My 5-year-old, James, and I walked to Familienplatz Saturday. We walked along Main Street, past free music acts and bustling restaurants, to the small blacksmith’s building by the Hotel Bethlehem. Just beyond the building is a path down to the Familienplatz. Follow the path and walk around the metalworks tent, and you will see the bouncy houses. Keep following the path, past the rides and the ArtsQuest tent. Just beyond it is the Information and tickets tent. Tickets are $1 each, good for rides and food. Rides range from five to 10 tickets per ride. My son did the bouncy house area (10), the flying swings (five) and the train, twice, (five each ride). There is also a climbing activity, a trampoline area, a zipline and axe throwing. The ArtsQuest tent offers a new free craft daily. There was face painting for $6, and a quiet tent with children’s books to read. We purchased a bottle of water for 3.5 tickets. Next time I will bring my own, or buy a bottle for $1 on Main Street. The ride staff were friendly and helpful. I spent about $30, and it would be easy to spend $40 or more. Just behind the children’s area is a row of food and craft vendors, and we could hear music drifting from beyond the crafters. We spent about two hours on the trip, and my son had a fun time. I would reccomend parking in the garage on Walnut Street, and wear sunscreen and bug spay.

When you reach the blacksmith’s building at the beginning of the path, you can watch live blacksmith demonstrations. As you walk along the path to Familienplatz, you will pass beautiful murals painted for various years of the festival. Across from the ArtsQuest tent you have a lovely view of Monocacy Creek. We had an idyllic moment watching ducks on the creek. There are rides for many ages; Older youth will love the axe throwing, trampoline and zip line. Younger kids will love the train, swings, and bouncy house area. Note: the bouncy house takes 10 tickets. You can spend as much time as you want there, but once you leave the area, you will need more tickets to return. The zip line is also ten tickets, but repeat rideswill only cost five tickets. There are first aid tents; they are blue and well marked. The Musikfest volunteers are very helpful.

By Lani Goins