An announcement about the 2020 edition of Musikfest is expected the week of June 7, according to ArtsQuest officials.

Meanwhile, the Levitt Pavilion concerts at SteelStacks on Bethlehem’s southside, are going virtual, at least to start the 10th annual season with “Levitt in Your Living Room,” Thursdays - Saturdays, which began May 28.

Musikfest, July 31 - Aug. 9, SteelStacks and downtown Bethlehem, is still on, as is the Great Allentown Fair, Sept. 1-7, as of the publication date for this article.

Musikfest and the Allentown Fair for 2020 would appear to be in doubt based on Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s May 27 Green Phase updated order that prohibits events of more than 250. According to the governor’s website:

“This includes, but is not limited to, a concert, fair, festival, conference, sporting event, movie showing, or theater performance.”

Musikfest typically draws an estimated 1 million during its 10-day run, including approximately an 8,500 Wind Creek Steel Stage concert capacity and hundreds and thousands to each of its many stages.

The Allentown Fair typically draws an estimated 500,000 during its seven-day run, including approximately a 10,000 Martin H. Ritter Grandstand concert capacity and hundreds and thousands to its stages and events.

Shinedown, the second headliner in addition to The National to cancel at the 2020 Musikfest, and the Kutztown Folk Festival join the parade of pandemic postponements and cancellations in the Lehigh Valley region that includes Pride Fest, Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival, both Allentown; Tunes at Twilight, Bethlehem, and the summer theater season at Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope.

ArtsQuest officials say they’re hopeful that as coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions are eased in the region, concerts can resume at the Levitt Pavilion following social distancing and health and safety guidelines put in place by the city and the state.

No date has been established for in-person concerts to resume for the 2020 season at Levitt Pavilion.

“We are in touch regularly with our local government and public health authorities to stay updated on our state and city’s mitigation efforts and, as this situation evolves, we will continue to keep everyone updated,” says Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks Executive Director Anne Sturm.

“We look forward to helping our community heal and celebrating our region’s resiliency when we are all able to get back together in person to enjoy great live music,” Sturm says.

“Right now, the number-one priority for everyone is the safety and well-being of our patrons, performers, volunteers and staff,” says Sturm.

Concerts at Levitt Pavilion are presented on a big grassy lawn, with hundreds, often, thousands, relaxing on chairs and blankets that they place in front of a modern stage with the backdrop of Bethlehem Steel Corp. blast furnaces and the Hoover-Mason Trestle 1,650-foot walkway.

Says Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez, “The Levitt Pavilion is a tremendous asset to the SteelStacks campus and to the City of Bethlehem. It brings people from all over the Lehigh Valley to enjoy all types of music. In many ways, it is Bethlehem’s Town Square.”

Artists scheduled to perform in the 2020 free outdoor concert series prior to coronavirus pandemic postponements included The Wailers, The Verve Pipe, The James Hunter Six, Ruthie Foster, Tinsley Ellis, Eileen Ivers and Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials.

Musikfest officials have announced free livestreams by The Slackers, Kat Wright and Yam Haus, as well as a glimpse of the virtual programming at the eight Levitt Pavilions in the United States, highlight the start of the 10th year of the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks.

The 2020 Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks Concert Series presented by Coordinated Health, will feature a virtual format that includes Thursday night livestreams by artists originally scheduled for the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage, web broadcasts of past Levitt Pavilion concerts Fridays courtesy of Service Electric Cable TV & Communications, and virtual content and livestreams Saturdays presented by the other Levitt Pavilions around the nation.

Here’s the virtual format announced May 26:

May 28, Victor Ruggiero of The Slackers

May 29, The Deltaz at Levitt SteelStacks in 2019

May 30, BoDeans at Levitt Shell Memphis

June 4, The Kat Wright Acoustic Trio

June 5, Empire Strikes Brass at Levitt SteelStacks in 2019

June 6, Jackie Venson at Levitt Shell Sioux Falls

June 11, American Dinosaur

June 12, Splintered Sunlight in Musikfest Café in 2016

June 13, Donna the Buffalo at Levitt Shell Memphis

June 18, Yam Haus

June 19, Sun Parade at Levitt SteelStacks in 2018

June 20, Hippo Campus at Levitt Pavilion Denver

“Levitt in Your Living Room” series schedule updates: www.levittsteelstacks.org/

The “Levitt in Your Living Room” series is funded by Coordinated Health, now part of Lehigh Valley Health Network, and the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation.

During each evening, donations will be accepted to support Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks, which has presented more than 525 free concerts to more than 585,000 since opening in July 2011.

Fans of Levitt Pavilion can help it prepare for when everyone can get back together in person by:

- Making a donation at donorbox.org/levitt

- Purchasing one of the special (100 only) Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks face coverings being made available

- Becoming a “Friend of Levitt” supporting member and enjoy exclusive online and in-person benefits

- Sponsoring a concert, virtually or live. Information: ArtsQuest Director of New Business Development Nicole Dotta, ndotta@artsquest.org; 610-332-1334

Sponsors funding Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks include: ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages, Aesthetic Surgery Associates, Christmas City Veterinary Hospital, Embassy Bank, Highmark Blue Shield, Joshua Tree, King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul LCC, Lindenmeyer Munroe, One Financial Services, PPL Corp. and Service Electric Cable TV & Communications.

Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks is part of a national network of outdoor Levitt music venues and concert sites. Each year, 600-plus free Levitt concerts are presented in 28 towns and cities. Information: Levitt Foundation, www.levitt.org.

Pandemic of cancellations

With pandemic predictability, the first headliner at Musikfest 2020 postponed its concert because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The July 31 Wind Creek Steel Stage concert of The National, scheduled to open the 37th annual Musikfest, is postponed, according to Musikfest and The National websites.

Pride Fest, Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival, both Allentown; Tunes at Twilight, Bethlehem; summer theater season, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, and Kutztown Folk Festival join what has become an ever-expanding list of arts and entertainment postponements and cancellations in the Lehigh Valley, including:

Mayfair, Cedar Crest College; Baum School of Art auction; concerts through June, Miller Symphony Hall; concerts through May, Godfrey Daniels; Northampton Community College Summer Theatre; 17th annual SouthSide Film Festival; 113th Bethlehem Bach Festival; 40th Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre, 29th Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, 18th Freddy Awards, and theater productions and film screenings, Civic Theatre of Allentown.

Pride Fest

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center announced May 13 the cancellation of the 27th annual Pride Fest, Aug. 16. Last year’s event attracted an estimated 5,000 to the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown. The 2020 fest is to be held as a virtual event on the same date.

Bucks Playhouse

Bucks County Playhouse, in a May 14 press release, announced: “In response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic and with the knowledge that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s reopening of Southeastern Pennsylvania is still pending, the historic Bucks County Playhouse has announced it will cancel its 2020 Summer Season.”

In making the announcement, Bucks Playhouse producers said a revised 2021 season will include “Auntie Mame,” “Kinky Boots,” “Dames at Sea” and “Evita.”

Blues, Brews

The Downtown Allentown Business Alliance announced cancellation of the 13th annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival June 14 in center city Allentown. The event attracts an estimated 25,000 to center city Allentown.

Tunes at Twilight

The Downtown Bethlehem Association canceled the Tunes at Twilight concert series, May 7 - June 24, Sun Inn Courtyard, Bethlehem. instead, Virtual Tunes at Twilight is being presented.

Kutztown Folk Fest

The 71st Kutztown Folk Festival was to have been held June 27-July 4.

According to the Kutztown Folk Festival website: “Although COVID-19 has impeded many of our annual festival traditions, it hasn’t stopped us from offering our annual Raffle Quilt, July 6, with advance tickets available.”

Musikfest headliners

The alternative rock band, The National, scheduled to perform Aug. 31 on the Wind Creek Steel Stage to open the 2020 Musikfest, stated May 14 on its website: “We are sad to announce that our 2020 summer tour dates are being postponed due to COVID-19. We are working hard to reschedule each of these dates for 2021. As soon as we have dates and details confirmed we will let you know.

“All tickets will be honored or refunded at that time. Please stay safe and we’ll see you next summer.”

The National, founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1999, received a Grammy award for Best Alternative Music Album for “Sleep Well Beast,” released in 2017. The rock band released its eighth studio album, “I Am Easy to Find,” in 2019.

Shinedown, scheduled to perform Aug. 4 on the Wind Creek Steel Stage, postponed three of seven concerts now listed on its website, including the Musikfest concert and concerts in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, July 31 and Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Aug. 1. There had been 29 concerts listed through Sept. 12. An Aug. 7 concert, Battery Park, Sioux City, Iowa, was previously canceled.

Shinedown, formed in Jacksonville, Fla., has released six studio albums, including “Attention, Attention,” released in 2018; has sold more than 10 million records worldwide, and has had the most No. 1 singles (16) on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.

On the Musikfest website, Shinedown states:

“We’re coming to you with news ...

“We’ve always been a ‘fans first’ band, but leaving you all in the dark is something we refuse to do.

“With the weight of everything happening in the world today, it has come to light that it’s impossible at this point to continue to move forward with shows this summer.

“Trust us, we’ve tried anything and everything to make these shows happen while always keeping the health and safety of our fans, crew, and local venue staff as our No. 1 priority.

“We will have to come back at a different time when it’s safe for all and we can’t wait to see you then!

“We love you, we miss you, and we have so much more coming for you this year while we sort out the ‘Concert World.’

“We are working hard to reschedule this show for 2021. As soon as we have a new date and details confirmed we will let you know. All tickets will be honored or refunded at that time.”

Wind Creek Steel Stage headliners still scheduled include: Rob Zombie, Aug. 2; Willie Nelson and Family, Aug. 5; Kelsea Ballerini, Aug. 6; Poison, Aug. 7, and Darius Rucker, Aug. 8.

According to the Musikfest website, Wind Creek Steel Stage headliners are not listed for Aug. 1, Aug. 3 and Aug. 9.

Zombie’s concert at the “Riff Fest,” July 18, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, is canceled “as a precautionary measure and for the health and safety of our community, patrons, partners and staff,” according to a May 8 post on Zombie’s website.

Zombie’s website states:

“The Zombieheads: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, please keep it locked to robzombie.com and click here to follow the tour news category for any updates regarding changes to dates, postponements or cancellations of forthcoming scheduled tour dates. Stay safe!”

Zombie’s tour lists two concerts: “Rock USA 2022,” July 17, Oshkosh, Wisc., and Aug. 2, Musikfest.

Willie Nelson and Family’s tour includes 18 concerts, with several concerts postponed, including April 22, Birmingham, Ala.; April 26, New Buffalo, Mich.; April 28, Nashville, Ind., and April 29, Milwaukee, Wisc.

Concerts listed July 30 - April 24, 2021, include Aug. 5, Musikfest, with Sept. 4 - April 24, 2021, dates rescheduled from earlier dates.

Kelsea Ballerini’s tour June 6 - Oct. 4 lists nine concerts, including Aug. 6, Musikfest.

Poison’s tour June 18 - Sept, 5 lists 37 concerts, including Aug. 7, Muskifest.

Darius Rucker’s tour June 11 - Aug. 15 lists eight concerts, including Aug. 8, Musikfest.

Discover Lehigh Valley, the tourism web site, describes Musikfest as one of the largest music festivals in the United States, with 500-plus concerts on 16 stages, and more than 900,000 attending the music, food and beer extravaganza.

Allentown Fair

The Great Allentown Fair, Sept. 1-7, has three Martin H. Ritter Grandstand concerts listed on its website: Toby Keith, Sept. 3; Carrie Underwood, Sept. 4, and 5 Seconds of Summer, Sept. 6. Grandstand concerts are not listed Sept. 1, 2 and 5.

Toby Keith’s tour June 6 - July 24, 2021, lists 26 concerts, including, Sept. 3, Allentown Fair, according to his website. Keith has been doing “The Furniture Guitar Sessions” online.

Underwood’s tour July 23 - July 23, 2021, lists six concerts, including Sept. 4, Allentown Fair.

5 Seconds of Summer tour Aug. 12 - May 8, 2021, lists 50 concerts, including Sept. 6, Allentown Fair.

Paul Willistein is editor of the Focus features section in the eight Lehigh Valley Press newspapers and on the eight Lehigh Valley Press websites. Email Paul Willistein: pwillistein@tnonline.com; friend Paul Willistein on facebook and follow Paul Willistein on Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram.