Early history

Postcard of Horse Exhibit Hall at the Great Allentown Fair at the Allentown Fairgrounds in 1909

The Great Allentown Fair in 1941

Allentown Fairgrounds Grandstand in 2018

The main entrance to the Allentown Fairgrounds in 2019

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 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.^[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]

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."^[10] In 1905, racehorse Dan Patch set a record of 2:01 on the half-mile track.^[11] In 1911, the present-day grandstand was built at the Allentown Fairgrounds, increasing the overall 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 1920.^[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 and 1945 due to World War II. 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 1950s, 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^ⓘ was broadcast live over the public address system.^[18] Her performance later that night broke box office records at the Allentown Fair.^[18]

21st century

In 2020, for the first time in 75 years, the festival was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in 2021.