BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Great music may fill the air at Musikfest, but the mouthwatering food being cooked across the festival is also sharing the spotlight.

69 News Reporter Sydney Kay tasted her way through the festival and gives us a look at what’s on the menu, along with new items this year.

Feastin’ at the fest! Music isn’t the only thing on the minds of guests at Musikfest, it’s also what’s on the menu and new vendors this year are switching things up.

“We have catfish, po’boys. I got platters, but our special thing is gator. The gator skewer is the number one seller for us right now,” said Chef Douglas Duke, the executive chef at Magnolia’s Soul & Spice.

Alligator and crawfish are the specialty of Magnolia’s Soul & Spice on the Northside near Zinzenplatz.

“Doug is from Georgia, I’m from Louisiana, so we combined the Cajun and the soul food together and we came up with this,” said owner, Barbara Stefani.

They say the number one question is: what does gator taste like?

“It tastes like chicken, like a dark thigh-type of chicken,” Chef Douglas said.

If you’re looking for a more traditional dish, Waffl’d has your breakfast craving with a sweet and savory twist, such as its mozzawaffle.

“Moving onto these really wacky flavors just kind of gives us an opportunity to say, ‘Hey, we tasted I don’t know this waffle with pepper,’ thinking that would be really good in a waffle why don’t we try it,” said co-owner Cara Clair.

The couple has already sold more than 770 waffles on the Southside near the Wind Creek Steel Stage.

They’re working double-duty, juggling this business alongside full-time jobs.

“We just kind of blocked off our PTO for this year. We’re like, ‘Let’s throw it all into Musikfest,’” added co-owner Steven Clair.

It’s not just guests that need to be fed at the ten-day festival, but also the performers.

That’s one of the many things that keeps the Levy Restaurants at ArtsQuest busy.

“We like to really bring our team’s roots together, so we have a Dominican menu, South American Menu, and of course Pennsylvania Dutch. My favorite shoofly pie is on the menu tonight. My grandmother used to make that,” said Chef Julie Marble, the executive chef at Levy Restaurants at ArtsQuest Center.

Bringing together all types of flavors for those putting on a show and others who have been counting down to it.

“For you it’s a Tuesday, but for these folks, it’s like the time of their year. They saved up to come to this show and have a great time and watch this band. They’ve been waiting all year for it,” added Martin Durban, the director of operations at Levy Restaurants at ArtsQuest Center.

And there is lots of time to check out all of the food because Musikfest runs through Aug. 9.

Did we catch you at the festival on Monday? Check out our photo gallery here!

Visit 69 Newsplatz on Spring Street, located between Festplatz and Plaza Tropical at Musikfest 2026.

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