PEEPSFEST is Bethlehem's Warm-Up to New Year's Eve

PEEPSFEST™, the family festival that takes place Dec. 30-31, returns for its fourth year at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

The event, which is free to attend, features two days packed with live music, arts and PEEPS®-related programming. It culminates Dec. 31, 5:15 p.m. with the dropping of a 4.5-foot tall, 85-pound, lit PEEPS® Chick and fireworks to welcome in the New Year.

Matt Pye, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Just Born, said, “PEEPSFEST™ 2012 will be a magical extravaganza that will continue to make this relatively new event an annual holiday destination for the whole family. PEEPSFEST™ celebrates the fun and passion consumers have for the beloved PEEPS® Brand which is produced right here in Bethlehem.  There will be two fun-filled days ending with a kid-friendly concert, the PEEPS® Chick drop and a free fireworks display celebrating the New Year!”

PEEPSFEST Attractions:

One of the most popular attractions at PEEPSFEST is the PEEPS Diorama Competition, showcasing dozens of PEEPS dioramas created by area school children. This year’s contest includes a sweet, new twist -- the public gets to vote for the first time ever.

From Dec. 27 through Dec. 29, the public can visit the ArtsQuest Center to vote for their favorite dioramas. The entry with the most votes will be crowned the PEEP-les Choice Winner and be invited on stage to drop the PEEPS Chick on New Year’s Eve. All PEEPS Diorama Competition winners will be announced Dec. 30, 10:45 a.m., with the winners on display Dec. 30-31.

Other PEEPSFEST Highlights Include:

-- A New Year’s Eve Party with free live music by kid-friendly rock band Starfish at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks 4 p.m. Dec. 31.

-- Large, kid-friendly cardboard gingerbread houses for decorating FREE).

-  Live, interactive children’s theater with Middle Earth Studios (FREE).

-  Family musicians and children’s performers all day (FREE).

-  PEEPS-themed arts and crafts, video game competitions and a scavenger hunt (FREE).

-- Picture taking with the PEEPS Chick (FREE)

-- PEEPMOBILE filled with candy for a guess-how-many contest (FREE)

-  Family Disco Lounge – featuring music and dancing with Erin Lee & the Up Past Bedtime

-  Band (Dec. 30) and Lisa & Wendy (Dec. 31), as well as a family-friendly DJ, bounce house and more. ($5 for ages 17 and under; $2.50 for adults)

-- PEEPSFEST 5K run ($20 in advance; $25 day of race)

-- PEEPSFEST Kids Fun Run ($5 in advance; $10 day of race) and Mascot Dash, featuring popular area mascots, Dec. 31, noon

-- PEEPS’mores for sale to roast on outdoor firepits

-- Popular PEEPS & Company store items for sale

PEEPSFEST™, which is presented by Just Born Inc. and ArtsQuest, takes place at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Festival hours are Dec. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Dec. 31, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is free, although a few select activities such as the family disco lounge and kids fun run, require an admission ticket.

For more information and tickets to the family disco lounge and fun run, please visitwww.artsquest.org/peepsfest or call 610-332-3378.