good job!
This area's content will change every time you click on a blue flag icon. You can reset the content to the basic instructions by clicking on the blue flag icon again.
If you clicked on this before the bulletin board finished loading, this probably doesn't make much sense. Have no fear! - Once the 'Loadingplatz' image disappears you'll be good to go!
Good luck and have fun!
Introduced in 1985, this popular venue offers a beautiful view of South Mountain and features plenty of the music America is famous for, such as contemporary rock, jazz, blues and big band.
It’s also home to the Stars of Bethlehem competition, which originated in 2003, and the popular American Diner VIP hospitality area, located on the Bethlehem Area Public Library’s portico.
In addition, it offers one of the best locations to watch Musikfest’s popular closing-night fireworks display.
Of all the artists to play Americaplatz over the years, none have drawn the crowd that The Dixie Chicks did. On Aug. 9, 1998 the superstar trio attracted more than 10,000 fans to Payrow Plaza, with people filling every inch of the spacious venue.
Blumenplatz is a European-style flower garden developed in 1987 by Michael T. “Mickey” Brown, a second-generation Lehigh Valley florist.
The 81-foot by 23-foot garden is located at the Bethlehem Area Public Library, between Americaplatz and the Japanese Serenity Garden, which was a gift from Bethlehem’s sister city of Tondabayashi, Japan.
Since Blumenplatz’s creation, the Musikfest Flower Committee has designed and maintained the site for Musikfest visitors to enjoy.
In 2006, Blumenplatz and its dedicated volunteers were honored with a Suburban Greening Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
Since its debut at the very first Musikfest, the Candlelight Concert Series has been held at Moravian College’s Hurd Center for Music & Art off Main and Church streets.
Performances take place in the 435-seat Foy Concert Hall and include regionally and nationally known folk, rock, blues and vocal acts.
Among the many performers to grace the Candlelight Series stage over the years are Rosanne Cash, Roger McGuinn, The Cottars, Leo Kottke, Al Stewart and John Gorka.
The Chamber Music Series joined the Musikfest lineup in 1989 to provide more chamber music at the festival.
Originally located in Peter Hall at Moravian College’s Hurd Center for Music & Art, the series now takes place at the Old Chapel behind Central Moravian Church.
Performers at this series have included the Capitol Quartet, Duo Montagnard and the Abaca String Band.
Dankeplatz is Musikfest’s largest hospitality venue.
During the festival, it’s home to the Musikfest Sponsor’s Reception, Cinema & Draft Night independent film event and numerous private and corporate events, including family reunions, picnics, community meetings and business luncheons.
This year, Dankeplatz is showcasing “Faces of the Lehigh Valley,” an exhibit of photographs honoring the Lehigh Valley’s political, educational, cultural and business leaders.
One of the original Musikfest sites, this German-themed venue was originally located on Lehigh Street, near The Depot Restaurant.
Visitors to the venue, which is now under the Hill to Hill bridge off Spring Street, have enjoyed live performances by local and national polka acts such as Big Lou’s Polka Casserole, Steve Meisner, Lynn Marie, Jimmy Sturr and Jolly Joe Timmer.
Themed dancing nights showcasing swing, country, ’70s and ’80 music and oldies are also offered each year.
In 1984, Festplatz hosted Stadtkapelle Berching, the first guest European band to play at Musikfest. This popular site is also home to the famous Polka mass on the last day of the festival.
Located in the historic 18th Century Colonial Industrial Quarter, Handwerkplatz is a quaint, open-air venue that showcases handcrafted items and visual arts by 45 of the nation’s finest artisans.
Located along the beautiful Monocacy Creek, this venue, which was established in 1993, is also home to the famous bell guy, “Cast in Bronze,” who performs daily on the four-ton carillon.
In 2008, Handwerkplatz is featuring a Make Your Own flameworking tent, where festival-goers can walk in and create beautiful glass art using the flameworking torch.
This 230-seat indoor concert venue, formerly a turn-of-the-century ice-making facility, has hosted a variety of performances by arts organizations such as Pennsylvania Youth Theatre, Godfrey Daniels, Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre and the Lehigh Valley Storytellers Guild.
Located on Sand Island next to the Lehigh River, this historic building was almost torn down in 1989, but was saved from demolition and eventually renovated. Building improvements were completed in 1996 and the Ice House presented its first shows at Musikfest the following summer.
Located adjacent to the 1751-1760 Smithy off Main Street, this brand-new venue celebrates one of the most essential components of music - the artist who creates the song.
At Lyrikplatz, audiences can enjoy acoustic shows by artists from throughout the nation, stripped down performances by Musikfest favorites and perhaps even a few very special guests.
Whether it’s blues-infused guitar music or folk, Celtic sounds or unplugged rock ’n’ roll, you’ll find something to please your musical palate at this dynamic outdoor stage dedicated to singer-songwriters.
An official Musikfest site since 1989, Main Street showcases Bethlehem’s historic downtown shopping district and is abuzz with the musical sounds of Dixieland, bluegrass, Andean, steel drums, folk and more.
The venue is also home to Buskers, world-class street performers who made their first appearance at the festival in 2006. These high-energy street artists are sure to dazzle the crowd with their mesmerizing magic, incredible juggling and stilt walking skills.
Main Street is also the home to Lyrikplatz, Musikfest’s new site dedicated to singer/songwriters.
For the past seven years, visitors to Plaza Tropical have been transported to the tropics as they experience spicy and exotic Caribbean foods, shopping, and music and dance from Latin and African cultures.
Located at Spring and Main streets, this Musikfest site has presented a variety of culturally-diverse musical performers.
It also has hosted such popular Musikfest events as the Regional Band Showcase, A Night in Paradise, Mardi Gras Day and Day at the Beach.
Opened in 2000, RiverPlace is the location to experience the biggest names in music.
Over the past seven years, it has hosted some of music’s most popular acts, including Martina McBride, Jethro Tull, Alice in Chains, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Moody Blues, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Chicago and Clay Aiken.
Located on the western end of Sand Island, the venue holds 6,500 people and features three dynamic hospitality areas where guests can enjoy a VIP experience – RiverPlace Garden, RiverPlace Café and the Upper Deck.
First held in 1985, the Vesper Concerts were created to honor Bethlehem’s religious origins by through the presentation of sacred music.
The concerts, which take place in beautiful, 202-year-old Central Moravian Church, now highlight classical, opera and secular music.
Guests over the years have included the Lehigh Valley Symphonic Winds and the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.
Volksplatz highlights the music of the world by showcasing sounds as diverse as Eastern European folk, African tribal music, Indian and Japanese rock.
Originally located at the Broad Street Mall, the venue moved to Johnston Park along the Monocacy Creek in 1988.
Perhaps the most musically diverse stage at the festival, it annually features fan favorites such as The Red Elvises, Brother and Los Straitjackets. In addition, the site offers a wealth of foods from around the globe.
As Musikfest has grown over the past 25 years, platzes have come and gone. Here's our salute to some of the platzes of the past.
The Original Six
The very first Musikfest in 1984 featured 6 platzes:
- Candlelight Concert Series
- Familienplatz
- Festplatz
- Kunstplatz
- Liederplatz
- Volksplatz
About the Platzes of the Past
ArtWalk
This Musikfest site, which made its only appearance in 2000, was located on the Broad Street Mall between New and Guetter streets. Dedicated to the visual arts and fine crafts, it was the perfect place to stroll, appreciate vibrant visuals and buy beautiful artwork for family, friends or home.
Asa Packer Concert Series
The Asa Packer Series started in 1989 to showcase the region’s great classical performing groups. Located at Packer Chapel on the Lehigh University campus, the series welcomed such respected performers as the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra and Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra.
In 1998, the series relocated to Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center, and in 2000 it became known as the Performing Arts Series. Over the past seven years, it has showcased pop, rock, children’s shows, choral music, Christian, classical and more.
Banana Cabaret/Musikfest Cabaret/Keystone Cabaret
The Cabaret (2000-2003) had many faces over the years, but one thing remained the same - great cabaret-style music! Originally located at the former skating rink in front of Summit Bank off New Street, this site initially offered fine wines and specialty foods in an intimate cabaret setting. It was also host to the Musikfest New Talent Showcase, where a celebrity host introduced local undiscovered talent.
In 2001, the site changed its name to Musikfest Cabaret and relocated to Lehigh and Spring streets, where it featured dueling pianos, jazz, folk and more. It made its last appearance in 2003 as Keystone Cabaret before merging with Kinderplatz to form Banana Island in 2004.
Familienplatz (Family Place)
Familienplatz was one of the six original Musikfest venues. Its first location at the Historic Bethlehem Partnership 18th century industrial area behind Hotel Bethlehem featured exhibits and tours of the historic buildings. In 1988, the site moved to the eastern end of the Broad Street Mall and became a sister site to Kinderplatz. Familienplatz was the perfect place to experience a wide variety of music and activities with family and friends. Visitors to the venue enjoyed the sounds of country, bluegrass, gospel, rock, tribute bands and jazz music.
The site, which ended its run in 1999, also offered fun activities for children, including chalk drawing and fingerprinting boards.
Kinderplatz (Children's Place)
Musikfest’s Kinderplatz, which ran from 1986-2003, was the original kids’ venue at Musikfest. The site originated at the Broad Street Mall and moved several times throughout the years - other locations included Spring and Lehigh streets, Moravian College’s south campus and the Keystone Cabaret off of Main and Lehigh street.
In 1991, Kinderplatz was featured on America’s Funniest Home Videos.
Kunstplatz (Arts Place)
From 1984-2000, Kunstplatz served as the headline venue at Musikfest. The site, which was located at the Community Arts Pavilion behind the Moravian College Hurd Center for Music & Art, featured some of the nation’s best and most beloved performers, including Tony Bennett, Hootie & the Blowfish, Kenny Rogers, Savage Garden, Ray Charles and Wayne Newton.
On August 10, 1997, a record 25,000 fans saw Tom Jones perform live. Three years later, the venue moved to Sand Island and became known as RiverPlace.
Muralplatz (Mural Place)
In the weeks prior to the first Musikfest, the festival’s staff felt that the pieces of plywood that covered up the windows of the closed-down businesses on Main Street needed to be spruced up for the event. The staff decided to call on eight different artists to paint over the plywood, and from there the tradition of Muralplatz was born. One of the artists, Michael Sayre, is credited for giving the colorful visual arts venue its name. Muralplatz, which was in existence through 2003, featured different artists showcasing their talents by creating murals on 4-foot-by-8-foot plywood (later canvas).
The site was traditionally staged on Main Street, but it also made appearances at Handwerkplatz.
Musikfest Bandstand
In 1995, Musikfest introduced a new addition to its growing festival, the Musikfest Bandstand. Visitors to the site experienced top-quality musical performances for families and also had opportunities to learn dance techniques such as clogging, country line dancing, danse orientale and other folk dances. The site made its last appearance at the festival in 2001.
Musikfest Expo
This fun-filled family area, which made its one and only appearance in 2000, showcased interactive exhibits and activities presented by various sponsors of the festival. It also featured daily carillon performances by Cast in Bronze and a variety of food and beverages.
Spielplatz (Play Place)
Debuting in 1993, Spielplatz featured Victorian children’s games in the afternoon and old-time silent films and cartoons at night. The site, which made its last appearance in 1994, was located behind the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts on New Street.
Technoplatz
Technoplatz, which ran from 1992-94, was located at the historic Hotel Bethlehem. At Technoplatz, visitors learned about technology in the arts via seminars, performances and the ability to talk to artists and professionals during workshops. Individuals could also take music or computer lessons. The site won the International Festivals Association’s 1992 Gold Pinnacle Award for Best New Event.
Zinzendorfplatz (Zinzendorf Place)
In 1985, Musikfest include a beautiful garden called Zinzendorfplatz, which was named in honor of Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, the patron, benefactor and spiritual guide of the Moravian Church who named the local Moravian settlement “Bethlehem” on Christmas Eve 1741. The gardens were maintained by the Bethlehem Garden Club, which had been looking after them since 1961.
