Community Corner

Muhlenberg Summer Festival Opens Wednesday Night

Annual festival at LVH—Muhlenberg includes food, live music, kiddie rides and one of the region's largest juried arts and craft shows.

A juried craft show, kiddie rides and live entertainment will all be featured once again as the 52nd Annual Muhlenberg Summer Festival begins Wednesday evening at the campus of Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg in West Bethlehem.

The festival will be held on the north side of the hospital campus near Routes 22 and 378, the second year at the new location, a move that allows for more space and additional parking.

Jewelry, paintings, hand-stitched and crocheted items, loom weaving collages and more, will be featured at the craft show from a group of artists with disabilities. The artists with disabilities also will be on hand each night as they demonstrate how they make their unique artworks.

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One of the hospital’s largest fundraisers, over 52 years the festival has raised more than $2 million dollars during its long history to support services at the LVH—Muhlenberg campus. The very first festival was held even before ground was broken for what was to become the Muhlenberg Medical Center.

Each night of the four-day festival will include special activities for children in “Kiddie Land,” such as grab bags, face painting, sand art, a duck pond and more.

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Plenty of food, crafts and free entertainment are available for patrons of all ages to enjoy. Wednesday’s opening-night activities will include one-price ride tickets of $20 from 5-10 p.m.

New this year, there will be one-price ride tickets ($20) on Thursday night as well. Closing ceremonies on Saturday will feature one-price ride tickets of $17 from 12-4 p.m.

This year’s raffle will be held at the end of the night on Saturday for the grand prize of a brand new bike. A performance by the School’s Out Band starts at 7 p.m.

Annually, this is one of the area’s largest juried arts and craft shows.

Artisans and craftspeople from around America join local exhibitors, offering hundreds of hand-crafted items ranging from oil and watercolor paintings to wood carvings and paper jewelry. 

Crafters and their creations are carefully screened and selected based on specific criteria. Each item must be handmade, contributing a unique quality to the array of crafts and artistic renderings presented at the festival.

Festival Hours:

Wednesday, Aug. 14 – 5-10:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15 – 5-10:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 16 – 5-10:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 17 – noon-10:30 p.m.

Entertainment Lineup:

Wednesday, Aug. 14

5-10 p.m.         One-price ride tickets ($20)

7-10 p.m.         The Cramer Brothers Band

Thursday, Aug. 15

5-10 p.m.         One-price ride tickets ($20)

7-10 p.m.         Nashville Recording Artist Sherry Lynn

Friday, Aug. 16

7-10 p.m.         The Large Flowerheads

Saturday, Aug. 17

12-4 p.m.         One-price ride tickets ($17 – Includes an entry for a bike drawing)

1-4 p.m.           Afternoon entertainment by UUU

7-10 p.m.         School’s Out Band  


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