The 2020 Great Allentown Fair has been canceled
Toby Keith and Carrie Underwood 2020 concerts rescheduled to 2021
For Release: Wednesday, July 8 at 8:30 a.m.
Allentown, PA – The 2020 Great Allentown Fair that was scheduled to be held September 1-7 is canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Beverly Gruber, president of the nonprofit Lehigh County Agricultural Society that owns and operates the Fair and its home Allentown Fairgrounds, announced the unanimous decision of the organization’s executive committee.
“We took into account all aspects that go into producing a safe premier event and ultimately the health and welfare of the thousands of local, out-of-town and out-of-state fairgoers, exhibitors, vendors and entertainers was paramount in our decision.”
One of Pennsylvania’s oldest and largest events, the Fair started in 1852 as a community celebration of agricultural achievements with entertainment and amusements of the day added. It quickly evolved into the nationally-renown exposition it is today with a crowded midway of rides and games, long avenues of eateries, thousands of farm, garden and home exhibits judged and on display and a variety of entertainment venues including its 10,500-seat Grandstand featuring the biggest acts in the concert industry.
Gruber said the committee proceeded cautiously with Fair planning since March but it has become apparent that staging the seven-day event ending on Labor Day as it is meant to be, with thousands of people enjoying its exciting atmosphere, is no longer feasible. “We feel it’s best to work toward a celebratory 2021 Fair that we will strive to make better than ever,” she said.
Two of the grandstand concerts have been postponed until next year’s Fair. The Toby Keith with special guests Matt Stell and Laine Hardy concert is rescheduled to Thursday, September 2, 2021. The Carrie Underwood concert is rescheduled to Friday, September 3, 2021. All tickets purchased for these shows will be honored in 2021. All online ticket buyers will receive direct communication regarding their tickets. An official announcement regarding the reopening of the Fair’s box office will be announced soon.
The last time the Fair was canceled was in 1917 and 1918 when the 48-acre Allentown Fairgrounds was converted into a major mobilization and training camp for recruits into the United States Army Ambulance Service, an American response to France’s request for that specific assistance in World War I.
