Musikfest 2024 is back, bigger than ever in its 41st year.

Musikfest is Aug. 1-11 on the North Side and at SteelStacks on the South Side of Bethlehem.

Most of the more than 500 concerts are free.

Ticketed concerts for headliners at Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza at SteelStacks on the South Side include: Greta Van Fleet, Aug. 1; Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra, Tonic, Aug. 2; Shinedown, Aug. 3; Jowell & Randy, Aug. 4, Slash, Aug. 5; Old Dominion, Aug. 6; Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aug. 7; Black Eyed Peas, Aug. 8; Big Time Rush, Aug. 9; Ludacris, Aug. 10, and ZZ Top, Aug. 11.

Look for profiles of Musikfest headliners on Page B1 of the July 31 and Aug. 7 Focus section of Lehigh Valley Press.

ArtsQuest has new attractions for Musikfest 2024, including an expanded lineup of artists, immersive art installations, culinary offerings and new stages and experiences.

Here’s an overview of Musikfest performers:

• 422 artists with more than 530 performances.

• Artists from 22 different states in the United States and seven nations.

• 48 percent of the festival features female members in the group.

• 36 percent of the festival features artists of color.

• 42 percent of the groups are first-time performers.

• 58 percent are returning artists.

New Free Stage Artists include:

• Preservation Hall Jazz Band, New Orleans, La.

• Shwayze, Hip-Hop, Malibu, Calif.

• The Warped Band, Warped Tour tribute band, Mechanicsburg

• Rift, Phish tribute band, Philadelphia

• Philly Nelson, Willy Nelson tribute, Philadelphia

• Burn the Jukebox, cover band, Wilkes-Barre

ComedyPlatz

• On Saturdays during Musikfest, live podcast recordings take place at the Charles A. Brown Ice House.

“Night Moves,” 2 p.m. Aug. 3, is a weekly comedy podcast hosted by comics Tyler Rothrock, Sean Preston and Lou Misiano.

“Proper Ebonics,” 2 p.m. Aug. 10, hosted by comedians Alan Massenburg and Kirk Griffiths, takes on current events and pop culture.

New mural

• Located across from the Visitor Center, the First Street bus shelter will be transformed by this year’s Musikfest poster artist Lauren Beck, with a grant from Creative Communities and the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts.

Music Conference

• The Musikfest Music Industry and Education Music Conference is 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Aug. 1, 2, ArtsQuest Center, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.

Verticali Sphere

• From Italy, eVenti Verticali’s Sphere makes its United States premiere at Musikfest, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Aug. 9-11, Martin Guitar Handwerkplatz.

In the 30-minute outdoor performances, five aerialists are suspended from a crane 60 feet above the ground.

The performance begins with the transparent sphere deflated with one aerialist inside. The sphere is raised by a crane, becoming a gigantic, fully-inflated globe.

BMX Stunt Team

• Monster Energy BMX Stunt Team Experience has 20-minute performances with a DJ and emcee, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. Aug. 9; 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. Aug. 10, and 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Aug. 11.

Listening Lounge

• The Listening Lounge, presented by Inclusion For Everybody is back. It’s on the south side in front of the flywheel.

Everyone can wear wireless headphones and-or a vibrating backpack (BASSpak) to witness the live music with increased clarity, creating a multisensory experience at an adjustable volume or canceling outside noise out (the latter may benefit persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as people who experience sensory-processing disorders, autism and social anxiety.

A corny contest

The “Aw Shucks Corn-Eating Competition” is 7 p.m. Aug. 7, in front of PNC Stadtplatz stage.

How much do you love Aw Shucks corn? Enough to see if you can be the fastest to eat five ears of it? If you are, you’ll win $100.

The, ahem, corny rules are: Corn must be eaten horizontally. Corn must be swallowed. Corn must be kept down. Contestants must be 18 or older at the time of the competition. Registration: Musikfest.org

Hold that stein

ArtsQuest has been host of the Pennsylvania State Steinholding Championships for the past five years and will be again at this year’s Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport.

The qualifying competition is 7 p.m. Aug. 8, in front of the PNC Stadtplatz Stage. There are separate competitions for men and women. The participants who keep their stein held up the longest while following the rules qualify to be a part of the state championships, Oct. 12, at Oktoberfest, where the grand prize is $500 and the right to call yourself a state champ.

Contestants must be 21 or older at the time of the competition. US Steinholding rules apply. Registration is free: Musikfest.org.

New food vendors

• Algorithm Vegan Grill

• Philly Corn Company

• Mon and Mel’s Sweet Scoops Ice Cream Truck

• Empanada Guy

• Hungry Hound Express

• Randevoo

• The Edge Restaurant

• Uno Taqueria

• The Taste Smokers

• Palette & Pour has a new summer menu from partner Levy Restaurants.

Merchandise

• The Musikfest 2024 Mug features artwork by Banana Factory Teaching Artist Lauren Beck, the 2024 Musikfest poster artist. The poster art depicts a night sky with Musikfest sitting below and illustrations of constellations depicting instruments.

• To go along with the limited edition “Go Fest Yourself” Mug, there is a selection of accessories by Legacy, makers of high-quality headwear.

• There will be new Musikfest t-shirts.

Box-office trailer

• The new ArtsQuest trailer presented by Burkholder’s Heating and Air Conditioner, Inc. was purchased from Cotner Trailers. The 26-foot-long air-conditioned trailer has two service windows, eight lockable cabinet doors, overhead cabinets for display space, 50-amp electrical service and a refrigerator.

Bus service

• LANTA’s Enhanced Bus Service begins a new route, the Gold Line, from North Side to South Side Bethlehem, beginning Aug. 2.

Along with the Blue Line from Trexlertown to Easton and the Green Line from Whitehall to the Wind Creek Casino, the bus lines allow for stops throughout the festival, along with the already running North South Transfer and Parking Garages shuttles.

Information: Musikfest.org and the app

New partnerships

• Service Electric Network is the new partner of Festplatz.

• Martin Guitar has a new busking stage on the North Side.

• Mishka Vodka is The Official Vodka of Musikfest.

• Lehigh Valley Scream Park has a space on the North Side in advance of the Halloween season.

• Bulleit Bourbon is now served at Musikfest.

• Handwerkplatz is now sponsored by Martin Guitar.

• Surfside and Stateside RTDs will be available at Musikfest.

• Monster Energy presents BMX freestyle performances during the second weekend on the North Side.

Information: https://www.musikfest.org/