BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The country’s largest free, ungated music festival is underway and there seems to be something there for everyone to enjoy.
And to help make sure everyone is able to enjoy it, Musikfest for the third year again will offer inclusion zones for people of all abilities to utilize.
- Inclusion zones are set up at Musikfest to help people of all abilities enjoy the fun in Bethlehem
- The areas on both the north and south side of the event
- Offer sensory-supportive ways for adults and children to take a break from the action
"Our mission is to increase access to the arts for all,” said Kassie Hilgert, chief executive officer of ArtQuest, the non-profit that runs Musikfest.
Hilgert said her organization partners with another non-profit called Accessible Festivals to make the inclusion zones happen.
“What they do is they help create a space of recreation and access for all abilities, comfortable seating options, weighted lap pads, more mat, sensory toys, silent sound system, headphones, a whole bunch of activities there,” she said.
“We want families to be all included in the arts and we want families to experience music best just as we in the Lehigh Valley can experience it and having these areas can assist those that have different needs or whether sensory or they just needed a break of the day.”Amanda Kleckner, Administrative Director of Pediatrics for Good Shepherd
An inclusion zone first was introduced to Musikfest in 2021 on the north side of the festival. A second space was added last year on the south side.
Opening festival to everyone
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network sponsors the spaces for people who may need sensory support.
“We want families to be all included in the arts and we want families to experience music best just as we in the Lehigh Valley can experience it and having these areas can assist those that have different needs or whether sensory or they just needed a break of the day,” said Amanda Kleckner, Administrative Director of Pediatrics for Good Shepherd.
“What we love about this, of course, is opening up the festival to everyone."ArtsQuest Chief Executive Officer Kassie Hilgert
Kleckner said the zones offer adults and children with additional needs a break or some free therapeutic interventions like a weighted blanket or noise-canceling headphones.
“This allows families who weren't previously able to be included in a community event to be included, which is so important not only for the families and their recreation and just leisure, but for the patients are the kids and adults that need these additional supports to have a good time,” she said.
The north side inclusion zone will be open from noon to 8 p.m. daily, and the south side from noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Hilgert said it's just one way her team hopes to increase access to the 10-day festival.
“What we love about this, of course, is opening up the festival to everyone," she said.
In addition, Hilgert said, the festival has added more wheelchair covers throughout the festival grounds, "because it can be difficult if you're in a wheelchair to get around all the cables that are needed at a festival.
"So we've been able to get some grants over the last year to expand the number of cable ramp covers that we have throughout the festival."
To learn more about the inclusion zones visit the Musikfest website.
