In her seven years as Marketing and Entertainment Manager of the Great Allentown Fair, Jessica Ciecwisz has seen it all.

She’s even seen a year when there was no Allentown Fair.

“Seven years, six fairs, I’ve been here,” Ciecwisz says.

The Allentown Fair was not held in 2020 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown, believed to be only the seventh time that the Allentown Fair was not held since its 1852 founding.

In 2023, when the Fair was ready to get back to normal, it was anything but normal for Ciecwisz. She was on maternity leave.

“Last year, I came back nine days before the Fair. I was here in a post-partum fog,” says Ciecwisz.

She and her husband, Colby, welcomed their first child, Saylor, now 13-months-old.

“As the Fair approaches, it gets exciting for Allentown and the surrounding area,” says Ciecwisz.

“We’ve been here for 172 years,“ Ciecwisz says of the Allentown Fair.

“There’s not a lot of organizations who can say that. And our mission has not changed since 1852. We’re here to put a spotlight on agriculture,” says Ciecwisz.

That spotlight begins on the west side of the 46-acre Allentown Fairgrounds, bounded by 17th, Liberty and Chew streets, Allentown, where the Fair is held. This year’s dates are Aug. 28 - Sept. 2 Labor Day.

Allentown Fair CEO and Chairwoman is Beverly Gruber.

Agri-Land

The west end of the Fair, dubbed “Agri-Land,” is where livestock judging takes place for dairy cattle, beef, sheep and wool, swine, goats, rabbits and cavies.

Again for 2024, Fair officials state in the Premium List Rules and Regulations: “Poultry, poultry products, eggs, feathers and the like will not be permitted at the 2024 Fair.”

According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website, the Department of Agriculture found avian influenza, also known bird flu, in chickens, beginning n 2022.

“There will be no pigeons, chickens, pretty much all things feathers,” says Ciecwisz says of the 2024 Fair.

The preparation, organization and judging under the big tent and inside the Agri-Plex takes a lot of time and work.

“It’s amazing the amount of volunteers and superintendents who come back year after year and just have a love of the Fair,” Ciecwisz says.

“It takes a village and the superintendents of the departments are so passionate,” says Ciecwisz.

In Agri-Land are the Judging Tent presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lil’ Farm Hands presented by Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.

Agri-Plex

Inside the Agri-Plex are showcases, tables, shelves and wall displays of the best of what is grown, sewn, cooked, created and collected.

The 2024 Culinary Contests sponsored by PenTeleData are held each day of the Fair.

There are “Farm to Table” demonstrations, an “Iron Chef” competition, and “The Art of Brewing” presented by Lehigh Valley Homebrewers.

The Centennial Stage has daily talks and other activities.

A lot of entertainment is included in the admission price to the Allentown Fair.

Adjacent to the Agri-Plex is Harvest Patio, sponsored by ArtsQuest, with a line-up of concerts that includes those by Kendal Conrad, Craig Thatcher and Nyke Van Wyk, and Stacy Gabel.

Nearby is entertainment by Mighty Mike, a strongman; Flippenout trampoline show; Wolves of the World, and Robinson’s Pig Paddling Porkers.

“They’re just a Fair classic,” Ciecwisz says of the Robinson’s attraction.

Farmerama

The Astound Broadband Farmerama Theater, on the Liberty Street side of the west end, is where the Great Allentown Fair Opening Ceremonies, 5 p.m. Aug. 28, and the 2024 Fair Queen Contest and Queen Coronation, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 are held.

“The Farmerama is just jam-packed with all kinds of entertainment this year,” says Ciecwisz.

“Stacey Gabel has a kids’ show [2 p.m. Aug. 29] because of the Blippy Grandstand show [5:30 p.m. Aug. 29],” Ciecwisz says.

Farmerama entertainment includes:

“ABE Idol,” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29, hosted by Jerry Padden of Cat Country.29. The winner can receive a trip to Nashville. The contest is sponsored by Cat Country radio and Lehigh Valley International Airport.

Big Easy Easton Brass, presented by the Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society, 12:30 p.m. Sept. 1

Allentown Band concert, 5 p.m. Sept. 2

“Hog Doggity Dog & More” has several performances, featuring a 700-pound hog, 13 rescue dogs and two camels.

Carnival Midway

Powers and Thomas Midway Entertainment continues Powers Midway Entertainment, which has been at the Fair since 2008.

“Corky Powers is starting to retire and not travel as much,” says Ciecwisz. “They’re fourth and fifth generation.”

MainGate

In the MainGate are The Four Horsemen, a Metallica tribute band, 8 p.m. Aug. 30, with Scott Marshall opening, and Strutter, a Kiss tribute band, 8 p.m. Aug. 31.

In the MainGate Courtyard is Dialed Action BMX Stunt Show with several performances.

Grandstand

Because of the illness of lead singer Ann Wilson of Heart, the group’s tour was postponed, including its 7 p.m. Aug. 28 concert at the Allentown Fair. Cheap Trick, which was the opening act, headlines with Blue Oyster Cult as opening act.

“They were still looking to do shows this summer. We had a good reaction to them being on the bill. And the routing worked for Blue Oyster Cult,” says Ciecwisz.

Grandstand concerts are Blippi Live!, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 29; Brad Paisley, 7 p.m. Aug. 30; Pentatonix, 7 p.m. Aug. 31; Jeff Dunham, 7 p.m. Sept. 1, and J&J Demolition Derby, 5 p.m. Sept. 2.

“Tickets are available for all the shows,” says Ciecwisz. “You can save money on Ticketmaster fees if you purchase tickets at the box office.”

Special admissions

The Allentown Fair has several admission offers.

Opening Night Aug. 28 is $3 (normally $5) with a canned good for Second Harvest.

Aug. 29 is Kistler O’Brien Fire Protection “Red White and Thank You Military Day.” Past or serving military personnel have free admission. The “Home Town Hero” will be honored at 2 p.m. Aug. 29 at Harvest Patio.

Aug 29 and 30 are “Weekday Welcome,” with free admission noon - 2 p.m.

Sept. 2 Labor Day is American Bank “Senior Day,” with free admission for senior citizens.

There are no special admission offers Aug. 31 or Sept. 1.

Four years out from Covid, the Allentown Fair continues some practices that were instituted.

“At this point, there are changes that every venue has made, but we’re back to normal,” says Ciecwisz.

“It’s ‘the new normal,’ as people like to say.

“The hand-washing stations will still be out.

“We will continue to have the metal detection at the gates.

“There will be extra metal detection for the Grandstand shows.

“Last year, we had 11 [metal detectors] onsite. This year, there will be 13 [metal detectors.”

Grandstand headliners notwithstanding, the real headliner at the Allentown Fair is agriculture.

Says Ciecwisz:

“Everyone’s now interested in where their food comes from. It’s interesting to see that dynamic change. No matter who, old or young, you are interested in where your food comes from. And our whole west end shows that.

“It’s just telling of who we do this Fair for. The west end is the heart of the Fair.”

Information: https://www.allentownfair.com/