Musikfest 2019: We have the details on preview night, new attractions

Jul. 16--Pivoting prisms, arcade games, ax-throwing ... and we haven't even mentioned the music yet.

Musikfest -- which will feature more than 500 performances on 17 stages throughout Bethlehem over 10 days -- is just around the corner.

Here are the highlights of some of the new attractions and events you'll find when Musikfest returns Aug. 2-11 to Bethlehem:

Preview Night, Aug. 1

Just before Musikfest gets into full swing, there will be a preview night on Aug. 1 at SteelStacks, featuring free stage performances by Post Junction at Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on Air Products Town Square; Big Bone Daddy, The Groove Merchants and Robert Miller's Project Grand Slam at Air Products Americaplatz; and Earth, Wind and Fire at the Wind Creek Steel Stage.

The evening also includes the ninth annual Grateful Dead Meet-up at the Movies, beginning 7 p.m. at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas.

New venue

Formerly known as Experienceplatz, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America Zinzenplatz makes its debut at Main and Lehigh streets. The new venue will feature live music by tribute bands such as Dancing Dream: A tribute to ABBA, Romeo Delight: The Ultimate Van Halen Tribute Band, The Dude Ranch: Blink 182 Tribute and many more.

You'll also find food and beverage vendors.

Pivoting prisms

At the new Zinzenplatz venue, you'll find the Prismatica Art Installation, created by RAW Design in collaboration with ATOMIC3. The one-of-a-kind installation is composed of 25 pivoting prisms, each more than 6 feet fall. As the prisms rotate, a variable-intensity soundtrack made up of bell sounds will play.

Prismatica was first presented in Montreal in 2014, and has traveled to countless cities across the globe including London, Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C.

Musikfest Arcade

Also new this year at Zinzenplatz is the Musikfest Arcade, which is open Aug. 2-11. The arcade features 20 arcade games from the past four decades including pinball machines and multicades provided by Pinfest, one of the largest pinball shows in the country. Games to be featured at the arcade include Eightball Deluxe, Nitro Ground Shaker and Monster Bash. Wristbands for the arcade are $10 and are available at the Zinzenplatz food and beverage ticket booth.

Comedy shows

Lehigh Valley with Love Comedyplatz is a standup comedy showcase featuring comedians from New York, Philly, the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Catch Comedyplatz on both weekends of Musikfest and family-friendly shows at 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Details: Aug. 3-4 and 10-11, 4:30 p.m., Lehigh Valley with Love ComedyPlatz

Ax-throwing

At Familienplatz, you can try the latest craze, ax-throwing. The Axe Throwing Lumberjack Challenge is presented by Zip and Bounce and is open each day of the festival. Cost is $5 for five throws and $10 for 12 throws, payable in Musikfest food tickets only.

Shinbone Alley Stilt Band

This band takes things to a new level. The Shinbone Alley Stilt Band is a group of musicians who parade, dance on stilts and perform various feats of physical and musical dexterity while performing on saxophones, trumpets and drums with an occasional trombone, tuba, banjo or clarinet.

The talented ensemble plays an repertoire of Dixieland, swing, rock, jazz and blues, and it has performed for audiences in Japan, China, Brazil, Turkey and across Europe and the U.S.

Details: 3:30-6 p.m., Aug. 3-4 and 10-11, Provident Bank Main Street

Photo Op with the 'Lunch Atop a Skyscraper' photo

Visit the National Museum of Industrial History's outdoor plaza and take a selfie re-creating the famous photograph of construction workers eating lunch high atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza as it was erected in 1932. This great photo op for family and friends is free and takes place on a real steel beam with the "Lunch Atop a Skyscraper" photo as your backdrop.

Details: 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 3-4 and 10-11, National Museum of Industrial History

Nintendo Switch Road Trip

Bring your family to the Nintendo Switch Road Trip and experience a colorful and interactive space with playable demos of some of the hottest Nintendo Switch games, photo ops, Nintendo-themed challenges and more.

Details: Aug. 2-4, IBEW Local 375 Volksplatz

Art & Craft of Storytelling

A different book or story will be featured each day along with a craft relating to that story. In addition, families will have opportunities to win Crayola products and tickets to the Crayola Experience in Easton. Finally, put your mark on the art world by contributing to community art projects throughout the 10 days of the festival.

Details: 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 2, noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 3-11 at the Crayola Creativity Tent at Familienplatz

ArtsQuest glass studio tent

With the guidance of ArtsQuest artists, work one-on-one to create a hot-glass jellyfish paperweight in a 20-minute workshop.

Details: 4-10 p.m. Aug. 1-2 and 5-9, and noon to 10 p.m. Aug. 3-4 and 10-11 at the Air Products Americaplatz on the SouthSide by the Flywheel.

Information: www.musikfest.org

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