Nearly 1,000 Volunteers Power Pennsylvania's Musikfest

A retired consultant from New Jersey is spending his summer pouring beer, setting up stages, and walking thousands of steps, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Jeff Kish from Lower Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is one of nearly 1,000 volunteers making Musikfest possible. The massive 11-day music festival in Bethlehem draws huge crowds, and behind every stage and beer tent are people like Kish who simply want to help.

This year alone, Kish has contributed 200 volunteer hours. He's learned stagehand work, beer pouring techniques, and the art of setting up signs and fencing. For him, it's about being part of something that runs smoothly and professionally.

"I like good organization. I like seeing things, work professionally done, being part of that, helping improve it," Kish explained. ArtsQuest, the organization behind Musikfest, does things well, and that draws him in.

Tehani Boyer, communications manager for ArtsQuest, says volunteers like Kish bring something special. They offer real-world experience and genuine willingness to tackle any challenge that comes their way during the festival.

Nearly 1,000 Volunteers Power Pennsylvania's Musikfest

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine is the sheer scale of generosity. Of the 1,000 volunteers stepping up, 300 are brand new this year, ready to contribute their time and energy to something bigger than themselves.

These aren't people looking for recognition or payment. They're drawn to being part of a well-run event that brings joy to thousands. They'll face unexpected challenges and frustrations over the next week and a half, but they're ready.

Each volunteer averages 20 hours of work across the festival. That's 20,000 hours of donated time, all because people want to contribute to their community and help create memorable experiences for others.

Anyone interested in joining future volunteer efforts can visit artsquest.org to learn how they can be part of making the festival happen.

Communities thrive when people like Jeff Kish decide that giving their time matters just as much as any paycheck.