Musikfest, the nation’s largest free music festival, takes over Bethlehem July 31 through August 9.
Every year since 1984, Bethlehem’s 10-day musical festival—Musikfest—has been a signature event in the Lehigh Valley. And Musikfest has grown so much over the past 40-plus years that the festival, hosted by the local nonprofit ArtsQuest, is now the largest free, non-gated music festival in the country, regularly drawing more than a million attendees each year.
Between Friday, July 31 and Sunday, Aug. 9 (plus a preview night on Thursday, July 30), more than 500 performances will take place across 15 free stages. A 16th stage—the Wind Creek Steel Stage—features ticketed, headliner events, the proceeds from which help fund the rest of Musikfest and ArtsQuest’s community arts programs year-round.
In addition to the music, Musikfest is brimming with food vendors, family-friendly games and activities, artisan crafts for sale, and acts by other performers like comedians and dancers.
This guide will help first-time visitors navigate the massive festival, as well as longtime attendees plan their days. You’ll get to know more about the 2026 Musikfest schedule as well as practical tips to make the most of your time at the festival.
The Musikfest layout—and its stages
Because Musikfest welcomes more than a million festivalgoers and over 400 performers each year, it’s no surprise that the festival space is expansive. In fact, Musikfest is divided into two different festival areas—connected by a free bus or long walk—located in Bethlehem’s two downtowns: the North Side in historic downtown Bethlehem and the SouthSide at the SteelStacks campus in the SouthSide Arts District.
Each festival district is made up of different festival “platzes.” (“Platz” is a German word meaning “place” or “square, in a nod to Bethlehem’s German-Moravian heritage.) And each platz has its own unique offerings—and its own personality.
You won’t be able to see everything, so think about the kinds of performances that might interest you most—and keep in mind your favorite show at Musikfest might be one you accidentally stumble upon.
Check out the North Side map to see North Side stages and zones including:
- PNC Stadtplatz: a fun stage featuring mostly cover bands singing your favorite hits—plus a corn-eating competition and the Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championship Qualifiers
- Service Electric Festplatz: a stage home to energetic rock, polka, and cover band performances
- Familienplatz: the family stage featuring performances geared toward kids
- Hotel Bethlehem Platz: located at the historic (and supposedly haunted) Hotel Bethlehem, with its giant, air-conditioned “Megabar” and a stage home to several duo and trio shows
- Handwerkplatz: home to artisan wares as well as a stage with performances of the incredible Cast in Bronze carillons—musical instruments made up of cast bronze bells
- IBEW Local 375 Liederplatz: a stage home to more intimate folk, Americana, soul, and singer-songwriter performances
- Charles A. Brown Ice House: home to the ComedyPlatz stage and free comedy shows, as well as a spoken word poetry showcase
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America Zinzenplatz: a stage home to rock and tribute band performances
- Plaza Tropical: a stage home to high-energy performances of jazz, party, Latin, rock, and hip-hop music
- Yuengling Lagerplatz: a stage where up-and-coming indie and alternative artists usually start playing in the early afternoon
Check out the SouthSide map to see SouthSide stages and zones including:
- The Wind Creek Steel Stage: the only stage with ticketed performances by national touring acts. This year, the Steel Stage hosts salsa group Grupo Niche, country singer Russell Dickerson, comedian John Mulaney, rock band Third Eye Blind, rock band TRAIN, comic singer Weird Al, rapper T.I. with rapper DaBaby, country singer Bailey Zimmerman, country singer Parker McCollum, rock bands Yellowcard and Taking Back Sunday, and pop band AJR.
- Air Products Americaplatz: a large stage featuring a mix of rock, tribute, and alternative performances, plus bigger acts like The Verve Pipe and Ryan Cabrera
- Lutron Jazz Cabaret Stage: a stage featuring classy jazz, big band, and swing performances
- Lyrikplatz: a stage home to intimate and indoor singer-songwriter performances
- Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on Air Products Town Square: a stage home to dozens of rock and cover band performances
- Musikfest Café: an indoor stage featuring a number of rock and funk performances
- Soberplatz: an alcohol-free space
- The Bethlehem Visitor Center: to help you explore more of historic Bethlehem!
Explore the full lineup of shows and performances—and search by stage, day, or performer—on the Musikfest website.
The food and drink at Musikfest
Food and drink sales help fund Musikfest—so go ahead, support your local music festival by chowing down on the roasted corn from fan favorite vendor Aw Shucks.
You can find nearly 60 food vendors at nine different areas, whether you want to grab sunset mango shrimp from Island Expressions at Plaza Tropical, a vegan gyro from Greek Street at Americaplatz, or more traditional festival food (funnel cakes! corn dogs! burgers!) at several vendors throughout Musikfest. And you don’t need to commit to one meal! You might grab several smaller snacks and treats from multiple vendors to fuel your day.
North Side vendors are set up at Zinzenplatz, Festplatz, Liederplatz, Handwerkplatz, the Institute for Moravian History on Bethlehem’s Main Street, Stadplatz, and Plaza Tropical. Check out SouthSide food vendors at Americaplatz and the Steel Stage.
Drinking at Musikfest is also a time-honored tradition, since you can walk around with alcohol you’ve purchased at Musikfest as long as you’re within the festival grounds (and outside of Soberplatz). So, fill up your official souvenir mug—good at every Musikfest—at Musikfest vendors or at participating bars and restaurants within the festival grounds.
Finally, don’t forget to drink plenty of water, especially in the hot summer sun, and particularly if you’re drinking alcohol.
More Musikfest tips
Download the Musikfest app
We couldn’t include all of the hundreds of performances taking place at Musikfest, but you can use the official Musikfest app to browse the different shows and create your own custom schedule. Plus, you’ll be able to browse a festival map to explore the different stages as well as food vendors, artists, activities, and the rest of the fun at Musikfest.
Grab a mug
Musikfest’s collectible, souvenir mugs feature the current year’s festival art and can be used to get discounted beverage refills at festival tents and participating bars and restaurants. Plus, you can reuse your mugs at Musikfest from year to year!
Wear comfortable shoes
Traipsing from platz to platz, you will definitely get your steps in at Musikfest! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes you don’t mind walking in, as you will likely walk several miles if you’re traversing both the North Side and the South Side.
Don’t miss the theme days
Musikfest offers a handful of fun theme days, like Aug. 5’s “Beach Day” at Plaza Tropical, featuring reggae and Caribbean music plus a Jimmy Buffett cover band, or “70s Day” on Aug. 7, with 70s-era music at Festplatz.
Know how to get around
Parking can be a headache at Musikfest, so if you can walk or take public transportation there, you might have an easier day. That said, you can park at two different satellite parking lots (one for each festival district) and take a paid shuttle to the festivities. The shuttle costs $10 for festivalgoers ages 13 and over and $8 for kids ages 3 to 12.
You can take free buses (LANTA Gold Line buses) between the two festival districts at “Shuttleplatz South” on the South Side and “Shuttleplatz North” on the North Side. It’s also possible to walk between the two festival districts—expect the route to take 20 to 30 minutes.
