November-January Update
How many times can I write the phrase “record-setting?” I feel like it was all I would mention last year, and now 2023 is no different. Wherever you turn, the fruits of all your efforts are in full bloom:
- New Musikfest attendance record: 1.3 million visitors
- New Best Musikfest Food-and-Beverage Sale day: Saturday, August 5th (best in the history of the festival)
- New Christkindlmarkt attendance records: 13,800 visitors: Saturday, December 9th
- New Volunteers: 581
- Number of Groups: 38
All these nerdy numbers add up to one clear thing: the work you do, even on the shortest shift and especially on the busiest days, has a huge impact on this nonprofit. Because of you, we’re able to offer world-class entertainment, fund life-changing youth art programs, and open our calendar to new events that introduces the Lehigh Valley to new cultures and perspectives.
So many new changes and updates this year as well. We moved our Musikfest training into the ArtsQuest Center, which allowed us to have larger and clearer presentations. We hosted our first-ever Ambassador Mixer during the Oktoberfest season to great success. We began the process of revamping training materials and programs, work that will continue as we start tackling the 2024 calendar. We welcomed Parker and Kaitlyn to the team, and they’ve been doing a spectacular job.
The new year is going to bring a lot more changes, not just in new events but in our efforts to keep making our awesome program even better than it has been. New trainings, new opportunities, and new ways to have fun are all on the horizon as we blaze a trail forward into the future. If you’re over 21 and interested in Ushering at the Musikfest Café or Blast Furnace Room, be sure to sign up for our upcoming Usher Training on February 6th in the portal.
We’ve taken long enough to get this newsletter out, so I’ll keep it brief! I hope the holiday season was restful and enjoyable, and that you got to spend a lot of time with your loved ones. I look forward to all the things we’ll accomplish in 2024!
Thank you for everything that you do,
Cory Stevens
Volunteer Program Manager
