The 166th Great Allentown Fair will open this year with “the world’s most powerful motorsport” revving its engines at the Allentown Fairgrounds’ historic racetrack. A major Truck and Tractor Pull will kick off the Fair on Tuesday, August 28 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Fair’s Grandstand. A classic attraction at agricultural fairs nationwide, the last event of its kind at the Fair happened in 1988.
Tickets for general admission seating are $15 and $10 for ages 12 and under and are on sale now. The Fair’s traditional finale at the Grandstand, the J&J Demolition Derby at 5 p.m. on Labor Day Monday, September 3, has separate tickets on sale for $15 and $10 for ages 12 and under. Like its human counterpart sport of powerlifting, truck and tractor pulls test the mechanical might of all kinds of vehicles. First-time spectators as well as truck and tractor pull aficionados can expect a premier event featuring two sleds forcing the brutes of the sport—diesel tractors, gas modified trucks and semis—to pull their own weight in fierce competition.
Plumes of smoke and spinning tires excite “pull” crowds as the weight resistance for the largest of the vehicles can approach 8,000 pounds. The increasing popularity of events produced by local promoter Lorah’s Truck and Tractor Pulls of Walnutport in cooperation with major sled distributor Crouse Sled Rental prompted the Fair to add this attraction to its line-up of concerts and its traditional finale demolition derby at the Grandstand. J&J Demolition Derby is a Labor Day tradition and a bang-up ending to the summer. Fenders fly when drivers of jalopies crash and smash into each other in qualifying heats until the last vehicle running becomes The Beast of the East Champion.
As a mainstay of the Monday-holiday final day of the Fair, the derby has lured families away from picnics to celebrate with a last chance to munch on fair food, take a last whirl on the midway and see a unique attraction at the Grandstand. These show announcements complete the Fair’s Grandstand line-up that includes alt rockers 311 and The Offspring with special guest Gym Class Heroes on Wednesday, August 29, comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias on Thursday, August 30, country duo Sugarland with special guests Frankie Ballard and Lindsay Ell on Friday, August 31, pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer with special guest The Aces on Saturday, September 1 and singer-songwriters Niall Horan and special guest Maren Morris on Sunday, September 2.
Tickets for all 2018 Grandstand shows are available at Ticketmaster.com, over the phone at 800-745-3000 and at the Fair Box Office. Box Office hours are every Thursday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, visit the fair’s website at www.AllentownFairPA.org.
