Musikfest sets attendance record in 40th year

Musikfest says it set an attendance record in its 40th year.

The annual 10-day music festival in Bethlehem had 1.33 million guests, the festival announced Tuesday. Last year, the festival reached a record of 1.24 million guests, beating its previous record 1.23 million.

Visitors this year came from nearly all 50 states — as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia — and 10 other countries, according to a news release. The 10 countries were Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Senegal, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Kassie Hilgert, president and CEO of ArtsQuest, credited the 40th anniversary, which included unique attractions honoring the milestone, as part of the reason the attendance was so high this year. She also said this year it did not seem as though COVID-19 was much of a factor.

Hilgert said she sees the world as divided right now, and something like Musikfest put people in a good mood.

“That I think is the beauty of the arts, it can bring us together versus divide us,” she said.

It also helped this year that the weather held up for the most part. There were only two small weather delays throughout the festival. Still, even when there was light rain, people came out, Hilgert said.

She also noted that Stadtplatz, near Bethlehem City Hall, was open for its second year. Hilgert believed more people knew about it this year than last.

She credited the city, police department, volunteers and all the other entities that made the event possible this year. Hilgert said they worked together like the interworkings of a clock.

“That was spectacularly displayed this year,” she said.

Musikfest kicked off Aug. 3 and ended Sunday.