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 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.

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. The fair opens Wednesday and runs through Labor Day.

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.

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 lineup 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.

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.

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.

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.”

Admission

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.

For more information, visit https://www.allentownfair.com/