Allentown Fair Cake Decorating Contest

Great Allentown Fair

Genre	Agricultural
Dates	02 - 06 September 2021
Location(s)	Allentown, Pennsylvania
Years active	1852–1861, 1863–1916, 1919–41, 1946–2019, 2021–
Website	http://www.allentownfairpa.org/

The Great Allentown Fair is an annual fair and agricultural show that is held at the Allentown Fairgrounds in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It is operated by the Lehigh County Agricultural Society.^[1] It is one of the oldest fairs in the United States, and one of the largest in the state of Pennsylvania.

The fair was first held in 1852 to showcase agricultural advancements and to entertain patrons. It has since evolved to appeal to a broader audience, adding more entertainment and dining options.^[1] Although it stays true to its agricultural roots by offering petting zoos, livestock judging contests, and a farmer's market, the modern-day fair focuses more on entertainment; it boasts a carnival, talent shows, and concerts.^[2] ^[3]

History [edit]

Early history of the Allentown Fair [edit]

The Lehigh County Agricultural Society held the first fair from October 6 to October 8, 1852, on Livingston's Lawn, a 5-acre (20,000 m²) plot located east of Fourth Street, between Walnut and Union Streets, in Allentown.^[4] ^[5] The initial fair was so successful that in 1853 the Society undertook the purchase of a larger plot of land, north of Liberty Street and between Fifth and Sixth Streets, on which ticket offices and a two-story exhibition hall were built.^[6] This location was the site of the second fair, held September 28, 29 and 30 of the same year.^[6] One of the most popular attractions of these early fairs was Stephen Lentz's Flying Coach, a brass band that performed atop a hay wagon.^[5] ^[7]

In 1862, there was no fair due to the Civil War. During this time, the fairgrounds were used as a staging site for the 176th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers.^[7] The fair resumed in 1863. In 1876, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a large reenactment of the Battle of Bunker Hill was held, which included many of Lehigh County's Civil War regiments and veterans as participants.^[8] The "centennial" fair was a tremendous success.^[8]

New fairgrounds and new name [edit]

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, the popularity of the Allentown Fair continued to grow. However, increased attendance led to dissatisfaction regarding the fairground's size, facilities, short race track and small grandstand.^[9] In 1889, the Lehigh County Agricultural Society purchased a plot of land on Seventeenth Street, between Chew and Liberty Streets, to serve as the new fairgrounds.^[9] One of the primary features of the new location was a new half-mile race track, with grandstands capable of seating 2,500.^[9] In celebration of the opening of the new fairgrounds, the fair was renamed the "Great Allentown Fair."^[9]

The Great Allentown Fair in the 20th Century [edit]

The Horse Exhibit Hall on the Allentown Fairgrounds in the early 1900s.

From its earliest days, horse racing was a popular event at the Allentown Fair. In 1902, the fair's half-mile track was regarded as "one of the finest in the country."^[10] In 1905, racehorse Dan Patch set a record of 2:01 on the half-mile track.^[11] In 1908, the present-day grandstand was built at the Allentown Fairgrounds, increasing the track's seating capacity from 2,500 to 10,000.

Between the years 1907 and 1914, airship races became a featured attraction at the fair.^[12] In 1909, two airships - one bearing the American flag, the other that of Germany, took off from the fairgrounds, raced down Hamilton Street, circled the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, and returned. The airship bearing the American flag won the race.^[12] The following year, pilot Glenn Curtiss took off in his plane, using 19th Street as his runway, and flew over the Allentown Fair, in what was the first known heavier-than-air flight in the Lehigh Valley.^[11]

The first auto race was held at the fair in 1915.^[13] Sprint car races were sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (until 1955), the United States Automobile Club (1956–1966) and the International Motor Contest Association (1967 and 1968).^[13] Sprint car legends Tommy Hinnershitz and Ira Vail both captured numerous wins on the half-mile dirt track, and Indianapolis 500 winners Mario Andretti, A. J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones all raced at the Allentown Fair before going on to greater fame.^[13] In 1960, Johnny Thomson was killed during a race at the fair when his car crashed through the inside track fence.^[13] Although the last sanctioned auto race was held in 1968,^[13] demolition derbies continued to be popular event.

There was no fair held in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I. During this period, the fairground was transformed into Camp Crane, a training facility for the United States Army Ambulance Service (USAAS). During this time, more than 20,000 soldiers lived in tents and barracks on the fairgrounds.^[14] The caretaker's house, which stood at 1701 Chew Street until demolished in 1960 to make room for a bank, was used as the officer's club.^[15]

The fair wasn't held between 1942 & 1945. In 1951, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, his wife, and his son Arthur attended "Father and Son" day at the Allentown Fair,^[16] a visit described by local historian Frank Whelan as "probably among the most significant moments in the fair's history."^[17]

Beginning in the 1960s, musical concerts and performances held during Fair week starting drawing major acts and large crowds. Roy Rogers and Lawrence Welk appeared during the 1960s, as did Johnny Carson and a touring version of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.^[18] Andy Williams introduced the Osmond Brothers in 1964.^[18] In 1964, Kate Smith made her first "community fair" performance at the Allentown Fair.^[18] Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass headlined in 1966, and the back cover of their album S.R.O. even featured a photograph taken during their performance.^[18] On August 8, 1974, Liza Minnelli delayed her concert while Richard Nixon's resignation speech listen(help·info) was broadcast live over the public address system.^[18] Her performance later that night broke box office records at the Allentown Fair.^[18] Sell-out performances have included the Doobie Brothers (1980), Pat Benatar (1981), Rod Stewart (1984) and Bryan Adams (1985).^[19] In 1998, the Backstreet Boys set the record for the fastest sell-out of tickets.^[11]

The new millennium [edit]

2020 saw the COVID-19 pandemic cause its first cancellation in 75 years.

Attractions [edit]

The Great Allentown Fair offers many attractions:^[3]

Grandstand - A large outdoor stage where the fair's big-name musicians perform
Farmerama Theater - An amphitheater where talent contests are held and assorted daytime entertainment takes place
Music Tent - A tent where bands perform when an area as large as the Grandstand is not needed
Main Entrance Plaza - An area where special shows, such as juggling acts, are held
Powers Great American Midways - The fair's carnival
Agriplex/Agriland - The fair's agricultural-themed areas

Grandstand performers [edit]

1956: Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians^[20]
1957: Lou Walter's Latin Quarter Revue^[20]
1958: Variety show featuring Red Buttons, Ted Mack and Jonathan Winters^[20]
1959: Roy Rogers^[20]
1960: Grand Ole Opry Jamboree^[20]
1963: Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jimmy Durante and Red Skelton^[20]
1964: Andy Williams,^[20] The Osmond Brothers^[20] and Kate Smith^[18]
1965: Liberace^[20]
1966: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Perry Como^[20]
1967: The Supremes, Johnny Carson^[20]
1968: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the Cowsills^[20]
1970: Johnny Cash^[20]
1971: Johnny Cash^[20]
1972: Neil Sedaka, The Osmond Brothers^[20]
1973: The Osmond Brothers, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations^[20]
1974: Olivia Newton-John^[20] and Liza Minnelli^[18]
1975: Johnny Cash, The Osmond Brothers^[20]
1976: K.C. and the Sunshine Band
1977: Kansas, Cheap Trick, Foghat, Blackmores Rainbow w/Ronnie James Dio, Sonny and Cher^[20]
1978: Chicago, The Osmond Brothers^[20]
1979: Steve Martin^[20]
1980: Bill Cosby,^[21] The Doobie Brothers^[19]
1981: Pat Benatar, Iron Maiden^[20]
1982: Scorpions^[20]
1983: ZZ Top^[20]
1984: WWE, Rod Stewart,^[22] Berlin,^[22] Thompson Twins,^[22] Alabama, and Willie Nelson, The Osmond Brothers
1985: Alabama, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Foreigner, Kenny Rogers, The Oak Ridge Boys and The Pointer Sisters^[23]
1986: The Beach Boys, Dokken, Loverboy, Kenny Loggins, Wayne Newton, Kenny Rogers and Hank Williams Jr.^[24]
1987: Alabama, Bryan Adams, The Beach Boys, Chicago, Loretta Lynn with Conway Twitty, Restless Heart and Run D.M.C.^[25]
1988: Alabama, Def Leppard, The Judds, Lynyrd Skynyrd, K.T. Oslin, Robert Palmer^[26]
1989: Alabama, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Metallica, The Cult, Loretta Lynn with Conway Twitty, Wayne Newton, Sandi Patti and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers^[27]
1990: Alabama, Michael Bolton, Bobby Brown (scheduled to perform, then canceled), Chicago, Kenny G and Barbara Mandrell^[28]
1991: Damn Yankees, Bad Company, Sheena Easton, Joe Piscopo, George Thorogood and the Destroyers^[29]
1992: James Taylor, Randy Travis, The Beach Boys
1993: Metallica, Metal Church, Barry Manilow
1994: Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, Danzig, Barry Manilow, The Beach Boys, Alan Jackson, World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling (then known as WWF), Reba McEntire, Vince Gill
1995: Alabama, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Jeff Beck, Santana, Montel Jordan, Boyz II Men, Tony Bennett, Brooks and Dunn
1996: Travis Tritt, Goo Goo Dolls, Gin Blossoms, Michael Bolton, Brooks and Dunn, Wynonna, Crosby, Stills, and Nash
1997: Jon Secada, The Steve Miller Band, Boston, ZZ Top, Bryan White, Vince Gill
1998: Alan Jackson, The Backstreet Boys, Frank Sinatra Jr^[11]
1999: Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, Tim McGraw, Def Leppard
2000: Martina McBride (Replaced LeAnn Rimes), Destiny's Child, Goo Goo Dolls, Tonic, Def Leppard, BBmak
2001: Blink 182, New Found Glory, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Vertical Horizon, SR-71, Peter Frampton
2002: Journey, Alabama, Alica Keys, Jimmy Eat World, The Juliana Theory, Meat Loaf, Dennis DeYoung, Coheed And Cambria (scheduled to play; however, due to band issues My Chemical Romance played in their place)
2003: Alan Jackson, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Brooks & Dunn, Def Leppard, Sugar Ray, Michelle Branch, Don't Look Down, Thursday, New Found Glory
2004: Mötley Crüe, Yes, Dream Theater
2005: Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Alan Jackson
2006: The Black Eyed Peas, My Chemical Romance(scheduled to play but cancelled) Sonic Youth, Ween, Taking Back Sunday, Circa Survive, Hot Like A Robot
2007: Hootie and the Blowfish, Counting Crows, Carrie Underwood, Hilary Duff, American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Hinder, Papa Roach
2008: Brooks & Dunn, Daughtry, Jonas Brothers, Toby Keith, Metro Station, Secondhand Serenade, Simple Plan, The Doodlebops and ZZ Top^[30]
2009: Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, Jeff Dunham, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Jimmy Wayne, Kelly Clarkson, and Tim McGraw
2010: Keith Urban, Jeff Dunham, Rush, Justin Bieber, Weezer, The Gaslight Anthem, Lady Antebellum
2011: Bruno Mars, Marc Anthony, Big Time Rush, Sugarland, Journey, Night Ranger, Foreigner, Hot Chelle Rae, 3 Doors Down, Carnival of Madness Tour 2011
2012: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Victoria Justice, The Band Perry, Blake Shelton, J. Geils Band, The Fixx
2013: Jeff Dunham, John Mayer, Austin Mahone/Bridgit Mendler, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan
2014: Mötley Crüe, Pitbull, Alice Cooper, Tim McGraw and Jana Kramer, Lady Antebellum and Joe Nichols, Hunter Hayes
2015: Carrie Underwood, Def Leppard, Styx, Tesla, Deadmau5, Little Big Town, Jim Gaffigan
2016: Meghan Trainor, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Owen, Brandon Lay, Kiss, The Dead Daisies, Jeff Dunham, Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne
2017: John Mellencamp, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Pentatonix, MEGA 99.5 'Summer's Last BASH', Lauren Alaina, Carlene Carter, Lindsay Ell, Dan + Shay
2018: Sugarland, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Gym Class Heroes, 311, The Offspring, Gabriel Iglesias, Niall Horan
2019: Hall & Oates, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, Impractical Jokers, Live and Bush, Why Don't We
2020: NONE
2021: 5 Seconds of Summer, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood

References [edit]

Lehigh County Agricultural Society (1902), History of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, Allentown, Pennsylvania: Berkemeyer, Keck & Co

Notes [edit]

^ ^a ^b "About The Great Allentown Fair". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03 .
^ "2008 Agri-Land Events". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03 .
^ ^a ^b "Entertainment At The Great Allentown Fair". Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03 .
^ History of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, p. 8
^ ^a ^b Nerl, Daryl (January 25, 2002), "Actors relive fair's genesis ** It was created in Allentown 150 years ago to entertain and promote farming.", The Morning Call, pp. B.01
^ ^a ^b History, p. 9
^ ^a ^b History, p. 13
^ ^a ^b History, p. 15
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d History, p. 17
^ History, page 25
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Great Allentown Fair 150 Years", The Morning Call, pp. S.8, August 25, 2002, ProQuest 393152499
^ ^a ^b Whelan, Frank (September 7, 2005), "They soared through air with ease ** Allentown Fair featured airships and airplanes from 1907-14", The Morning Call, pp. B.6, ProQuest 393236340
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Devlin, Ron; Zhang, Peizhen; Shen, Zheng-Kang; Prescott, W. H.; Svarc, J. L. (August 24, 2003), "A rich racing history ** The glory days of sprint cars at the Allentown Fairgrounds are captured in the work of preservationists", The Morning Call; Geophysical Research Letters, 30 (10), pp. J.3, Bibcode:2003GeoRL..30.1496G, doi:10.1029/2003GL017090, ProQuest 393122405
^ Wlazalek, Ann (May 20, 2002), "Army's Camp Crane remembered at fairgrounds ** Allentown site saw World War I era of ambulance training.", The Morning Call, pp. B.1
^ Whelan, Frank (August 14, 2002), "Home used to house fair groundskeeper.", The Morning Call, pp. B.4
^ Whelan, Frank (January 30, 2000), "MacArthur's Trip To Valley Had Residents At Attention - The General Brought His Wife And Son.", The Morning Call, pp. B.03, ProQuest 393019311
^ Whelan, Frank (January 16, 2002), "MacArthur Road's heroic name.", The Morning Call, pp. B.4, ProQuest 393090949
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Wittman, Bob (August 25, 2002), "The Great Allentown Fair 150 Years 1852-2002 ** Why we're drawn to the fair.", The Morning Call, pp. S.01
^ ^a ^b "Morning Call Film Fest In Fifth Year; Bryan Adams Show Was A Sellout.", The Morning Call, pp. D.05, June 28, 1985
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x Whelan, Frank (August 26, 1984), "The Allentown Fair: Its Patrons Have Seen It All - From A One-Horse Merry-Go-Round To Raucous Rock 'N' Rollers.", The Morning Call, pp. F.01
^ Lawler, Sylvia (February 2, 1985), "Whoever The Real Bill Cosby Is, He's Funny And America Loves Him.", The Morning Call, pp. F.01
^ ^a ^b ^c "Allentown Fair Books Berlin, Thompson Twins.", The Morning Call, pp. B.03, July 26, 1984
^ Willistein, Paul (August 25, 1985), "1985 Allentown Fair Sights, Sounds And Merriment On Tap For 133rd Edition.", The Morning Call, pp. F.01
^ Willistein, Paul (June 26, 1986), "Summer Preview Pendulum Swings The Other Way Rock Concerts.", The Morning Call, pp. D.01
^ Willistein, Paul (August 30, 1987), "Fair Placing More Emphasis On Agricultural Aspect This Year Allentown Fair Goes Back To Its Agricultural Roots.", The Morning Call, pp. F.01
^ "Lynyrd Skynyrd To Pay Tribute At The Allentown Fair.", The Morning Call, pp. A.68, May 21, 1988
^ Jackson, Kimberly (August 29, 1989), "Fair To Open With Special Family Rate Exhibitors Are Preparing For Agricultural Events.", The Morning Call, pp. B.01
^ Jackson, Kimberly (July 25, 1990), "Bart Simpson Invites You, Dudes, To Allentown Fair.", The Morning Call, pp. B.03
^ "Fair Schedules Sheena Easton, Joe Piscopo Thorogood Set For Aug. 31", The Morning Call, pp. B.10, June 30, 1991
^ "2008 Grandstand Performers". Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03 .

External links [edit]

Great Allentown Fair Official website