What’s New at Musikfest 2025
Surprises at every turn with laughs, music, magic and memories made for ‘fest friends big and small
Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. July 14, 2025 – Musikfest 2025 is just around the corner, and this year, the nation’s largest non-gated music festival is bringing more magic and more moments than ever before! Spanning 50 acres across Bethlehem’s 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.
But that’s not all! Here’s what’s NEW and returning at Musikfest 2025:
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 — and meet Zondag along with past poster artists during a special live panel discussion on July 31 at Lyrikplatz in the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas.
This year’s Oasis experience is also getting a glow-up, with an expanded Yuengling Flight Deck 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.
And getting to and around the fest is easier than ever with the return of EBS LANTA Blue & Green Lines. From points west (Fogelsville) to points east (Easton), park your car and leave the driving to us. And, the LANTA Gold Line is 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 FREE within the Musikfest festival footprint (Fare required outside Musikfest).
For complete schedule: Lantabus.com/ebs-bethlehem/
New flavors are hitting the food scene too. 4 Raices Tacos brings bold tacos and loaded nachos, while Red Cedar Grille serves up BBQ favorites like brisket sandwiches and pulled pork. Marley’s Kitchen spices things up with Caribbean platters and jerk fries, and Humpty’s Dumplings offers creative dumpling flavors. MozzArepas delivers delicious arepas, from classic original and pernil to veggies, mixta, carne and pollo. Kou Kitchen fires up the grill with PB spare ribs, beef and chicken kabobs, veggie-packed fried rice, grilled vegetables and honey cornbread. For classic snacks, Philly Pretzel Factory has pretzels and dips. Cool down with Woods Ice Cream‘s sundaes and floats, or try the 21+ spirit-infused treats from K2 Creamery.
Festivalgoers can also enjoy a bit of fun with Artie’s Hoot and Seek, a festival-wide scavenger hunt where guests search for the elusive Artie the Owl each day. Lucky winners will score front row seats to a 2026 headliner show of their choice.
The Monster Energy/BMX activations return 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’s second weekend.
Stop by the Monster Energy Market at Plaza Tropical, where guests can purchase Monster Energy products and receive free branded gear (while supplies last). Get a complimentary ice-cold sample of their latest innovations — including Ultra Blue Hawaiian (zero sugar) and Juice Monster Viking Berry. Don’t forget to snap a photo with the Monster Energy Girls, who’ll be on-site for autographs and meet-and-greets.
Even more interactive activations await at Service Electric Festplatz. The Big Bite Tour returns August 1-3 with samples from popular brands like Ghirardelli Chocolate, Russell Stover Chocolate, Dunkin’ Iced Coffee and Sunsweet. New this year, I LOVE NY Mobile 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’s tourism offerings. From August 1-10, guests can explore the U.S. Army Experience, where real U.S. Army musicians and personnel will guide visitors through cutting-edge tech displays and interactive features. Whether you’re exploring career paths or simply curious, it’s a hands-on way to see how service and talent meet. The ever-popular Wawa activation 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, Sweet Baby Rays will 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’s BBQ and hot sauces. In addition, their new “sauce cart” will be stationed on-site, allowing guests to sample sauces without opening their bottles. Festivalgoers can also take part in a “Wing Sauce Ring Toss” game for a chance to win a koozie, baster or hat.
Also returning for 2025 is NJM Insurance Group as the presenting sponsor of Familienplatz, 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.
And speaking of big returns — it’s been a decade, but the dinosaurs are back! The internationally acclaimed Close-Act Theatre Saurus will once again roam the fest grounds, amazing crowds with their giant prehistoric puppets.
A new addition this year, SoberPlatz, 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’s a meaningful new element that reflects the inclusive spirit of Musikfest.
Musikfest is also going cashless in 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.)
Comedy lovers, the laughter continues at both the Charles A. Brown Ice House and Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, with family-friendly shows, improv and stand-up scheduled throughout the festival.
Visitors can also experience the Hot Glass Experience, where glassblowing artists work one-on-one with attendees to create their own unique piece. It’s a fiery, hands-on experience you won’t want to miss. Ages 6 and up, no experience necessary. Registration for 20-minute time slots is required.
There’s also new official Musikfest merch available 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 – perfect for Megan Moroney concertgoers and anyone looking to add some sparkle to their ‘fest look.
Entrepreneurship takes the stage! For the first time ever, Musikfest will host the StartUp Lehigh Valley (SULV) Pitch Competition live at the Musikfest Café on August 5. Now in its seventh year, this “Shark Tank” 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.
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 5:00–6:00 p.m., followed by the live competition from 6:30–8:00 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 “inspiring future makers” and advancing economic development through innovation.
And keep your ears open because Cast in Bronze (the Bell Guy) is back! A long-loved fest icon, his signature bell-ringing antics are returning to add even more personality and nostalgia to the Musikfest atmosphere.
And finally, none of this happens without the help of hundreds of volunteers. 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 volunteer-dept@artsquest.org.
With even more surprises still to come, Musikfest 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic and diverse yet. Visit www.musikfest.org or download the app for the latest announcements, schedules and ticket info — and get ready to fest like never before.
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission 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™ 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, Musikfest; the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s 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.
