Mayfair coming back to Cedar Crest campus, to feature drone show finale

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A drone show that will have guests look to the city sky as the illuminated aircrafts create "bold, high-impact visuals," will highlight Mayfair Festival of the Arts this year.

The new attraction, to be offered on the Allentown Memorial Day weekend festival's closing night, was announced Tuesday as Mayfair revealed it will return to Cedar Crest College for a seventh year.

It also announced more than a dozen headline acts for its main stage — again made up of mostly regional acts — for this year's May 23-25 run.

Also announced were 47 indoor and outdoor artists and vendors and 17 food and beverage vendors, ranging from savory to sweet.

The festival will be held 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 23; and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25.

Admission and on-site parking remain free.

"The weekend-long festival boasts an impressive lineup of art, crafts, food, music and live performances," Mayfair said in a news release. "Each day offers fun activities, great food and beverage, and artisan craft vendors."

All festival vendor offerings will be cashless this year.

All proceeds from Mayfair directly benefit Cedar Crest College students through the Cedar Crest Fund, "making it a celebration with purpose," the release said.

13 performers — and a drone show

Several of the scheduled headline performers for this year have played the festival in recent years.

Rogue Diplomats, Go Go Gadjet, The Large Flowerheads and The Wonton Soups and all performed at the past two festivals, and Philadelphia Funk Authority played last year.

This year's entertainment lineup is:

Friday, May 23

• 4 p.m. Rogue Diplomats
• 6 p.m. Kristen Morgenstern
• 7 p.m. The Weekenders

Saturday, May 24

• Noon The Large Flower Heads
• 2 p.m. Stacy Gabel
• 3:30 p.m. Erin Kelly Band
• 5:30 p.m. Melody Cruz
• 7 p.m. Go Go Gadjet

Sunday, May 25

• 12 p.m. Jimmy and the Parrots
• 2 p.m. Kendal Conrad
• 3:30 p.m. The Wonton Soups
• 5:30 p.m. Tim Harakal
• 7 p.m. Philadelphia Funk Authority
• 9 p.m. Drone Show

The drone show will be "a showstopping end to the festival-and one not to be missed," the release said.

64 artists and vendors

Indoor artists are listed as Bows by Lisa LuAnn, Chavanne’s Jewelry, Chester P. Basil’s, Heritage Fossils, J and K Designs,
Kim Marie Art Designs and Lily Bean Cottage.

Also, Noraa Body Love, Sincerely Sarah, Tales From The Mandalina Tree, True Honey Teas, zhiguang gallery and Memory Makers Unlimited.

Outdoor artists are Artisan Evolution, Bob King-The Leather King, Boho Alchemist, Bones ‘n’ Blooms, Boyd’s Cardinal Hollow Winery, Designs by Monet Jewelry and Gifts of Gaia.

Also, Hello Fluff, JaimeShive, Nectar of the Vine, Niko & Me, Painting with Memory, Petrichor Art, Rainbow Concoctions, Remi Threadz, Second Chance Goods and Sum Sum Crochets.

Also, The Chef’s Duds by Deb, The Fresh Soap LLC, Third St. Studio, Witchletoe, Woodsy Witch, Your Chocolate Guys, Marcy’s Treasures and WebbCraft Woodworking.

Also, Good Sense Candles, Pottery by Bachert, Fiona Thompson Designs, V Rocks, Happy Tears Hot Sauce, Matt-Hat Jerky, Nonesuch Studio, Dragon Soul Healing and Georgie LeHoop Drum Artist.

Food and drink vendors will be E-Z Concessions, Take a Taco, Greek Street, Jrs London broil, The Udder Bar, Pie In A Cone, Franklin Hill Vineyards and Portia’s Donuts & Bobas.

Also, Bananarama, Puerto Rican Culture Preservation Inc., Bacon on a stick, Koukitchenllc, Pretzel revolution, Ski’s Hawaiian Shave Ice, Popcorn Pit, Kopper Penny Koncessions and Heaven on a Bun.

Mayfair history

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

Mayfair was free for its first 19 years before organizers gated the park and first charged admission in 2005.

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 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.

The admission fee continued when the festival moved to Allentown Fairgrounds.

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.

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.