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| Allentown Fairgrounds | |
|---|---|
| Name | Allentown Fairgrounds |
| Type | Fairgrounds |
| Established | 1889 |
| Location | Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 46 acres |
Allentown Fairgrounds The Allentown Fairgrounds in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, is a historic exhibition complex hosting the annual Allentown Fair and year-round events. The grounds have ties to regional agriculture, entertainment, and civic life, connecting to organizations such as the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Lehigh Valley community institutions like Muhlenberg College, Lehigh University, and Cedar Crest College. The site has hosted fairs, concerts, political rallies, and exhibitions featuring performers and events linked to entities including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, and touring artists appearing on bills with promoters from Live Nation and AEG Presents.
The fairgrounds trace origins to 19th-century agricultural movements influenced by national trends such as the United States Department of Agriculture initiatives and state fairs modeled after the New York State Fair and the Ohio State Fair. Early governance involved local leaders from Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, including merchants and manufacturers with connections to companies such as Bethlehem Steel and the Lehigh Valley Railroad. During the Progressive Era, the site reflected reforms championed by figures tied to the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry and agricultural extension programs from Pennsylvania State University and Rutgers University. In the 20th century the grounds intersected with regional transportation changes driven by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Lehigh Valley Transit Company, and later Interstate 78 planning, while hosting wartime bond drives associated with the United Service Organizations and civil defense efforts during World War II. Postwar redevelopment engaged local governments, civic leaders from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, and preservation interests connected to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The complex encompasses exhibition halls, grandstands, a racetrack, exhibition barns, and fairways comparable in function to facilities at the New York State Fairgrounds, the San Diego County Fair, and the Minnesota State Fair. Onsite structures have included exhibition pavilions used by 4-H chapters, FFA chapters associated with Penn State Extension, and vendors coordinated with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the National FFA Organization. The grandstand has accommodated performances promoted by companies such as Live Nation and independent promoters who also book venues like the PPL Center, the TLA, and the Susquehanna Bank Center. Supporting infrastructure connects to utilities regulated by PPL Corporation and water services managed by Lehigh County Authority, while maintenance practices have involved contractors familiar with projects at Dorney Park and Hersheypark.
The annual fair, produced by the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, showcases livestock competitions judged by associations like the American Dairy Science Association, horticulture exhibits influenced by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and culinary contests akin to those at the Taste of Chicago and the Minnesota State Fair. Agricultural programming often intersects with outreach from Penn State Extension, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, while youth programs align with 4-H and FFA activities seen at events supported by the National FFA Organization and the National 4-H Council. Entertainment lineups have historically included county fair staples paralleling offerings at the Eastern States Exposition and the Illinois State Fair.
The fairgrounds have hosted concerts featuring artists whose tours also played venues like the Wachovia Spectrum, the Wells Fargo Center, and the Bethlehem Steel Stacks. Touring acts associated with record labels and agencies such as Live Nation, AEG Presents, and Concerts West have appeared on the grandstand stage alongside family shows presented by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and theatrical productions comparable to regional runs of touring Broadway companies like Nederlander Organization and SHN. Political rallies and speeches have attracted figures from the Republican National Committee, the Democratic National Committee, and state-level politicians connected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners. Sporting events and exhibitions have paralleled activities at venues such as Coca-Cola Park and casinos operated by entities like Sands Casino and Harrah's.
Access to the fairgrounds historically involved spurs and services provided by the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey, with later automobile access tied to U.S. Route 22 and Interstate 78. Public transit connections have been managed by Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA), with riders transferring from Amtrak services at the Lehigh Valley station or intercity buses operated by Greyhound and Martz Trailways. Parking and traffic planning reference practices used at regional sites including the PPL Center, SteelStacks, and Dorney Park, and coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation governs signage and road improvements near intersections with Hamilton Boulevard and North 17th Street.
Cultural influence extends to partnerships with regional arts organizations such as the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, the Miller Symphony Hall, and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, while community initiatives have linked the fairgrounds to nonprofits like the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley & NEPA. Notable moments include high-attendance concerts that paralleled ticketed events at the Sands Bethlehem Steel Stacks, charity drives coordinated with the American Red Cross, and exhibitions featuring agricultural innovators connected to Penn State and Cornell University cooperative extension programs. The site figures in local histories alongside institutions such as the Liberty Bell Museum, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and historic districts listed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, reflecting its role in civic life, regional culture, and the agricultural heritage of Lehigh County.
Category:Buildings and structures in Allentown, Pennsylvania Category:Fairs in Pennsylvania Category:Tourist attractions in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania