Great Allentown Fair

Early history of the Allentown Fair

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. 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. This location was the site of the second fair, held September 28, 29 and 30 of the same year. 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.

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. 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. The "centennial" fair was a tremendous success.

New fairgrounds and new name

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. 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. One of the primary features of the new location was a new half-mile race track, with grandstands capable of seating 2,500. In celebration of the opening of the new fairgrounds, the fair was renamed the "Great Allentown Fair."

The Great Allentown Fair in the 20th Century

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." In 1905, racehorse Dan Patch set a record of 2:01 on the half-mile track.

In 1908, a new grandstand was built at the Allentown Fairgrounds that increased seating capacity from 2,500 to 10,000. As of 2009, this structure remains in use as the Fairgrounds' grandstand.

Between the years 1907 and 1914, airship races became a featured attraction at the fair. 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. 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.

The first auto race was held at the fair in 1915. 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). 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. In 1960, Johnny Thomson was killed during a race at the fair when his car crashed through the inside track fence. Although the last sanctioned auto race was held in 1968, 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 U.S. Army Ambulance Corps Service (USAACS). During this time, more than 20,000 soldiers lived in tents and barracks on the fairgrounds. 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.

In 1951, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, his wife, and his son Arthur attended "Father and Son" day at the Allentown Fair, a visit described by local historian Frank Whelan as "probably among the most significant moments in the fair's history."

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. Andy Williams introduced the Osmond Brothers in 1964. In 1964, Kate Smith made her first "community fair" performance at the Allentown Fair. 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. On August 8, 1974, Liza Minnelli delayed her concert while Richard Nixon's resignation speech  listen  was broadcast live over the public address system. Her performance later that night broke box office records at the Allentown Fair. Sell-out performances have included the Doobie Brothers (1980), Pat Benatar (1981), Rod Stewart (1984) and Bryan Adams (1985). In 1998, the Backstreet Boys set the record for the fastest sell-out of tickets.

Attractions

The Great Allentown Fair offers many attractions:

Grandstand performers

1956: Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
1957: Lou Walter's Latin Quarter Revue
1958: Variety show featuring Red Buttons, Ted Mack and Jonathan Winters
1959: Roy Rogers
1960: Grand Ole Opry Jamboree
1963: Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jimmy Durante and Red Skelton
1964: Andy Williams, The Osmond Brothers and Kate Smith
1965: Liberace
1966: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Perry Como
1967: The Supremes, Johnny Carson
1968: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Johnny Cash
1970: Johnny Cash
1971: Johnny Cash
1972: Neil Sedaka, The Osmond Brothers
1973: The Osmond Brothers, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations
1974: Olivia Newton-John and Liza Minnelli
1975: Johnny Cash, The Osmond Brothers
1977: Kansas, Cheap Trick, Foghat, Blackmores Rainbow w/Ronnie James Dio, Sonny and Cher
1978: Chicago, The Osmond Brothers
1979: Steve Martin
1980: Bill Cosby, The Doobie Brothers
1981: Pat Benatar, Iron Maiden
1982: Scorpions
1983: ZZ Top
1984: WWE, Rod Stewart, Berlin, Thompson Twins, Alabama, and Willie Nelson, The Osmond Brothers
1985: Alabama, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Foreigner, Kenny Rogers, The Oak Ridge Boys and The Pointer Sisters
1986: The Beach Boys, Dokken, Loverboy, Kenny Loggins, Wayne Newton, Kenny Rogers and Hank Williams, Jr.
1987: Alabama, Bryan Adams, The Beach Boys, Chicago, Loretta Lynn with Conway Twitty, Restless Heart and Run D.M.C.
1988: Alabama, Def Leppard, The Judds, Lynyrd Skynyrd, K.T. Oslin, Robert Palmer
1989: Alabama, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Metallica, The Cult, Loretta Lynn with Conway Twitty, Wayne Newton, Sandi Patti and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
1990: Alabama, Michael Bolton, Bobby Brown (scheduled to perform, then canceled), Chicago, Kenny G and Barbara Mandrell
1991: Sheena Easton, Joe Piscopo, George Thorogood and the Destroyers
1992: James Taylor, Randy Travis, The Beach Boys
1993: Metallica, Metal Church
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
1999: Thursday, Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, Tim McGraw, Def Leppard
2000: Martina McBride (Replaced LeAnn Rimes), Destiny's Child, Goo Goo Dolls, Def Leppard, BBmak
2001: Blink 182, New Found Glory, Styx,, Reo Speedwagon, Vertical Horizon, 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, and Michelle Branch
2004: Mötley Crüe, Yes, Dream Theater
2005: Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin
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
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, Kiss, Jeff Dunham, Chris Stapleton