BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A city saved by music is how Frank DellaPenna describes Musikfest.
"Bethlehem was a dying city once Bethlehem Steel closed, and Jeff Parks decided years ago that he would create this music festival of local musicians and try to make people feel good," DellaPenna said.
"It brings in more people than any other industry, and for me, to be there all those years, it feels like I'm part of that success."
You may not recognize DellaPenna, the performer behind Cast in Bronze, out of his black costume and gold mask.
But you'll likely stop to listen to the haunting, ethereal bells coming from his carillon — a 600-year-old instrument originally housed in churches.
And yes, it’s him, not someone else, behind the mask these days, as some fans have speculated.
“It’s me,” DellaPenna said.
As iconic as DellaPenna's act is at Musikfest, it's not the only tradition that keeps coming back.
It's just one of many familiar sights and experiences that help draw people back annually to the massive annual Bethlehem music festival, now in its 42nd year, which continues through Sunday, Aug. 10.
Here are some festival favorites, or staples, you'll encounter each year:
An anniversary act
DellaPenna's show ran at Musikfest for 16 years, from 1998 to 2014, when ArtsQuest switched its programming.
“I’ve played Disney, Renaissance festivals, and cities all over the country," he said. "Eventually, every place needs something new. It’s just part of the job. You pack up and keep moving."
But then, for Musikfest’s 40th anniversary in 2023, ArtsQuest, the nonprofit organization that presents Musikfest, called him back.
It wanted to bring back some of the “vintage acts,” and DellaPenna said he returned to much fanfare.
"I hadn’t played there in 10 years," he said. "I figured no one would remember me. But all those kids I played for? They were adults now. And they had brought their kids to see me.”
DellaPenna rarely speaks during his shows and wears his mask and costume, even while walking around the festival grounds.
He said the anonymity is intentional.
“The act was never about me," he said. "It was always about the music. That’s why I’ve always worn a costume."
One year, he said, someone poked fun at his get-up until they heard the music coming from the carillon, an instrument made up of 35 bronze bells and weighing more than 4 tons, which DellaPenna says is "rare and mesmerizing."
“What I do is play a musical instrument that’s 600 years old," he said. "Most people don’t even know it exists.
“And I happen to own one of the few in the country that can be moved from place to place.”
DellaPenna used to perform for all 10 days of Musikfest.
"I did five shows a day," he said. "That’s 50 performances in one week, it’s grueling. But I'm over 70 now, so now I only play the weekends — Friday through Sunday."
Cast in Bronze will perform at 5, 6, 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. today, Aug. 8; Saturday, Aug. 9; and Sunday, Aug. 10 at Handwerkplatz
To learn more, visit Cast in Bronze's Facebook.
Hay there!
If you've been on the Musifkest grounds, you've probably spotted the horses and officers who help keep the streets safe.
The equines, who have been around since 2009, aren’t just tools of enforcement — they’re city ambassadors.
Part of Bethlehem Police Department, the mounted police division is a fan favorite because of the horses' beauty, size and community pride.
While it's not wise to walk up to the horses unannounced, the police officers are more than happy to let you take a photo or approach them while they are on a break.
The horses of Bethlehem’s Mounted Unit — Asa, Grey, Casper, Seamus, Star of Bethlehem and Mason — live at the Quadrant Private Wealth Stable not far off Linden Street.
It's a $500,000 facility built through community donations and kept running by the nonprofit Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police.
The horses work full-time for the city, but during the 10-day Musikfest (11 days this year, with Preview Night), they team up with other units to help with high-traffic stretches on the main streets and at basin areas.
The horse-mounted officers can see elevated viewpoints and alert other officersof trouble.
This year, Bethlehem's mounted unit is joined by officers and their horses from the Pennsylvania State Police mounted patrol.
Food for a good cause, German sausages
For foodies, new food trucks appear (there are eight in 2025) at Musikfest each year.
But if you want to try the festival's longest-running food vendors, consider the pinchos from Hogar Crea.
Hogar Crea, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people recover from addiction, has sold its kabobs, or pinchos, at Musikfest since the 1980s.
The food stand, at Handerwerkplatz, offers a menu of Puerto Rican comfort food — think grilled pork and meat skewers, arroz con gandules, and fried plantains, all for a good cause.
Of course, a meal at the festival would not be complete without a stop at the culinary institutions, Karl Ehmer’s Quality Meat, renowned for its bratwurst, krainerwurst and hearty German-inspired dishes, and the flaky desserts from Heidi's Strudel.
Stationed in Festplatz, the smell of Karl Ehmer's sausages draws attendees who often stop at Heidi's for traditional Austrian-style apple and cherry strudel and other fruit-filled pastries (also at Festplatz).
The sweet treats may be messy to eat, but the bites are worth it, trust us.
Polka parties
The Festplatz tent, as in years past, is the headquarters for polka.
Polka bands such as the Dave Betz Band, Fritz's Polka Band, Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra, Polkadelphia and Robbie Lawrence and the Steelworkers Polka Band perform a range of styles — from Polish to Slovenian polka to more modern versions.
The bands don't just play instruments; they joke, cheer and often pull the audience on stage to dance a waltz or two.
The polka performances are scheduled this weekend starting at noon through Sunday, Aug. 10.
Musikfest mugs
How many festival mugs have you collected?
Festival-goers traditionally have collected the 24-ounce refillable insulated mugs (with fitted lids) since the original small cup and pitcher debuted in 1984.
The mugs are able to be refilled at discounted prices at some vendors.
If you look closely while walking around the festival, you'll notice people holding mugs with an array of designs and colors.
The designs change each year (this year's is by ArtsQuest's teaching artist Mallory Zondagand weaves together the SteelStacks blast furnaces with buildings on the North and South sides).
Versions of refillable mugs also are sold with built-in lights, perfect for raising a glass after the sun goes down.
Volunteers
Yes, some people get paid to work at the festival, but it wouldn't run without the thousands of volunteers who donate their time each year.
From managing recycling stations to selling tickets, the volunteers are vital to the festival's success, ArtsQuest said.
Also, no matter the musician closing out the last night of Musikfest (this year's closing night headliner is The Black Keys), the show always ends with a bang, er, quite a few bangs.
Scheduled for 10 p.m., the city skyline comes alive with fireworks, marking the end of this year's event — America's largest ungated music festival.
Tip: The best place to see the fireworks display is near the Levitt Pavilion stage or outside the SteelStage area.
