Musikfest is 40-years-old.

Say “Happy Birthday,” have a piece of cake, blow out the candles and “Ring Them Bells.”

“Ring Them Bells?”

Yes.

Although the traditional anniversary stone for a 40th anniversary is the ruby, for Musikfest, a case could made that it should be an alloy, say, bronze.

After all, what better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Musikfest than with the return of Cast in Bronze, with several free performances at Martin Guitar Handwerkplatz?

As Musikfest approaches the years known as middle age in humans, the music festival shows no signs of slowing down.

Musikfest, Aug. 4-13, downtown Bethlehem and southside Bethlehem, is said to be the largest free music festival in the United States.

At Musikfest 2023, there are 10 days, plus “Preview Night,” Aug. 3, of approximately 500 concerts in nearly every music genre imaginable on 16 stages along Bethlehem’s streets, in its historic district and at SteelStacks.

Musikfest concert headliners perform on the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza, for which tickets are sold.

The Wind Creek Steel Stage lineup is: AJR, Aug. 3; Walk the Moon, Aug. 4; G-Eazy; Dan + Shay, Aug. 6; Walker Hayes, Aug. 7; Keith Sweat & Monica, Aug. 8; Goo Goo Dolls, Aug. 9; Gabriel Iglesias, Aug. 10; El Gran Combo, Aug. 11; Maren Morris, Aug. 12, and Train, Aug. 13.

According to officials at ArtsQuest, the nonprofit which presents Musikfest, there are also 49 food vendors, children and family activities, and artists and craftspersons. Fireworks are on closing night, Aug. 13.

Opening ceremonies at Musikfest are at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 4, Wells Fargo Festplatz, Main and Spring streets, north side, Bethlehem. The Marcincin Awards will be presented, recognizing business supporters. The 2023 honorees are Molly’s Irish Grille and Sports Pub, BSI Corporate Benefits and SEN (Service Electric Network). The National Anthem will be sung by Alana Mars.

As is Musikfest tradition, the stages are dubbed platzes in homage to the German heritage in Bethlehem. An annual Musikfest mug can be purchased.

To plan your Musikfest visit, you can pick up one of the free programs.

You can also go online to the Musikfest website. There are tabs for Tickets, Lineup, Musik-Festivities, Info, Merch (Merchandise) and Support.

Under the “Lineup” tab, click on “Musical Genres” and then click on genres to find out where and who is playing: Alternative, Blues, Children’s-Family, Classical, Country, Folk, Funk, Indie, Jazz, Latin, Oldies, Polka, Pop, R&B-Soul, Rap-Hip Hop, Rock, World.

Another way to navigate Musikfest is to click on “Daily Schedules,” scroll each day and click on tabs for North Side and South Side. Under the “Lineup” banner on the Musikfest website, there’s also “Artists A-Z.”

You can also click on “Free,” which lists the some 500 free performances, including those for Preview Night, Aug. 3. Click on each day, which lists the performers and events.

Another way to “platz” your Musikfest visit is to click on “Historic Bethlehem Musikfest Activities.” Those listed include: “Kids” Activities at the Springhouse,” “Luckenbach Mill First Floor,” ”Lehigh Art Alliance Exhibition,” “Blacksmith,” “Visitor Center” and ”1810 Goundie House Market,” which are free. Other activities that are listed require tickets.

Musikfest provides an “Inclusion Zone,” in partnership with Accessible Festivals and presented by Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. The Inclusion Zone is a sensory supportive space for persons with sensory processing difficulties. For details, click on “Inclusion Zone” on the Musikfest website.

Musikfest offers “Interactive Displays,” which is a page on the website.

“Comedy Shows” is another page on the website. ComedyPlatz is in the Charles A. Brown Ice House on Sand Island. There’s a “Standup Showcase” of comedians from the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and New York. Also listed are “SouthSide Comedy Shows.”

Musikfest has “Themed Musical Performances.” On that page on the Musikfest website, listed are performances by area high school students and groups; community organizations, including Community Music School, as well as “70s Day” “Irish Pub Night,” “Beach Day,” “British Invasion Day” and “Godfrey Daniels Day.”

The Musikfest website lists a page for “Art Activities.” These include the Crayola Creativity Tent, Storytime with the Bethlehem Area Public Library, ArtsQuest Glass Studio Tent and Rides and Games.

There are “Backstage Experiences” available at Musikfest. See the page, “Party Like a Rockstar with Musikfest Backstage Experiences.”

Also at Musikfest are “Spectacles & Street Performers.” Information on this page is available for performances by Whirled Dreams, Sarah “Chillidawg” DeRemer, Lehigh Valley fire performance artist; Big Easy Easton Brass Band; The Flaming Ginger, a fire act; Orbital Drumline, a Bethlehem ensemble of former Liberty High School drummers; Sam Malcolm, a comedian with circus skills; Tony Tony, a magician, and the return of Cast in Bronze, a 35-bell transportable carillon created in 1991 by Frank DellaPenna, of St. Peters. Chester County, who has performed for Pope John Paul II, at Walt Disney World, on national television and at music and renaissance festivals throughout the United States.

The return of Cast in Bronze is a great way to ring in the 40th anniversary of Musikfest.

“Ring Them Bells.”

Information: https://www.musikfest.org