The 172nd Allentown Fair returns Wednesday with concerts, rides, food and plenty of family fun.
Running Aug. 28 through Sept. 2, the fair welcomes thousands of visitors to participate in the “home grown fun” centered around the fair’s historic “Home of the Stars” Grandstand.
Here’s what you need to know:
The essentials
When: 4-10 p.m. Aug. 28; noon-10 p.m. Aug 29-Sept. 1; noon-9 p.m. Sept. 2.
Where: At the Allentown Fairgrounds between 17th and 21st streets and Liberty and Chew streets in Allentown. For GPS directions, use the street address 1703 Liberty St., Allentown. (Note: Liberty Street will run one-way, west, 4-8 p.m. during fair operating hours.)
Parking: Parking is available on site through Tunnel Gate 7 off Liberty Street for $15 per vehicle. Premium parking is available in advance for $30.
About the fair
Started by the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, the Allentown Fair debuted in 1852 on a 4-acre tract in Allentown. It moved to its current location in 1889. In addition to the fair, the Allentown Fairgrounds is home to the Lehigh Valley’s largest trade show facility Agri-Plex, the Fairgrounds Farmers Market, the Ritz Barbecue restaurant, the historic Fairgrounds Hotel restaurant, the MainGate Nightclub and the Pines Dinner Theatre.
The fair has hosted millions of visitors over the years.
Ticket prices
Regular admission: $10; kids 12 and under enter free.
Opening night, Aug. 28: Admission is $5, or $3 with a food donation to the fair benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley.
Weekdays Under the Wire: Free admission noon-2 p.m. Aug. 29 and 30.
Red, White and Thank You: All active military and veterans with an ID get in free all day Aug. 29
Seniors: Seniors 65 and over with an ID get in free Sept. 2.
All entertainment is included with fair admission except rides and games on the midway and shows in the grandstand. Gate admissions benefit the mission of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society.
Fair queen contest
Last year’s Allentown Fair Queen Kamryn Fink will crown her successor during the annual competition at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Farmerama Stage. Contestants will have a 15-minute interview with the judging panel, compete in an evening gown competition and present a 3- to 5-minute speech on the topic, “Why you should come to the Great Allentown Fair.” The winner serves as a public representative of the fair, and will go on to compete in the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen Contest in January.
The Allentown Fair Queen contest is open to females ages 16 to 20 who live in Lehigh, Northampton or Berks counties. Winners receive a $1,500 scholarship; $200 goes to the first alternate, and the winner of the Community Service Award receives $250.
Grandstand concerts
Cheap Trick with Blue Oyster Cult, 7 p.m. Aug. 28. The two rock bands stepped in when Heart postponed due to Ann Wilson’s cancer treatments.
Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 29. The educational children’s show makes its first appearance at the fair.
Brad Paisley, 7 p.m. Aug. 30. This is the country superstar’s third time headlining the fair’s Grandstand.
Pentatonix, 7 p.m. Aug. 31. The Grammy Award-winning a capella group returns to the fair for a second time.
Jeff Dunham, 7 p.m. Sept. 1. The ventriloquist and comedian brings his “Still Not Canceled” tour for a fifth appearance at the fair.
Tickets:
J&J Demolition Derby
In addition to the grandstand concerts, the J&J Demolition Derby is a huge attraction, bringing full-sized cars to the fairgrounds’ historic racetrack for a crash-and-smash battle until one car remains, becoming the Beast of the East Champion.
When: 5 p.m. Sept. 2.
Tickets: $20 adults, $15 for children 12 and under. allentownfair.com
Rides and games by Powers & Thomas Midway Entertainment
What’s the Allentown Fair without rides and games?
Cost: All-day wristbands are available for $30 in advance, or $35 on site.
Hours: 4 p.m. to close, Aug. 28 and 29; 2 p.m. to close Aug. 30; 1 p.m. to close Aug. 31-Sept. 2
The operation of mechanical rides is subject to weather and other conditions. No refunds, exchanges or rain checks will be offered.
A look at some of the free entertainment
The Grandstand shows and rides may be ticketed, but there’s plenty to see and do for free during the fair. Here’s a look at some of the popular free entertainment:
Mighty Mike: Strongman Mighty Mike juggles bowling balls, tears pack of cards and bends pounds of metal at multiple shows throughout the fair.
Flippenout Trampoline Show: Two Olympic trampolines and a wall — what can go wrong? Acrobats will soar over 25 feet and do amazing triple flips and twists. Multiple shows daily.
Concerts on the Harvest Patio: Catch Kendal Conrad, Glen Miller — the Big One Man Band, Craig Thatcher & Nyke Van Wyk, Stacy Gabel, October Rose, and Robbie Lawrence and the Steel Workers Senior Day Celebration.
Lil’ Farm Hands: Kids can roll up their sleeves and dig in with fun chores and cool games. Meet and milk “Aggie Hall,” an animatronic talking cow.
Robinson’s Pig Paddling Porkers: Everybody’s favorite “oinkers” are back racing around the turf track and swimming to the finish line in their own Pig-lympic size pool.
Maingate Nightclub: Scheduled performances include The Boondock Barons and Band of Brothers, Flirtin With The Mob, Scott Marshall, Social 첥Ƶ, and tributes to Kiss and Metallica.
Dialed Action BMX Stunt Show: Watch BMX athletes soar over 10 feet in the air while doing tricks and flips on a bike.
Hog Diggity Dog: Animal entertainment featuring a 700-pound hog, 13 rescue dogs and two camels, and plenty of audience participation.
Wolves of the World: This entertaining and mystical show will educate the entire family about the habitat, behavior and history of these rescued wolves.
Moodonna: Catch the Allentown Fair Mascot roaming the fair grounds throughout the day.
W. Kris Clayon: This juggling stilt walker can be seen throughout the fair grounds.
Robbie’s Balloons & More: Watch a farm scene made out of balloons come to life.
Agri-Plex: See all the competitions, demonstrations and exhibits at the heart of the fair.
Agri-Land: Stroll through the barns in Agri-Land to see the pride of area farms, meet the dedicated farmers and maybe take a selfie or two with their four-legged friends.
Judging Tent: Watch the daily judging of animals, participate in Barnyard Olympics and other farm fun activities happening throughout the week and witness 4-H’ers selling their livestock to the highest bidder during the Lehigh County 4-H Livestock Sale on Saturday.
4-H Livestock Experience: Encounter a host of baby and friendly farm animals at this charming petting zoo run by and benefitting Lehigh County 4-Hers.
Culinary contests
Food contests and demonstrations will be happening every day, drawing amateur cooks and bakers looking to take home prizes for their master recipes for everything from fruit pies and quiche to mac and cheese and no-bake desserts.
Catch the Farm to Table series where some of the Lehigh Valley’s expert chefs provide demonstrations and culinary tips for you to take home to your kitchen. And, don’t miss out on the three-day Iron Chef Competition, where local chefs go head-to-head competing in this fairgoer favorite.
Participants in the Iron Chef competition are:
- Esteban Morales, director of dining services of Fountain View at Logan Square
- Chef/owner John Abela of Composed Catering
- Ryan Lukow, sous chef of Savory Grille
- Chef/owner Paul Rojrattana of La Kang Thai French and La Kang Thai Noodles & Seafood
- Chef Harrison Lemus of La Cocina Del Abuelo — Grandpa’s Kitchen
- Executive chef Roberto Lopez of Old Homestead Golf Club
- Sous chef Skip Spina of Paxos Restaurants — Blue Grillhouse
- Chef Dan Goulet, president of the Professionals Chefs Association of the Greater Lehigh Valley
- Stacy 첥Ƶes, executive chef of Kalahari Resort & Conventions
The last chef standing will go head-to-head against 2023 Iron Chef Courtney Davenport, executive sous chef of The Shelby.
Vote for your favorite foods
Allentown Fair President Daryl Urmy has issued a challenged to food vendors: Come up with a twist on fair food and compete for a prize as best new item.
Participating vendors will be marked with a red, diamond-shaped sign, and a map can be found on the fair’s website, Allentownfair.com. Here’s a look at the contenders:
The Rosston Dog from J&J Smokehouse: All-beef hot dog on a fresh steak roll, smothered in cheese and topped with barbecue pulled pork and bacon
Sweet corn fritters from Randevoo: With a Pennsylvania maple syrup sage brown butter dipping sauce
Apple turnover empanada from Buns on the Go LLC: A dessert empanada filled with apple pie filling and fried to perfection, then topped with powdered sugar and a caramel drizzle
Campfire Cone from Mon and Mel’s Sweet Scoops Ice Cream Truck: Waffle cone filled with hot fudge, marshmallow and graham cracker crumbs, topped with ice cream and coated with graham crackers, chocolate syrup, chocolate candy bar and toasted mallow
Grandpa’s Famous Birria Tacos from La Cocina del Abuelo: Slow-cooked marinated beef served in a crispy tortilla with melted cheese, onions and cilantro, served with consome
Carne-Val Asada Crepe from Fat Guy Crepes: Thin sliced flank steak, marinated in carne asada seasonings, with street corn and salsa
Crepe Cup from Fat Guy Crepes: Homemade whipped cream, mini pancakes and flavors including cherry cheesecake, Oreo cheesecake and classic
Loaded chicken and chip meal from Pocono Potato Chip Co.: Gourmet chips with chicken tender nuggets, cheese, sour cream, bacon and scallions
Grape leaves from Hot and Fresh Grill: Stuffed with a mixture of rice, seasonings, onions and fill
Danny’s Chicken Cordon Bleu from Danny’s Fine Foods: Deef-fried chicken smothered with sliced ham, Swiss and American cheese and mustard sauce
Poutine from Kopper Penny Koncessions: Fresh-cut fries layered with cheese curds and topped with gravy
The Tator-Mac Pizza from Scarlet Fire Pizza: Mac n’ cheese topped with tator tots, mozzarella cheese and red sauce
Root Beer Float Kettle Corn from Hoff’s Kettle Corn: Root beer-flavored and original kettle corn mixed to create a mind-blowing flavor
Grilled peanut butter chicken kabobs from Kou Kitchen LLC: Cube chicken breast seasoned and marinated in homemade peanut butter sauce, then grilled over an open flame
Birria nachos from La Casita de Familia: Crispy homemade tortilla shells topped with slow-cooked seasoned shredded beef, refried beans, cheese, cilantro, onion, tomato, sour cream and guacamole
S’mores donut from Amish Donuts: Donut topped with marshmallow fluff
Polish sampler from Cat’s Concessions: Deep fried kielbasi balls, deep fried halupki balls and homemade kiopsy
Breakfast in Bed from Beach Beans Coffee: Combines buttery, nutty and sweet flavors with caramel
More fair fun
From a scrapple eating contest Aug. 31 to a celebration of Hometown Heroes, there’s something for everyone at the Allentown Fair.
For more information:
