The year was 1984. The real 1984, not the namesake of the George Orwell novel. Bruce Springsteen released “Born in the U.S.A.” “Ghostbusters” hit box-office gold as the year’s number one movie. The 3.5-inch floppy diskette was introduced, later becoming the industry standard. Motorola released the first hand-held cell phone with a whopping price tag of $3,995.

Something special was happening that year in Bethlehem, something unique and brand new: The year marked the maiden flight of Musikfest, the nation’s largest non-gated free music festival, and its popularity has only soared over the years.

As the fest marks its 40th anniversary in 2023, it also celebrates the dozen 40-year volunteers who have been there to see it all, from the birth of Musikfest to the present.

Musikfest officials feted the original volunteers with cake and champagne June 5, almost two months before the launch of the 40th edition of Musikfest, which will run Thursday, Aug. 3, through Sunday, Aug. 13.

The original volunteers are Karen Bader, Eve Campbell, Kim Edwards, Patricia Fielding, Paul Fistner, Patricia Holetz, Alice Schmidli, Mary Lou Straka, Norbert Szymanski, Bill Watson, Judy Yuhas and Bonnie Zsilavec.

“Musikfest 2023 isn’t here without the 12 volunteers who were here in 1984,” said Volunteer Program Manager Cory Stevens.

“We’re family,” Yuhas said in describing the volunteer experience. Edwards and Fistner agreed as the three festing vets gathered June 28 to chat about four decades of volunteering at the Visitor Center at SteelStacks.

The conversation was animated, punctuated by frequent laughter and genuine friendship.

“My biggest thrill in 40 years was meeting Aaron Neville,” Yuhas, whose positions have included stage manager and Musikfest Café greeter, said. She was taking care of the Green Room when they met. Yuhas was nervous but Neville was very nice. “I talked to him and the whole family and had my picture taken with all of them.”

Yuhas fondly recalled spending the day with Roseanne Cash, and meeting the Everly Brothers, Roberta Flack and a German band that came each year.

It all began for Yuhas when a friend called about volunteering at this “new thing” called Musikfest. Yuhas was game, thinking she could do community service and get a free T-shirt. “I’m still here 40 years later.”

“I was selling souvenirs the first year alone at a table with a money box,” Yuhas said with a laugh. She volunteered at the Hospitality Center in Moravian University’s cafeteria before that shut down, and is now stage manager at the Musikfest Café.

“I’m happy to be able to still do this,” Yuhas said. “My goal is to be here for the 50th - I’ll be 91!”

All three agreed the best friends are the people they’ve met at Musikfest. Yuhas noted she reconnected with a woman she’s known since she was 13, and through their volunteering they have become the best of friends once again.

Forty years ago, Edwards was manager of the Bethlehem Plaza branch of the former First National Bank of Allentown. Musikfest needed a bank to help coordinate deposits, and First National became the first bank to be a principal sponsor of the fest.

“That first year we felt our way through how to do this,” Edwards said. His positions have included Green Team Supervisor and Cash Conversion/Information.

Edwards’ volunteering has focused on counting deposits. Musikfest switched to cash conversion after the COVID-19 pandemic, and he still counts deposits in the cash conversion system. He also answers questions from festers, noting, “We’re all tour guides in a sense.”

Edwards really values the friendships he’s made over the past 40 years. “I’ve met many interesting people.”

He was quick to spotlight The Dukes of September as “the best concert” he’s seen at Musikfest. The Dukes of September was a supergroup formed in 2010 featuring Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers and Boz Scaggs. Edwards also especially liked Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Moody Blues and Tom Chapin.

“My wife and I went to concerts at the old bandshell at Kuntzplatz,” Edwards said, referring to the former platz on Moravian University’s South Campus. “We’d go early and set up our lawn chairs, then go back later to our spot.”

“No one knew what this new Musikfest thing was going to be,” Fistner recalled. “I recruited family and neighbors to come down and tap beer. I was tapping beer from a converted picnic cooler under Festplatz.”

Fistner was Festplatz Supervisor from 1984-1988, then site supervisor of Volksplatz from 1989-2019. When Volksplatz shut down because of flooding, Fistner became a floating supervisor.

“The great thing is we are here 40 years later and started with a polka tent and a beer trailer,” Fistner said. “Thank God for giving me the wherewithal to do what I do.”

Fistner said the best thing about volunteering has stayed the same for 40 years - the people - and his fellow volunteers heartily agreed.

Watson wasn’t able to join his fellow volunteers June 28 at the Visitor Center at SteelStacks, but shared some thoughts via email. “Some of my memories at Musikfest are doing set up with Jeff Parks, all of the great concerts and working with great volunteers,” Watson said, referencing Parks, Musikfest’s founder.

“It’s still fun. I’ll quit when it stops being fun,” Fistner said.

That’s not likely to happen anytime soon for any of these dedicated volunteers.

Stevens said many vlunteers take vacation time to volunteer and noted Patricia Holetz - “The Chicken Lady” - now lives in Florida but returns each year.

“We take over 1,000 volunteers a year, and most are here for the whole fest,” Stevens said. “It’s fun, they make friends that last a lifetime, and have the chance to be part of Bethlehem history and the region’s history as a whole.”

Volunteers are required to work three shifts, and Stevens said it’s appropriate for retired folks who have a lot of time, high school students who can earn community service hours, young professionals who can meet people in the area and everyone in between.

Stevens said there are many different positions, something for everyone. “Many volunteers have been here for many years,” he said, adding volunteers who have been there 10 years, 20 years and every five years after that are honored with a pin.

Abigail Wolf is in her first year as public relations coordinator, and is enthusiastic about the upcoming fest. “I’m very excited to be here and meet and work with the volunteers.”

The 11-day festival features over 500 free performances across 16 stages located throughout the City of Bethlehem. The festival has brought in such as artists as The Beach Boys, Selena Gomez, Earth, Wind and Fire and The Dixie Chicks, and more.

To sign up as a volunteer for this year’s fest visit fest.formstack.com/forms/musikfest_2023_volunteer_application or call Stevens at 610-332-1370.