Discover Lehigh Valley

If you’re looking for an excuse to round up the squad for an impromptu getaway, this beloved annual festival is just the thing. Musikfest, a nationally-renowned, ten-day music festival in Lehigh Valley, PA, will be rocking Historic and South Bethlehem from August 2-11.

Voted the best music festival in North America in a USA Today poll this year, Musikfest boasts more than 450 performances on 14 stages this summer. Best part? Thirteen of those stages require no tickets or admission.

The main stage (that one will cost you) will be hosting stars including Earth, Wind & Fire, Incubus, The Chainsmokers, Lady Antebellum, Weezer, Train, The Goo Goo Dolls, Godsmack and Brad Paisley. Big names play the Wind Creek Steel Stage at the iconic SteelStacks, a 10-acre campus dedicated to community arts and culture events that was once the site of Bethlehem Steel, the biggest steel manufacturer in the country.

Discover Lehigh Valley

Free acts include Carver Commodore, Pepperwine, Lauren Marsh and the Philadelphia Songwriters Project. There are also fun theme nights at select locations around town, including ’80s Day, Country Day and British Invasion Day.

Music isn’t the only thing worth making the trip for, though. The food selection is nothing to sneer at, including vendors like The Bethlehem Dairy Store, Chick n’ Cone and Island Noodles. Crafters and art activities, street performances, fireworks (Aug. 11), comedy shows and more will also be on hand. The most famous highlight, though, might be Musikfest mug: Buy a signature mug, as concertgoers have since 1984, and fill ’er up with beer as long as you’re in town at refill stations, plus participating bars and restaurants in town.

Tickets for headlining acts vary in price; order online before you go. Locations for Musikfest activities and events vary, so be sure to check the online maps before hitting the road.