November-December Update
I suppose the first thing to say is that I wasn’t gone long, and it certainly feels good to be back! Of course, as soon as I return the newsletter is delayed and there is two months of stuff to catch up on.
Let us cover the shake ups on the ArtsQuest Volunteer Team first. After about five weeks away, I have returned as the Volunteer Program Manager. I had left for a great opportunity and certainly learned a lot in the brief time I was gone—but ArtsQuest feels like home and they let me know that the feeling was mutual. I am so happy to be back and grateful that the locks hadn’t been changed yet! Cavan Mulligan has moved (along with the internship program) to a new position in Human Resources. We’re sad to see her leave the Volunteer Team, but congratulate her on the new opportunity and remain grateful for everything she’s done since 2021. That’s two Musikfests, two Christkindlmarkts, Saturday nights at Oktoberfest, and a lot of time that it was just her and me holding things down until we were back to full capacity. Thanks for everything, Cavan. And that leaves Sarah Yost: who is still here as our Volunteer Program Assistant and has been absolutely killing it since we hired her earlier this year. She has been instrumental in coordinating with our Volunteer groups, improving our recordkeeping, and making sure everything runs smoothly on the ground during our events. Sarah and I will be tag-teaming Volunteer Department duties as ArtsQuest looks to hire a full-time Volunteer Program Assistant Manager. Exciting things are coming in 2023, and the Volunteer Team is ready to make it the best year ever!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves: as of this writing it’s still 2022 and what a year it was. We’ve just wrapped up Christkindlmarkt’s 30th year, and that wasn’t the only reason it was historic. Saturday December 10th was the best-attended day of CKM ever with over 12,000 guests stopping by our holiday market in a single day. We can’t thank the volunteers who were on that day enough—things certainly got hectic but everyone got in smoothly to enjoy some Christmas cheer! For the first time ever, we opened an ice skating rink in front of the SteelStacks. The public has enjoyed the chance to skate with their loved ones in front of Bethlehem’s iconic landmark, and we have big plans to grow the CKM festivities even more all long 1st Street in the coming years.
As always, PeepsFest immediately follows our holiday market on December 30th and 31st. Each year this event is internationally recognized as a family-friendly and unique way to ring in the new year. We’ve gotten a big head start on making this year amazing as well: volunteers complied approximately 2,500 Peeps-themed gift bags for the event in under two days. A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to throw those bags together! If you want to jump in on the action, we are still looking for Peeps Games Assistants on both 12/30 and 12/31.
There is so much to look forward to as we usher in the new year. Sarah and I are brainstorming ways to improve everyone’s volunteer experience, not to mention all the new events that we’ll be welcoming throughout the calendar. First on deck: SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival, Winter Winefest, Souper Bowl, Slainte, our Ambassador Program, and so much more.
And looming on the horizon—Musikfest’s 40th anniversary, which is sure to be the biggest year ever. We hope that you’ll join us for that momentous occasion and each of the little moments in between. Until then, enjoy the holidays with your loved ones and rest up for everything ahead!
Thank you for everything that you do,
Cory Stevens
Volunteer Program Manager
