The 38th Musikfest is back in-person for 2021, Aug. 6-15, in downtown and southside Bethlehem.

Musikfest went virtually virtual for 2020 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown.

Musikfest officials state that “For the safety of all artists, community members, guests and vendors, ArtsQuest will continue to follow the latest CDC, state and city health department standards.”

Headliners on the Wind Creek Steel Stage, which is a ticketed venue, and hundreds of free performers on stages, plus food vendors, are back.

One year ago, ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert wasn’t so sure that Musikfest would be back for 2021.

“This time last year, doors to arts and culture venues throughout the world were closing, some of them for good,” said Hilgert in a press release.

“We had no idea where we would be a year from then, but we knew for certain that nonprofit organizations like ours, especially in the arts world, were going to be one of the hardest hit.

“After all we’ve gone through together as a community, we are so proud to be partnering with the city of Bethlehem, and all our wonderful volunteers, sponsors and supporters, to put on the Musikfest we all know and love, once again,” Hilbert said.

The Aug. 5 preview concert on the Wind Creek Steel Stage featured Darius Rucker. Tickets for the originally-scheduled 2020 concert were honored.

Wind Creek Steel Stage headliners include: Phillip Phillips, Aug. 6; Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Aug. 7; Sam Hunt, Aug. 8; Shinedown, Aug. 9 (previously-purchased tickets honored), Jimmie Allen, Aug. 10; Colin Hay Band, Aug. 11; Hectoer Tricoche, Aug. 12; Zedd, Aug. 13; The Wood Brothers, Aug. 14, and Black Violin, Aug. 15.

The fireworks display will be held between 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Aug. 15.

Headliners from Musikfest 2020 rescheduled to 2022 are Willie Nelson, Poison and Kelsea Ballerini, with concert dates to be announced. Rob Zombie, who was also to perform in 2020, is to be scheduled.

There are more than 300 free performances at Musikfest 2021, including Igor and the Red Elvises, Jimmy and the Parrots, Philadelphia Funk Authority, The Sofa Kings, Seth Witcher, Sunny War and We Banjo 3.

Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez reassured Musikfest patrons.

“We are working in partnership with ArtsQuest and our community public health and safety partners to put on the safest festival possible in order to support small business, tourism and economic development,” Donchez said in the press release.

“For more than three decades, Musikfest has brought millions of people to Bethlehem. Now, more than ever, it is important to support ArtsQuest including the performers, artists, vendors and small businesses in any capacity possible” said Donchez.

“Musikfest is not only the dose of normalcy we all so desperately need right now, but it’s also a ray of hope for the local businesses, artists and economy it supports,” Hilgert said.

“While this festival attracts millions of tourists to Bethlehem every year, it also creates lifelong memories. We are so eager to bring back this beloved cultural celebration to our community,” said Hilgert.

As a nonprofit arts and cultural organization that offers 50 percent of its programs annually for free, ArtsQuest was hit hard by COVID-19 related shutdowns.

In a typical year, ArtsQuest presents more than 4,000 in-person programs and events for the community, including 800 free concerts year-round.

In March 2020, ArtsQuest went from planning a busy summer schedule, to not being able to offer any programming, losing 90 percent of its revenue stream.

Musikfest for 2021 is again held in Bethlehem’s Historic Moravian District and SouthSide Arts District.

Historic Moravian District hours are 5 - 11 p.m. Aug. 6 and noon - 11 p.m. Aug. 7 - 15 for the venues IBEW Local 375 Liederplatz, Provident Bank Main Street, Hotel Bethlehem Platz, Martin Guitar Handwerkplatz, Zinzenplatz, T-Mobile Plaza Tropical, Wells Fargo Festplatz,Yuengling Lagerplatz and NJM Insurance Familienplatz.

SteelStacks in the SouthSide Arts District hours: are 4 - 11 p.m. weekdays, 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. Fridays, noon - 1 a.m. Saturdays and noon - 11 p.m. Sundays for the venues PNC Series at Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling, Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square, Air Products Americaplatz at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks presented by Coordinated Health, now part of Lehigh Valley Health Network, and the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza

Information: https://www.musikfest.org/lineup/venues/; 610-332-1300