Allentown Fair is ‘baack’ for a 171st year

• The 171st Allentown Honest will probably be held Wednesday by means of Monday, Sept. 4 on the fairgrounds, seventeenth and Liberty streets in Allentown
• Wednesday’s opening is highlighted by a live performance by REO Speedwagon and Styx on the grandstand stage
• The honest can have rides, displays, varied kinds of meals and drinks, and judged contests of animals and produce

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Nice Allentown Honest is again.
So, too, is Scott Williamson.

Burly and bearded, Williamson, 60, a Bethlehem native, is 111 years youthful than the honest.

However he is again for a forty fourth yr, the previous 30 as upkeep supervisor.

He is again once more for the love of serving to put collectively an unimaginable and extremely anticipated Lehigh Valley celebration that begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday and runs by means of 9 p.m. Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4.

Williamson is again to coordinate and guarantee every thing on the honest — the venues, distributors, most important stage, the electrical energy, each construction giant and small, each “i” dotted and “t” crossed — is simply excellent for the 200,000 guests anticipated over the six-day occasion.

Williamson is again as a result of … ?

“As a result of the honest is in my blood,” Williamson mentioned Tuesday whereas seated in a golf cart close to the principle grandstand stage, the place last preparations have been being made for the opening night time live performance that includes REO Speedwagon and Styx.

Phil Gianficaro

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LehighValleyNews.com

“Having the ability to be concerned in remodeling the fairgrounds from an empty parking zone to what it turns into for the opening of the honest is essential to me,” Williamson mentioned.

“We begin preparing virtually three months earlier than the honest; portray some issues, reconfiguring others.

“I like it. And I’ll preserve doing it so long as I keep wholesome.”

Meals, leisure, eye-opening sights

Allentown Honest, rated among the many Prime 75 gala’s in America, once more will current an eclectic mixture of meals, treats, leisure, video games and displays to please all ages and pursuits throughout 46 acres of the fairgrounds.

Introduced by Lehigh County Agricultural Society in 1852, the honest started as a group celebration to advance agriculture, livestock, home and mechanical arts within the Lehigh Valley.

This yr’s theme, “Residence Grown Enjoyable,” was chosen by the advertising and marketing division.

Among the many sights at this yr’s honest — lots of that are free — are the judging of cattle at Agri-Plex Sq.; pig races on floor and in a swimming pool; The Flying Wallendas performing high-wire acts, trampoline acrobats hovering as much as 25 ft; BMX stunt reveals; judging of homegrown greens, merchandise and herbs from the area’s farms, gardens and houses; an Iron Chef competitors; a petting zoo; occasions for kids; displays’ carnival rides; and a lot extra.

Phil Gianficaro

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LehighValleyNews.com

An eye fixed-opening attraction within the Agra-Plex constructing is a 740-pound pumpkin named Dora. Owned by Lorrie Rauch of New Tripoli, the enormous squash received first place in its class in judging Tuesday.

‘An amazing honest’

Among the many new sights are two Halfway rides — Tesla and Wipeout — and occasions by the Lehigh Valley Homebrewers on Monday.

“There’s nothing higher to do from Wednesday by means of Labor Day than come to the honest,” Allentown Honest Advertising and marketing and Leisure Supervisor Jessica Ciecwisz mentioned. “We’ve one thing for everybody.”

Whereas lots of the distributors have been a part of the honest for a few years, others are new to the occasion — one even touring to Allentown from 2 1/2 hours away.

“It is a nice honest and we wished to be right here this yr,” mentioned Ronald Starliper, proprietor of Smokin’ Soul BBQ, of Chambersburg, Franklin County.

“We won’t await individuals to style our meals. We’re excited to be right here.”

Phil Gianficaro

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LehighValleyNews.com