Songs and safety: here's a few things to know to stay safe and healthy at Musikfest

BETHEHEM, Pa. — Musikfest, the nation’s largest free, ungated music festival, will take over the streets of Bethlehem next week, and while concert goers will be thinking about the songs, organizers said they'll be thinking about safety.

• More than 1 million people are expected to attend Musikfest this year
• Health and safety protocols are in place on Bethlehem's north and south sides
• Things as diverse as cooling misters and medical tents will be on site

About a million people are expected to flock to the Lehigh Valley for Musikfest, scheduled for Aug. 3-13, and with such a large influx of people expected, ArtsQuest has health and safety protocols in place.

Kassie Hilgert, president of ArtsQuest, the non-profit that presents Musikfest, said that for more than 20 years it has partnered with Lehigh Valley Health Network, who once again will have medical tents set up on both the north Bethlehem and South Side of the event.

"If you're feeling any kind of heat distress, you've got a small cut, a blister, you've got a problem or you need a consultation that is going to be on both the north and the south side of the festival,” Hilgert said.

"Whether it's walking around a lot and you got a new pair of sneakers and you got a blister, anything from that to small cuts to feeling some heat exhaustion, lightheaded, someone may get stung by a bee and may need an EpiPen," she said.

"So having the Lehigh Valley Health Network tents and professional nurses on site is invaluable to us."

People can cool off at misters that will be accessible throughout the event and hand sanitizer also will be available to attendees.

The festival also will have uniformed police officers, ambulances and medical personnel from the county on site, Hilgert said.

She said Musikfest also will monitor the weather and air quality throughout the event and post any delays on the Musikfest app.