ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Mayfair Festival of the Arts, the Allentown Memorial Day weekend festival, will return to Cedar Crest College with music, arts and crafts, food and a fun zone for kids.
The festival, returning to the college campus for an eighth year, will be held 4-10 p.m. Friday, May 22, and noon-10 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24.
The festival will be free to enter; parking on the campus also will be free.
The festival will feature 14 favorite Lehigh Valley musicians — more than last year.
It also has announced more than 35 artist and vendors and eight food stands for the weekend, with more expected to be added.
And Franki's Funzone will offer kids activities, including a climbing wall, Crayola table, bounce house and slide, inflatable obstacle course, trampoline and train ride.
All proceeds from Mayfair directly benefit Cedar Crest College students through the Cedar Crest Fund.
Entertainment
Several of the scheduled headline performers for this year have played the festival in recent years.
Rogue Diplomats, Go Go Gadjet, The Large Flowerheads, The Wonton Soups and Philadelphia Funk Authority all performed at the past three festivals.
Kristen Morgenstern and Erin Kelly also performed last year.
This year's entertainment lineup is:
Friday, May 22
Main Stage
4-6 p.m. — Rogue Diplomats
7-10 p.m. — Go Go Gadjet
Artist Market Stage
6-7 p.m. — Kristen Morgenstern
Saturday, May 23
Main Stage
Noon-2 p.m. — The Large Flowerheads
3-4:30 p.m. — Billy Bauer Band
5:30-7 p.m. — The Wonton Soups
8-10 p.m. — Steal the Sky
Artist Market Stage
2-3 p.m. — Stacey Gabel
4:30-5:30 p.m. — Erin Kelly
7-8 p.m. — Kendal Conrad
Sunday, May 23
Main Stage
Noon-2 p.m. — Class of 84
7-9 p.m. — Philadelphia Funk Authority
Artist Market Stage
2-3:30 p.m. — Adeline Csontos
5:30-7 p.m. — Melody Cruz
Mayfair continues to seek performer applications.
Artists and vendors
Artists and vendors are listed as Artisan Evolution, Back to Basics Refillery, Bob King — The Leather Wizard, Bows by Lisa Luann and Chavanne’s Jewelry.
Also, Chester P. Basil’s Wooden Spoons, Crafty Nici, Deramics Clay Studio, Designs By Monet Jewelry, Fine Line Leather Designs, Fiona Thompson Designs and Hello Fluff.
Also, Heritage gems, Hoffman Bread, J and K Designs, Jolia James Designs, LilyBean Cottage, LK Artistry, Marcy’s Treasures, Matt-Hat Jerky and Maurrocks Jewelry Creations.
Also, Muni Muni Bakery, Nectar of the Vine, Nonesuch Studio, Noraa Body Love, Piccoline’s Table, Pottery by Bachert, Sincerely Sarah Jewelry and Skyseed Energy Gemstone Jewelry.
And, Tales from the Mandalina Tree, The Fresh Soap, True Honey Teas, Whistling Studios, Witchletoe, Your Chocolate Guys and Zhiguang Gallery.
Food vendors announced so far are Take a Taco, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Social Still, Kopper Penny Koncessions, Heaven on a Bun, Greek Street, Bananarama and Puertorrican Culture Preservation, Inc.
Mayfair still is seeking craft or product vendors.
Mayfair history
The free 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 returned 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.
It has operated as usual since.
