Mayfair Festival of the Arts, the free three-day event that heralds the unofficial start of summer in the Lehigh Valley, returns to the Allentown campus of Cedar Crest College for its fourth year Memorial Day weekend.

The festival brings back popular bands, favorite foods and more crafts than ever May 27 to 29.

Cedar Crest College took over Mayfair in 2018 after rain-swelled flooding at its former location in Cedar Beach Park, as well as fencing and ticketing of the event, had a negative impact.

Audra Kahr, Cedar Crest College Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer, who heads Mayfair, says, “It’s about more than just a festival. It’s about bringing community together and bringing people to our beautiful campus.”

The festival took a year off in 2020 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown, but returned in 2021.

“Despite not so great weather and COVID-19, the festival made money last year,” Kahr says.

“It was the first large-scale festival that happened [in the Lehigh Valley after the shutdown] and people were really excited to get out.

“For us, it’s a win because we were able to bring vendors back and celebrate music.”

Kahr says that there won’t be any pandemic restrictions in place at Mayfair 2022. However, on-site signs will encourage social-distancing and hand-washing.

Kahr says the festival has seen “significant growth in the number of artists and vendors” and that spaces at an indoor artists market “sold out very quickly” with 20 artists registered.

Nearly 20 more artists will be set up on the lawn down to the main tent, including nine artists-in-action who will demonstrate their work.

Kahr says a variety of crafts includes fabric art, resin tables, wood-carving, candles, sign art and gemstone jewelry.

Popular bands from prior years at Mayfair return to the main stage, Kahr says, including Philadelphia Funk Authority, 7 - 10 p.m. May 27; Go Go Gadjet, 7 - 10 p.m. May 28, and Sofa Kings, 7 - 10 p.m. May 29.

New is Reservoir Hill, 4 p.m. May 28, which Kahr says is the result of requests from festival-goers to have a country-rock band.

She says “everyone wants the Large Flowerheads and Jimmy and the Parrots.”

The Large Flowerheads are at 2 p.m. May 29. Jimmy and the Parrots are at 3 - 6 p.m. May 29.

New this year, the bandstand stage, which is the festival’s second stage, will be tented. In previous years, the secondary stage hosted mainly solo performers and smaller acts.

“Since the stage will have cover, we can accommodate larger acts like the Billy Bauer Band,” Kahr says.

The festival has added more creative workshops, which Kahr says have been very popular.

“The fairy-garden workshop has come back every year,” she says. This year’s fairy-garden workshop is 1 p.m. May 28.

Other workshops include nature photography walk and talk, 3 p.m. May 28; paint pouring, 4 p.m. May 28; Kokedama class, 1 p.m. May 29, and paint and sip, 4 p.m. May 29.

A fee and registration is required for workshops.

Popular food stands, including Bull and Bear Restaurant, Heaven On A Bun, Take a Taco and the Puerto Rican Cultural Association, will make sure “there is plenty to eat,” Kahr says.

Franklin Hill Vineyards will have an assortment of wines. Beer will also be available.

Kahr says she’s hoping for good weather, but says entertainment is presented rain or shine.

Proceeds from Mayfair go toward scholarships at Cedar Crest College.

“We just want to bring the community together again,” Kahr says. “The festival is a lot of work but we are fortunate to have many volunteers.

“Mayfair is something we plan to continue for a long time,” says Kahr.

Mayfair, 4 - 10 p.m. May 27; noon - 10 p.m. May 28, 29. Information and to register for workshops: www.cedarcrest.edu/mayfair