BETHLEHEM, Pa. - PeepsFest, the Peeps-themed New Year’s celebration at SteelStacks, seems to be the hottest ticket of the season — all 2,500 tickets have been sold a day before the event.
ArtsQuest and Just Born Quality Confections, the Bethlehem-based company that makes Peeps, will host the 14th annual PeepsFest on Friday and Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. on the SteelStacks campus.
- The annual family-friendly New Year's event is sold out
- There isn’t a waitlist for tickets, but there will be a livestream of the Peeps Chick Drop
- A 400-pound Peep will descend for the countdown to the New Year at 5:35 p.m. Friday and Saturday
ArtsQuest Director of Communications Shannon Keith said she was “beyond excited” that PeepsFest was a sellout.
“It’s a testament to just how wonderful and highly regarded this family-friendly event is for Bethlehem and the entire Lehigh Valley region,” Keith said.
“It’s a testament to just how wonderful and highly regarded this family-friendly event is for Bethlehem and the entire Lehigh Valley region."Shannon Keith, ArtsQuest director of communications
The family-friendly outdoor event celebrates the coming new year with candy, performances, games and the Peeps Chick Drop, in which a 400-pound Peep will descend for the countdown to the new year at 5:35 p.m. each night.
While the event has been around for several years, this is only the second year it has required ticket purchases for admission.
Keith said there will not be a waitlist for tickets, but the Peeps Chick Drop will be livestreamed on the SteelStacks and Just Born Facebook accounts. She said it happens early in the evening to make it more kid-friendly than a typical New Year’s Eve celebration.
“It’s pretty amazing to see. Where else do they drop a 400-pound Peep chick?” Keith said. “It really does pay homage to Just Born and their special connection to Bethlehem.”
Right before the Peeps Chick Drop, Just Born will show a video that will give a “sneak peep” of its new Easter Peeps flavors, according to Just Born Corporate Affairs Specialist Courtney Angle. Angle said the “sneak peep” is in honor of Just Born Quality Confections’ 100th anniversary.
Angle said this year’s event has a record number of community vendors, a huge inflatable Peeps Bunny that attendees can take pictures with, and on Friday, an ArtsSkills mural that people can color in.
Other activities include a PeepsFest Scavenger Hunt, the Leaning Tower of Peeps, cornhole, Jenga and crafts by local groups. The event will also feature performances by Lolly Hopwood, DJ Wesley Works and Eddy Ray Magic.
Organizers said the only authentic ticket sales were on the ArtsQuest website and recently warned the public about fraudulent tickets on the website Eventbrite.
Keith said that issue has been addressed. ArtsQuest said in a statement that everyone who purchased unauthorized tickets received a full refund.
