Allentown, pa
Mayfair is an arts festival in Allentown, Pa on Memorial Day weekend. The unofficial kickoff of summer. The original location was Cedar Park / Cedar Beach. 2013 is the first year it was moved to the Allentown Fairgrounds. The new location combined with a greater empahsis on artists / music made this year different.
I have to mention the “Mayfair curse”. Every year, nature planned severe weather in one form or another: extreme heat / severe storms / cold temperatures. The “curse” did follow the location change. Mayfair runs Friday - Monday. Well, Friday and Saturday were very cold. To the point where I had a heavy sweatshirt / jacket. With the new location, there was an indoor (Agri-plex), section and outdoors as well.
The indoor part had a large area for artists and a stage for musicians. Outdoors: artists / vendors / music and a kids area. The reason it worked out very good? People were going inside to warm up and outside for food and more music. Thankfully, Sunday and Monday: warm and sunny!
Mayfair did have something for everyone. A kids section including mural painting, games, live entertainment. Live painting by Barnaby Ruhe and other artists made the event even more interactive. Of course, music for all ages and several genres: rock, polka, country, acoustic, electric. Just a few examples.
The location change was interesting. I attended all 4 days. I did speak with several people / artists / vendors. The reaction was mixed. Some liked it. Others did not. To me, it almost seemed like the organizers were re-building Mayfair from ground zero. Will it work? The next few years will answer that question.
Even though the event is over, you can still check out the artists involved:
http://mayfairfestival.org/
I have to mention the “Mayfair curse”. Every year, nature planned severe weather in one form or another: extreme heat / severe storms / cold temperatures. The “curse” did follow the location change. Mayfair runs Friday - Monday. Well, Friday and Saturday were very cold. To the point where I had a heavy sweatshirt / jacket. With the new location, there was an indoor (Agri-plex), section and outdoors as well.
The indoor part had a large area for artists and a stage for musicians. Outdoors: artists / vendors / music and a kids area. The reason it worked out very good? People were going inside to warm up and outside for food and more music. Thankfully, Sunday and Monday: warm and sunny!
Mayfair did have something for everyone. A kids section including mural painting, games, live entertainment. Live painting by Barnaby Ruhe and other artists made the event even more interactive. Of course, music for all ages and several genres: rock, polka, country, acoustic, electric. Just a few examples.
The location change was interesting. I attended all 4 days. I did speak with several people / artists / vendors. The reaction was mixed. Some liked it. Others did not. To me, it almost seemed like the organizers were re-building Mayfair from ground zero. Will it work? The next few years will answer that question.
Even though the event is over, you can still check out the artists involved:
http://mayfairfestival.org/
