NAZARETH, Pa. — Local guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co. sees its connection to the community as a sound investment.
The Martin on Main festival returned for its 16th anniversary on Saturday, bringing live music, vendors and food trucks to downtown Nazareth.
- The Martin on Main festival returned to historic Nazareth on July 29
- There was a raffle giveaway to win more than $3,000 in guitars
- There were food truck vendors and other local businesses
The event promotes the iconic Nazareth-based guitar manufacturer, widely known as Martin Guitar, which has made high-end guitars for more than 180 years.
It was put on by the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce, the Nazareth Center for the Arts, the Nazareth Economic Development Commission and the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum.
The company appointed a new chief executive officer, Thomas Ripsam, in 2021.
Ripsam said he thinks the event is great exposure for the company, but it also highlights the connection Martin Guitar has with the community.
“It’s been part of the fabric here for many years,” Ripsam said. “I think being part of the community helps us think of the good of the whole, not just of the company."
Martin Guitar donated several guitars to raffle off at the festival, with the proceeds going to local organizations.
The first raffle prize was a SC-13E acoustic-electric guitar, valued at almost $1,600. The second was a SC-13E Special acoustic guitar, valued at almost $1,900.
Ripsam said Martin Guitar has been doing “very well”; sales have been up 50% in the past two years. He said the company is working to cater to a younger, more diverse audience.
“It’s important that we’re not just relevant for one part of the musician base,” Ripsam said.
‘Bringing all of Nazareth together’
The event had two performance stages, food trucks and 20 local craft vendors and artisans.
Because of the event, the Nazareth Farmers' Market extended its hours and shifted locations to the adjacent block of S. Main Street. The farmers’ market also had a music performance.
Seth WitcherMartin Guitar donated a ukulele to the Nazareth Economic Development Commission to raise money for the farmers' market.
Commission representative Lisa Borik said she enjoyed the event because it is more low-key than other musical events in the area.
“It’s a manageable music festival,” Borik said.
“It’s a part of life for everyone who grows up in Nazareth."
Glenn Kratzer, board member of the Nazareth Center of the Arts
Glenn Kratzer, a board member of the Nazareth Center of the Arts, said he enjoys the event because he grew up in Nazareth, and Martin Guitar has always been a mainstay in the community.
“It’s a part of life for everyone who grows up in Nazareth,” Kratzer said.
Nicole Miles, a manager with the affiliated chamber of commerce, said the purpose of the event was not just to celebrate Martin Guitar; it also fosters community connections.
“It’s a nice way of bringing all of Nazareth together on Main Street,” Miles said.
The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum, a forum for fans of the company, also helped put on the event.
Forum Administrator Doug Truxillo came from Louisiana to attend the event and a forum meetup. He said the meetup also had visitors from as far away as England and Seattle.
Truxillo said the idea for Martin on the Main originally came from a forum meetup. He said he thinks so many people love Martin guitars because of their quality and history.
“If you play one, you want to know more about it and its history,” Truxillo said. “And you can’t just buy one. People have tried — you can’t.”