Allentown's Winter Wonderland Extravaganza hosts vendors and baby goats

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - People came to the Lehigh County Agriplex in Allentown over the weekend for the first Winter Wonderland Extravaganza — a holiday craft fair and market with more than 60 vendors selling everything from handmade candles and jewelry to new cars and home renovations.

• More than 60 vendors participated in Winter Wonderland Extravaganza, selling everything from candles to cars
• A petting zoo featured sheep, goats and a cow named Lucky for attendees to meet
• This is the first Winter Wonderland Extravaganza but organizers said it won't be the last

The vendors were hardly the only attraction.

On Sunday, Explorer Post 101, a model railroading group from nearby Coplay, set up several small model trains on a large track.

A few feet away, one of LANTA’s first buses, newly restored to its 70s glory, stood by for photos. A small stage hosted musicians, storytellers and interactive demonstrations.

The stars of the show — aside from Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course — were a cow, several sheep and a herd of baby goats for visitors to feed and pet.

1 of 6  — baby goat Allentown Winter Wonderland

A baby goat gets a pet from an attendee at the Allentown Winter Wonderland Extravaganza's petting zoo Sunday.

Ryan Gaylor

2 of 6  — Allentown Winter Wonderland Extravaganza

More than 60 vendors packed Allentown's Agriplex for the Winter Wonderland Extravaganza Sunday afternoon.

Ryan Gaylor

3 of 6  — Cow nose Allentown Winter Wonderland

Lucky, a black Angus heifer, sniffs for treats as part of the Winter Wonderland Extravaganza at Allentown's Agriplex Sunday.

Ryan Gaylor

4 of 6  — baby goats hay Allentown Winter Wonderland

Three baby goats grab a snack while on duty at the Winter Wonderland Extravaganza petting zoo in Allentown's Agriplex Sunday.

Ryan Gaylor

5 of 6  — Old LANTA Bus Allentown Winter Wonderland

One of the first LANTA buses to enter service, on display at Allentown's Winter Wonderland Extravaganza Sunday. This bus was repainted and restored in celebration of its (and LANTA's) 50th birthday.

Ryan Gaylor

6 of 6  — model train Allentown Winter Wonderland

A model train chugs along a track set up by Explorer Post 101 of Coplay during the Winter Wonderland Extravaganza in Allentown Sunday.

Ryan Gaylor

“I noticed how many people, kids nowadays had never even touched a pony or touched a cow,” said Laurie Wuchter, who organized the festival. “You can stand right here, and it's the first time they've touched a pony or touched a cow. And I'm all about awareness of animals. That's my passion.”

This was the first Winter Wonderland Extravaganza headed up by Wuchter, who also runs the Allentown Farmers Market with her husband Dan.

“We didn't want it just like a craft show only,” she said. “So we have a little bit of everything in here.”

Visitors like Joanne Wagner of Bethlehem and her friend Peggy Mosser braved rainy weather Sunday to see what the first year of the winter wonderland had to offer.

“We always like craft shows, and we haven't done anything like this in a while,” Wagner said after walking inside. “We might do a lot of buying once we look through it all.”

Wuchter said she already has big plans for next year’s extravaganza, including giant snowflake decorations, an ugly Christmas sweater contest and a live nativity. And with no doubt, the crafts, gifts and animals will also be making a return appearance.