Mayfair festival returning to Cedar Crest College for sixth year

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Mayfair Festival of the Arts, the Allentown Memorial Day weekend festival, will return to Cedar Crest College for a sixth year, the festival has announced.

The festival also has announced seven of its headline acts for its main stage — again made up of mostly regional acts — for this year's May 24-26 run.

It also announced more than 30 artist and vendors and nearly a dozen food stands for the weekend.

It has started highlighting vendors and performers on its Facebook site.

"Mayfair Festival of the Arts is a 30+ year tradition in the Lehigh Valley," a page on theCedar Crest College website says. "Enjoy art, crafts, food, music, and live performances at the beautiful Cedar Crest College Campus."

Mayfair last year marked the first time in four years that the festival was heldwithout requiring masks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mayfair was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19. It returned in 2022 but required attendees to wear face masks and to social distance.

This year, the festival will be held 4-10 p.m. Friday, May 24; and noon-10 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 28.

Parking will be available on site.

The headline acts include popular Lehigh Valley 1960s cover band The Large Flowerheads and longtime popular cover bands Go Go Gadget and UUU.

The performance schedule has not been announced.

Mayfair history

The free Mayfair festival started in Allentown’s nearby Cedar Creek Park, where it was held for 28 years.

In 2013, citing heavy rains and flooding during some years, organizers moved it to the Agri-Plex at Allentown Fairgrounds, but its focus changed to visual artists.

Mayfair was free for its first 19 years before organizers gated the park and first charged admission in 2005. The admission fee continued when the festival moved to Allentown Fairgrounds.

At flood-prone Cedar Creek Park, Mayfair often was buffeted by the weather, and that was one reason it struggled financially for years. It lost money in 14 of its 30 years — and it went into debt after bad weather in 2011 and 2012.

In 2016, Mayfair's board canceled the festival, blaming a shifting community dynamic, a decline in the number of volunteers and competition from other concert and arts venues.

The free festival was revived by Cedar Crest in 2018 after a year hiatus, drawing a total attendance of close to 24,000.

Main stage acts, vendors, food

The main stage acts listed on the website are Rogue Diplomats, Go Go Gadjet, The Large Flowerheads, The Wonton Soups and UUU, all of who performed at last year's festival.

Also at this year's event will be regional favorites Philadelphia Funk Authority and central Pennsylvania's Central City Orchestra.

Mayfair said on its Facebook page that it still is seeking craft or product vendors.

Artists and vendors listed are Nectar of the Vine, Heritage Fossils, Pam Smith Jewelry Designs, Chavanne’s Jewelry, Sum Sum Crochets, Kim Marie Art Designs and Designs by Monet Jewelry.

Also, Smells by Stacey, The Leather Wizard, Isasuma LLC, Noraa Body Love LLC, Simon Zeng, Artisan Evolution, Rainbow Concoctions, Your Chocolate Guys, Hello Fluff and J and K Designs.

Also, Chester P. Basil’s Wooden Spoons LLC, Pottery by Bachert, Angels of Heart, LilyBean Cottage, Kill Your Darling Candles, Creative Spruce Woodworking, The Wicked Botanist and Witchletoe.

Also, Second Chance Candles, House of Cork, The Chef’s Duds by Deb, The Fresh Soap LLC, Heras Design, Bows by Lisa Luann and Front Porch Designs.

Food and drink vendors confirmed for the festival are Paranormal Pop Ups, The Udder Bar, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Greek Street, E-Z Concessions and Bananarama.

Also, Smoothie King, Puerto Rican Culture Preservation Inc., Heaven On A Bun, JRs London Broil and Take a Taco.