Musikfest Today: Five Things to Know

Good morning, Bethlehem. Today is Saturday, August 6, 2011 – Day 2 of Musikfest 2011.

1. A dark cloud is this morning. And the weather may not cooperate either. The National Weather Service says we have a 50 percent chance of rain during the afternoon today, increasing to 80 percent as we move into the evening – with a possibility of strong thunderstorms. If you’re going, an umbrella might be a good idea because the shows will go on.
2. If you’ve got kids ages 2 to 5, take them down to Banana Island between noon and 6 p.m. for the PNC Mobile Learning Adventure. At this free interactive exhibit, children will get a chance to play dress up for the job of their dreams, while their parents get a lesson in the importance of early childhood education.
3. Pop stars Maroon 5 are the featured act at the extremely loud Sands Steel Stage beginning at 7 p.m. Though there was a report on Thursday that this show was less than 300 tickets from a sellout, we have received no official word that the last ticket is gone. So as far as we know, tickets at $49 and $39 are still available.
4. Among the highlights on the free stages today are polka star Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra at Festplatz at 3:30; onetime local blues prodigy Eric Steckel at Liederplatz at 9 p.m.; and those Siberian surf punks and perennial festival favorites Igor & The Red Elvises at Volksplatz, also at 9 p.m. Check here for the full day’s schedule.
5. Debuting tonight at 10:30 in the Musikfest Café, comedy at Musikfest. Stand up comic Jim Tews, an Allentown native and a onetime finalist at the Boston Comedy Fest, will try to make you laugh for $5 a ticket.