Musikfest's biggest fans: Longtime volunteers are ushering in a new wave of interns, site leaders

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Call it a family affair.

Musikfest volunteers are drawn to the 11-day spectacle not only for the music and food, but also for the camaraderie.

• Musikfest's longtime volunteers share what keeps them coming back
• The 11-day spectacle boasts an estimated 900 volunteers working in 2023
• In the early days, many of them were retirees from Bethlehem Steel plant

Role models

Isabelle Morales, 17, took a break on Main Street as she shadowed two site leaders while interning at Musikfest.

The Freedom High senior, who plans on attending Moore College of Art & Design next fall, has been volunteering for the past three years for school credit.

"It's nice to come back every year and see the same faces. I know a lot of volunteers that are older and because I don't have any family, it's nice to have people fill that role," she said.

This year, an estimated 900 volunteers are working for free, performing jobs such as scanning concert tickets, pouring beer, emptying garbage cans and welcoming guests.

A dozen of them, now seniors, have been there since its start — 40 years ago.

In June, they were honored by ArtsQuest for their continued support and dedication.

They are mentors to their younger counterparts, often sharing with them heartfelt stories and rich memories of what it was like in the beginning.

Keeping the legacy alive

Since its inception, Musikfest has always been a volunteer effort.

The free workers were coined "FOJs" or friends of Jeff Parks, the founder of Musikfest.

"I was a FOFOJ, friend of a friend of Jeff," longtime Bethlehem resident Paul Fistner said.

He heard about the event from his neighbor at the time, Jim Stocklas, who helped Parks organize the first-ever free 10-day spread in 1984.

"Because there was no volunteer base to draw they just recruited friends, family, neighbors anyone that they could get their hands on," Fistner said. "In the old days, we were as organized as a church picnic. We knew what we wanted to do, but logistically we had no idea how to accomplish it."

With decades of experience, Fistner trains volunteers to work as site leaders and is a member of three year-round committees that help plan Musikfest.

"As part of the food committee, I get to pick and place where the food vendors are," Fistner said. "Knowing that I placed that food vendor, that I have a small piece in making that happen, as corny as it sounds with volunteering, I am getting so much more than I give."

Steel workers, retirees

Things looked quite different at the Stacks back in the 80s and 90s, according to Fistner.

A former human resources manager, he was one of the last 10 employees to work at Bethlehem Steel before it closed in 1995.

During the plant's latter years, he was hired by the government's Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to ensure workers received fair packages.

A lot of those same workers lent a hand helping Parks and company build Musikfest from the ground up.

"It was the silver lining to a terrible situation. There were so many people who were just put on pension, that were young and capable and had so much to give. They needed something do to," Fistner said.

There was also a handful of retirees known around town as the "Grey Team."

Led by Erv Nothstein, the men met once a week to build stages, chairs, sound booths and other much-needed constructible equipment.

"Erv gave his have his heart and soul to the Grey Team all through the 80s and 90s," Fistner said.

"It's really sad. When he passed away, I told the people at ArtsQuest and only the old-timers knew who he was."

Getting their hands dirty

"The one big memory I have was doing set up with [Jeff] Parks and Tom Kwiatek, one of the heads," longtime volunteer Bill Watson said.

"They got their hands dirty, helping building tables. It was neat that they worked with us down in the trenches, as they say."

An avid country and classic rock fan, he'll return for his 40th year in hopes of catching a future star in the making.

"It's amazing the big name people that started on the free stages," Watson said. "I saw the Dixie Chicks before they became famous, Carrie Underwood after she won 'American Idol.'"

Among his favorite headliners: Willie Nelson in 2022 and Alice Cooper in 2004.

This year, Watson is ushering and working with the eco-squad at the SteelStage.

"As a longtime volunteer, I get to choose where I want to work, so I am going to the three country concerts, Dan + Shay, Walker Hayes and Maren Morris."

"One year John Cougar Mellencamp walked in with his son after performing, I didn't get to see him but that was still pretty cool," Watson said.

Similarly, Fistner remembers the greats that took center stage.

"I met Martina McBride in the green room in 2010, saw Ray Charles perform in 1987. That day we had to close the Fahey Bridge on one side because so many people came to see him. They were watching it from the bridge. It was legendary."

Fostering friendships

In between shifts, Watson plans to check in on his daughter and son, who both work in the health industry and will assist at Musikfest's medical tents.

"My daughters volunteered in high school and now one of them is coming back," he said. "I always encourage people to volunteer. It's a great way to meet people and make friends."

Fistner has become close with his Musikfest chums and often will vacation with some of the FOJs.

"What keeps me coming back is my friends, number one. It's like a family reunion every year," he said.

"People keep asking me how long I'm going to do it — as long as it fun. When it stops being fun, I'll stop doing it."