SteelStacks

The Steel Stacks are awesome! We’ve come here the past few years for Musikfest and most recently for the Border Brawl Food Truck Festival. The staff/​volunteers are always so pleasant and helpful. The variety of events they have at the venue is great. From food/​wine feats to US soccer viewing parties on the big screen they really try and appeal to everyone.

Went to the food truck wars at Steel Stacks today. It was Pennsylvania against New Jersey with a variety of food options. It cost $ 10.00 per person to enter with minor discounts for the children. In addition to to food trucks there was beer, water and soda tents. Once you paid the entrance fee you still had to pay for the food and drinks. All of the lines were very long and they did have seating scattered throughout the event area, but most of the seating was in the middle of the parking lot with no umbrellas so it was very hot! There were a lot of people sitting in the tree line in the mulch to find a shaded area. I was with 3 other family members and each of us got food from a different food truck so it gave us the opportunity to try a variety of foods. I would have liked to have tried more but the lines were too long. I had the wood fire pizza which was ok. I could’ve had pizza anywhere so I was a bit disappointed that u didn’t choose one of the other unique foods offered at one of the trucks especially after I tasted it. My husband had a perogie bowl which was phenomenal.
All in all, it was a nice afternoon out, but a bit pricey for the event, food and given the lines were so long limiting the different foods you could try. It could get really pricey for a small family after paying the entrance fee then purchasing the
not a cheap option for families.
So regarding who I chose as the winner of the food truck brawl…

Love love love this venue. From the Bethlehem steel walking tours, Hoover maison trestle walkway, the hundreds of free concerts they put on, soccer fest, the outdoor masses… I love their creativity and ongoing planning of community arts and general good times. Sometimes I get confused because steel stacks is different than the pbs building and the frank banko alehouse but most just lump all these buildings into the same general venue.

Been to dozens of shows and many dinners for local fundraisers. Food is always very good and service is top notch. Private events have better service, maybe because it is all the same menu. Views are terrific. Come early and explore the campus.

My 1^st time at Octoberfest and 99.9 the hawk bingo bash. It was an amazing time. Great food, dessert and drinks and awesome bingo.

Surreal. Went to see a Fishbone show here the other night and it was just amazing. Too see that they could take that old structure and turn it into a piece of art rather than a pile of scrap and to put a pavilion at the foot of it and offer 50 free shows a year is just great. I will certainly keep it on the radar and would return for another show. If you’re in the area swing by just to take it in.

I’ve been to the indoor concert space at this venue a couple times before to see David Bromberg and Chris Smither, but last night was my first show at the outdoor Levitt Pavillion, where I was treated to a free concert by blues legend Eric Bibb.
Bibb is an expat American who lives in Sweden, and rarely plays in the USA. This was one of only three shows he is performing in the USA on this concert tour, and the only one on the East Coast.
There’s plenty of free parking at this facility, and it is an easy ride from NY/​NJ on route 78.
The venue is great, as long as the weather cooperates, as it is outdoors. The backdrop of the old Bethlehem steel mills is quite dramatic. Bring your own folding lawn chair or blanket. There is a food truck that sells burgers, fries, snacks, ice cream, alchoholic and non-​alchoholic beverages, and a swag table where you can buy CD’s and meet the artist after the show for autographs.
The outdoor sound system is very good. Bibb played an energetic, inspired set for almost two hours. Did I mention that it was free? What’s not to like?

This was our first time to a concert event at Steel Stacks.
The location lacks parking, but most lots around the Steel Stacks charge $ 10, which is more then fair. The entrance doesn’t seem well marked. Oh, actually there was a large sign pointing to the entrance, but a 69 News van was blocking the signage. Once you go into the venue and have your bag checked, there are lots of food and beverage vendors. We just wanted some fries and a beer. So I ordered fries and crabby fries. They were way too crisp. And the cheese for crabby fries was plain watered down cheddar. Absolutely sucked. So after we got our fries, then we had to go to the beer line. Try holding fries, napkins and your stuff while paying for beer. Once we had that, now where to eat and drink, but alas there are no areas to sit down and enjoy the crappy food you’ve just purchased. Since we can’t sit and have our beer and food, we decide to hit our seats.
Upon walking into the seating area, you notice that it is a clean venue with decent site lines. That was refreshing. Our seats were EASY to find. So, I can’t figure out why so many people that entered after us were confused as to they’re section or seats. I had three morons take my wife seat and tell me they had that seat. When I looked at their ticket I found that they were in the wrong section. Maybe ushers need more training or people are just plain dumb.
Our seats were great and we could see the stage well, until the two drunk bitches sat in front of us and proceeded to dance during the show while raising their arms in the air blocking multiple peoples views. Maybe the beer servers need better training as in DO NOT CONTINUE TO SERVE WOMEN THAT ARE EXTREMELY DRUNK OF THEIR ASSES.
That said…
The sound quality was fabulous and the production values are extremely high.
Overall this is a great, or would seem to be a great venue. If not for the drunk ass bitches, food and beverage standing room only issues I would give the location a higher rating.
I’m sure we will come back here again. Just won’t be purchasing food, but only a drink.

This is the place for comedy in the Lehigh Valley! A gorgeous venue, great staff, snacks and alcohol! I suggest going to see ManDudeBro every Friday night or the Improv Comedy Power Hour ever other Thursday night. Cheaper than a movie and you won’t regret going!

This place is cool! I was here for the first time over the weekend to attend the Yuengling Oktoberfest 5K. The venue was sort of small for the 4,000+ runners and spectators, but I can tell that this place really has potential. There were multiple bar and concert venue areas, a movie theater, etc. I really enjoyed the space.

AWESOME. the Steel Stacks are one of the best places I’ve been to in along time. It’s clean, the people you meet at the stacks are nice. So if your looking for a GREAT PLACE TO GO AND ENJOY YOURSELF. Try the STEEL STACKS IN BETHLEHEM PA. If you go once you’ll go twice and so on. My husband and myself always enjoy ourself when we go to the Stacks. If you know me you know I always say it as it is, but don’t take my word try it FOR YOURSELF and you will also have an AWESOME TIME YOURSELF. Just go once and you’ll keep coming back. We even go back every year to the Steel Stacks for our annual MDA RIDE. We all get together on our Harley Davidson motorcycles and we do it for the kids every year. The children love the bikes and we raise money for MDA. Its all ages of Harley Owner who do this every year like I said for the kids. The kids have a saying MAKE A MUSCLE AND HELP FIND A CURE. Thanks for allowing me to say WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE STEEL STACKS IN BETHLEHEM PA. And all in all ITS A GREAT PLACE TO GO TO AND THE CONCERTS ARE GREAT. But you need to check out this guy that goes by WACKY CHAD he’s funny and he also puts on a great great show. It’s one of the funniest things I ever seen. Both adults and children of all ages love the show he put on and we all have fun and laugh a whole lot. So times all of us almost pee our selfs. That’s how good and funny he is. But we don’t really pee our self it’s that he’s just the good at what he does. Look up (WACKY CHAD) and you’ll see what I mean. So I suggest you see for yourself. Go and form your own opinion of the Steel Stacks. If you don’t want my opinion. And have yourself a great time. If could I would give it more then 5-​stars. It’s that great of a place.

During Musikfest…
Venue MUCH better than Sand Island. If you held up your thumb in the lawn at sand island, that’s how big the performer was.
Stadium seats for sections in the 200’s.
Good sound overall right off 3^rd street and founders way. Parking available close up for $ 10.00. Worth it if it’s raining.

The SteelStacks are beautiful, with beautiful lighting and tons to see, it is a destination you should not miss in Bethlehem.
However, if you can, bring your own food/​drink (for outside activities). The food/​bevs inside are terribly overpriced and not even good. Ick.
I think sometimes the LV forgets that it is in eastern PA and not in the UWS.

Beautiful venue with plenty to do! Can’t wait to return in the fall/​winter.

Let’s see:
Poor venue sight lines? Check
Crazy post-​concert traffic issues? Check
Tickets that are priced more in Bethlehem than in Philly, Baltimore/​DC, Hershey, or Scranton for the same acts? Check
Extortionist F&B ticket prices? Check
So the reason to come see a show at Steel Stacks is?
Maybe Parks & Co. will figure it out one of these years that just because you slap the Musikfest/​ArtsQuest name on something does not mean that it’s going to sell.
The ticket sales speak volumes about the quality of the bookings and in particular about the prices as they were way down this year.
Hopefully ArtsQuest raises their game for next year and really finds a way to make the experience better/​more cohesive and to get the locals who they have ticked off for years now more involved because they’re not going to make a ton of money without them.
Or they could just take the next logical and arrogant step by fencing things in around the ArtsQuest compound while charging admission like SummerFest, blow up any music on the North Side, all while continuing to increase beer and F&B prices so that it can be what Parks apparently wants and that’s a wine cooler laden-​pinkie in the air fest for the well to do of the NY-​NJ-​CT tri-​state area.

I’m shocked this place doesn’t have more reviews, SHOCKED!!! Great addition to Lehigh Valley entertainment scene, lots going on here, too much to describe in a review. The summary is just stop by and you will be glad you did. There is always something going on whether it’s free music, a ticketed show, movies, community stuff, shopping, trivia, etc etc. Check out their website and give it a try, tons of free concerts in the spring/​summer, it’s really amazing the content and quality they provide for very little direct cost to visitors (not sure what that means for my taxes but) it’s a great addition regardless. One of the few places I will give 5 stars too, there has to be something here you will enjoy (FYI, great beer selection for a place this size). The only thing that needs improvement is the wait service in the Musikfest Café, it’s getting better but still below average… where do they get those people?
Just realized there are a bunch of reviews for a slightly different entry: ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks

I just went to the Maroon 5 concert last night at the SteelStack’s Sands Steel Stage. It was amazing and even better than the night before at Susquehanna Bank Center. Here are some things to put in to perspective.
SEATING
We sat in Section 206 which was elevated so you get a great view of the stage rather than peering through people.
SOUND
Absolutely perfect and not too loud. I found myself loving this venue because everything was crystal clear. We could hear the music and the singing just fine.
LIGHTS
Wonderful use of lights here. Plus, there is a great skyline of the old relic Steel Furnaces which is cool with those blue and purple colors.
SCREENS
Even better use of the screens to see the band compared to Susquehanna Bank Park. It was nice to see things up close and also see the whole stage and backdrop.
MUSIKFEST AT STEELSTACKS (August 6, 2011)
1. Food and drinks– I spent close to $ 20 on food and drinks and had to get those stupid food/​drink tickets since vendors only took tickets. This was a major drag and had to actually figure out how many tickets to get before going to get food. Some vendors took both cash and tickets so that was better. I had a rautweurst sausage combo with fries and drink which was a total of 20 tickets ($ 10) plus $ 2 in change. I had roasted corn on the cob with parm, garlic, and pepper for 8 tickets ($ 4). A bottle of ice tea was 6 tickets ($ 3).
2. Free music– The Levitt Pavilion had some free music which was okay. No covered seats except for the ones near the food/​drink ticket booth. We grabbed a table with a huge umbrella. My friend had a towel to wipe off the rain water.
3. Ponchos– I went to the ArtsQuest store to get ponchos for my friends. Within 15 minutes, I grabbed 4 ponchos and afterwards went for another which was already sold out. Each poncho will cost you $ 3 which is decent. I found out later that people were selling them at the Sands Stage later that night.
4. Will Call Tickets– There was a trailer to pick up tickets which was a bit inconvenient compared to the indoors front desk at ArtsQuest. Anyways, people were friendly enough and got my tickets.
5. Merchandise– You will find merchandise sold at each stage location. The one next to Levitt Pavilion is reasonable at $ 10 for t-​shirt but only 1 medium left which was perfect for me. At the Sands Stage, merchandise for Maroon 5 started at $ 5 for a keychain, $ 10 for a can snuggie holder, $ 30 for a t-​shirt, and $ 60 for a hoodie. I checked online and you are paying an extra $ 6 compared to Live Nation online store. Between the two, I would support the local PA band rather than Maroon 5 which already earns enough from my ticket sale.
6. Parking– You will find lots which will charge you $ 10 but we found one for free at the Northampton Community College campus just before the SteelStack campus entrance sign. A few cars parked and no signs about parking prohibited. Get there early since it will fill up. Plus, just a short walk to the SteelStack campus through the ArtsQuest and SteelStack staff parking. Follow the pathway through and look for the Steel Furnaces to guide you.