In 1852, the Lehigh County Agricultural Society launched the first of what would become a long-running Lehigh Valley tradition, the annual Great Allentown Fair. The first fair, which was held from October 6 to 8 that year on land east of Allentown's Fourth Street, between Union and Walnut streets,[2][3] was followed up the next year on a plot of land located between Fifth and Sixth streets and north of Liberty Street, which had recently been purchased by the society and transformed with the construction of a ticket office and two-story exhibition hall,[4] where fair attendees roamed on September 28, 29 and 30, 1853.[4]
An increasingly successful event, the annual fair continued to attract an audience but, in 1862, was cancelled due to the Civil War and the conversion of the fairgrounds into a training camp for the 176th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The Great Allentown Fair then resumed operations in 1863, continuing on until 1917 when the United States government converted the 46-acre grounds into Camp Crane, a training facility for the U.S. Army Ambulance Service, paying the agricultural society $37,0000 per year for its lease. Named in honor of Brigadier-General Charles H. Crane, who had served as surgeon general of the U.S. Army from 1882 to 1883, the camp was home to anywhere between 4,000 and 5,000 men at various points in time during World War I.[5]
Shortly after World War II, the Central States Racing Association (CSRA) held a "big car" (now sprint car) race at the fairgrounds.[6] The track reached capacity by 3:00pm with 124,172 paid admissions.[6] Thousands of additional spectators arrived later and had to watch outside the track walls.[6] The race was won by Jimmy Wilburn.[6]
Current attractions
The Allentown Fairgrounds currently operates multiple attractions, including:
Grandstand - A large outdoor stage where big-name musicians perform
Farmerama Theater - An amphitheater where talent contests are held and assorted daytime entertainment takes place
Music Tent - A tent where bands perform when an area as large as the Grandstand is not needed
Main Entrance Plaza - An area where special shows, such as juggling acts, are held
Agriplex/Agriland - The fair's agricultural-themed areas
During the rest of the year (apart from the week prior to and the week of the fair), the area beneath the grandstand, and an adjoining building, together host an indoor farmers' market, usually open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, but also open additional weekdays before and/or after major holidays.[7] The Agriplex buildings also host a wide variety of events throughout the year, which are listed separately on the fair's Web site.[8]
References
^"Allentown Fair - About Us". Allentownfair.com. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
^History of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, p. 8
^Nerl, Daryl (January 25, 2002), "Actors relive fair's genesis ** It was created in Allentown 150 years ago to entertain and promote farming.", The Morning Call, pp. B.01
^Kneller, Ryan. "100 years ago: Allentown Fairgrounds were training ground for WWI ambulance drivers." Allentown, Pennsylvania: Morning Call, May 27, 2017.
^ abcdBoettcher, Brian G. The Indianapolis 500, a History - Volume One: Resurrection and Blue Crowns. Constant Velocity Publishing. ISBN978-1-4760-3713-4. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Allentown Fair.
January 14, 2023
allentown, fairgrounds, located, north, 17th, street, allentown, pennsylvania, hosts, great, allentown, fair, annually, late, august, early, september, main, entrance, 2019, 1901, grandstand, 2018, hotel, 17th, street, 2020, fairgrounds, established, 1889, com. Allentown Fairgrounds is located at 302 North 17th Street in Allentown Pennsylvania It hosts the Great Allentown Fair annually in late August and early September Main entrance to Allentown Fairgrounds 2019 Allentown Fairgrounds c 1901 Allentown Fairgrounds Grandstand 2018 Allentown Fairgrounds Hotel at 448 N 17th Street 2020 The fairgrounds was established in 1889 and comprises 46 acres and is owned and operated by the Lehigh County Agricultural Society 1 Contents 1 History 2 Current attractions 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditIn 1852 the Lehigh County Agricultural Society launched the first of what would become a long running Lehigh Valley tradition the annual Great Allentown Fair The first fair which was held from October 6 to 8 that year on land east of Allentown s Fourth Street between Union and Walnut streets 2 3 was followed up the next year on a plot of land located between Fifth and Sixth streets and north of Liberty Street which had recently been purchased by the society and transformed with the construction of a ticket office and two story exhibition hall 4 where fair attendees roamed on September 28 29 and 30 1853 4 An increasingly successful event the annual fair continued to attract an audience but in 1862 was cancelled due to the Civil War and the conversion of the fairgrounds into a training camp for the 176th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry The Great Allentown Fair then resumed operations in 1863 continuing on until 1917 when the United States government converted the 46 acre grounds into Camp Crane a training facility for the U S Army Ambulance Service paying the agricultural society 37 0000 per year for its lease Named in honor of Brigadier General Charles H Crane who had served as surgeon general of the U S Army from 1882 to 1883 the camp was home to anywhere between 4 000 and 5 000 men at various points in time during World War I 5 Shortly after World War II the Central States Racing Association CSRA held a big car now sprint car race at the fairgrounds 6 The track reached capacity by 3 00pm with 124 172 paid admissions 6 Thousands of additional spectators arrived later and had to watch outside the track walls 6 The race was won by Jimmy Wilburn 6 Current attractions EditThe Allentown Fairgrounds currently operates multiple attractions including Grandstand A large outdoor stage where big name musicians perform Farmerama Theater An amphitheater where talent contests are held and assorted daytime entertainment takes place Music Tent A tent where bands perform when an area as large as the Grandstand is not needed Main Entrance Plaza An area where special shows such as juggling acts are held Agriplex Agriland The fair s agricultural themed areasDuring the rest of the year apart from the week prior to and the week of the fair the area beneath the grandstand and an adjoining building together host an indoor farmers market usually open Thursdays Fridays and Saturdays but also open additional weekdays before and or after major holidays 7 The Agriplex buildings also host a wide variety of events throughout the year which are listed separately on the fair s Web site 8 References Edit Allentown Fair About Us Allentownfair com Retrieved 25 September 2017 History of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society p 8 Nerl Daryl January 25 2002 Actors relive fair s genesis It was created in Allentown 150 years ago to entertain and promote farming The Morning Call pp B 01 a b History p 9 Kneller Ryan 100 years ago Allentown Fairgrounds were training ground for WWI ambulance drivers Allentown Pennsylvania Morning Call May 27 2017 a b c d Boettcher Brian G The Indianapolis 500 a History Volume One Resurrection and Blue Crowns Constant Velocity Publishing ISBN 978 1 4760 3713 4 Retrieved August 23 2020 Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market Always Fresh allentownfarmersmarket com Retrieved 25 September 2017 Allentown Fair Trade Shows amp Events Allentownfair com Retrieved 25 September 2017 Coordinates 40 36 06 N 75 29 47 W 40 60153 N 75 49625 W 40 60153 75 49625External links EditGreat Allentown Fair Allentown Farmers Market Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category Allentown Fair Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Allentown Fairgrounds amp oldid 1101941754, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
