BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Kassie Hilgert, president of ArtsQuest, the nonprofit that presents Bethlehem's Musikfest every year, says the cost of preparation for the festival each year tallies to the “high seven-figure[s].”
So with the celebration around the bend — it opens with a preview night Thursday — you’ve likely seen action around the city from volunteers, public works staff and third-party companies: tents going up, the ground being dug up for cables, signs being hung from bridges, lights coming on and more.
- People from multiple entities are teaming up to handle the work leading up to Musikfest
- ArtsQuest president and CEO said the 2023 event has required a "high seven-figure" investment
- Arranging for festival vendors and entertainment is a year-long process, the official says
Hilgert said putting on an event the caliber of Musikfest — which calls itself the largest free, ungated music festival in the United States — requires tons of support, and all the credit can’t go to ArtsQuest exclusively.
“This is a production put on by the city and the community. And you cannot underestimate that.”Kassie Hilgert, ArtsQuest president and CEO
“This is a production put on by the city and the community,” Hilgert said. “And you cannot underestimate that.”
A team effort
Among 1,200 volunteers working to set up and help with the logistics of the event — which this year stretches to 11 days with a preview night — hundreds of city first responders also will be at the ready, alongside county officials, Hilgert said.
“That is something that is spectacular and, I think, is unlike any other festival in the country,” she said.
“It is a year-long process that gets extraordinarily intense once the July 4th holiday passes."Kassie Hilgert, ArtsQuest president and CEO
Food vendors are arranged about eight months in advance, and meetings with first responders take place throughout the year, Hilgert said.
All that’s done to provide a smooth transition into the actual festival setup, which takes about two weeks, she said.
“It is a year-long process that gets extraordinarily intense once the July 4th holiday passes,” Hilgert said.
Already starting on the next fest
Even before this year’s Musikfest begins, ArtsQuest already has placed 20 offers for headlining acts to perform at next year’s event, she said.
The organization also acquired a new main stage a couple years ago.
“That was an upgrade main stage-wise for us, which those artists are looking for that infrastructure and behind-the-scenes stuff,” Hilgert said.
Familienplatz at the Colonial Industrial Quarter will feature rides again for children — no rides were available there last year because of supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic, Hilgert said.
From the city's standpoint
Bethlehem Public Works Director Michael Alkhal said this is his 25th year working a Musikfest event.
Alkhal said Musikfest officials typically handle hiring third-party help for pre-festival work. Musikfest also compensates the city with some of the required costs involved with the work of its staff, he said.
“During the fest, we do daily traffic setup and takedown in terms of street closures. When the fest ends around 10 or 11 o’clock, we sweep the streets, we flush the streets and assist with the general cleanup in preparation for getting ready for the next day.”Michael Alkhal, city public works director
He said the role of his department is pretty straightforward, and his staff and festival volunteers sometimes work together to get things done.
During the weeks leading up to the event, city staff touch up spots around the city by repairing roads, trimming trees and more.
“During the fest, we do daily traffic setup and takedown in terms of street closures,” Alkhal said. “When the fest ends around 10 or 11 o’clock, we sweep the streets, we flush the streets and assist with the general cleanup in preparation for getting ready for the next day.”
