ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Standing nearly 6-foot-6 with a tower of red Solo cups glued to his head, it’s impossible to miss Brian Koenig, aka "The Cup Guy," roaming Allentown Fairgrounds.
Part juggler, part trick-shot master, the Cup Guy has turned a simple party staple — the red Solo cup — into his signature act, entertaining kids and adults alike with bouncing ping pong balls, stunts and laughs.
Koenig's act debuted on Wednesday at the fair and will appear daily at the Weyerbacher Courtyard through Monday, Sept. 1.
The Cup Guy joins other free entertainment at this year's fair, now in its 173rd run, including returning favorites such as Hot Diggity Dog.
Additionally, look for returning roaming entertainers such as Moodonna, the cow fair mascot; Glenn Miller, the one-man band; and stilt-walker W. Kris Clayton.
Exhibits and shows — a tease of next year's theme, which coincides with the Lehigh Valley's America 250 celebration — also take center stage.
To learn more, visit the Allentown Fair's free entertainment page.
From Circus rings to Solo cups
Koenig grew up in Ohio and got a bachelor's degree in fine arts at Ohio State University.
"This is what a fine arts degree gets you," he jokingly said during Thursday's act.
At 15, Koenig said, he already was performing with a circus in Ohio, juggling, stilt-walking and twisting balloons into animal shapes.
For more than a decade, he traveled the country working for circuses — until one performance in 2019 changed his career path.
“I broke my leg in a couple of places stacking chairs,” he said. "That’s when I decided I wanted to have my own business and my own act."
Street performing seemed like a natural transition, so he started working at local fairs near his home in Ohio.
One day, he had an idea to duct-tape a cup to his head and juggle while spitting ping pong in the air.
“Folks loved the show, but they kept asking, ‘What was the cup for?’” he said.
“So I added more cups. And more. Until it became the whole act. Pretty soon, I was the Cup Guy.”
Today, the cups are hot-glued on (“flexible, quick to repair,” Koenig said), forming a mohawk-like crown.
Why Red Solo cups?
In American pop culture, the red Solo cup is more than just a piece of bold-colored plastic.
From backyard barbecues to Toby Keith’s country anthem of the same moniker, the cup has become a symbol of fun.
“When I think of Solo cups, I think of Fourth of July, birthday parties and family cookouts back in the Midwest,” Koenig said.
“It’s a reminder of good times. So when people see me, they connect with that feeling.”
He said his show always is family friendly.
Kids line up to toss ping pong balls at his head, and cheer when they land one in a cup.
Grown-ups laugh at the silliness, but can’t resist throwing the ping-pong back.
“I love making people feel like stars — especially kids,” he said. “They try a trick, land it, and suddenly they feel like they can do anything.”
Allentown Fair is just one stop on the Cup Guy’s rapidly growing tour.
In 2022, he performed at 19 fairs, then last year, 42, he said.
This summer, he’s on track for nearly 70 fair days across the country, from Montana to Arizona, then back to his home state.
A Lehigh Valley connection
While he’s based in Ohio, the Cup Guy also has a personal tie to the Lehigh Valley.
His fiancée, an artist, recently sold a painting to a distant relative in Bethlehem.
The couple spent a weekend exploring the city before the fair, dining at Flying V, checking out SteelStacks and soaking in the area’s culture, he said.
“It’s been special to connect with Bethlehem,” he said. “Now I feel like I’ve got a local connection here, too.”
The flutter of the fair
Across the fairgrounds, at Farmerama Theatre, a quieter scene awaits at the Butterfly Kingdom exhibition.
This marks the first year butterflies have been featured at Allentown Fair, and they’ve already become a fair favorite.
Inside a closed tent, more than 1,000 butterflies take flight, often landing on flowers that are set up on a table.
Carefully regulated humidity and warmth inside the tent keep the butterflies active, ensuring visitors can see them in flight throughout the day.
About 250 butterflies are on display at any given time, with new ones hatching daily and others being released.
One of the most common species of butterflies in the exhibit is the Painted Lady, a butterfly found globally.
Known for its resilience, the Painted Lady can travel nearly 300 miles in its short lifetime, which typically lasts just 10 to 30 days, Jim DeBerry, operator of the Butterfly Kingdom: Learning Adventure, said.
“Every day new butterflies hatch, and every day others are released,” DeBerry said. “It gives people the chance to see the full cycle — from egg to chrysalis to butterfly."
Close to the flutter
For $5, fairgoers can buy a nectar stick, dipped in syrup, to hand-feed the butterflies.
It’s one of the most popular parts of the exhibit, especially for kids and families who want to get close without harming the delicate wings.
“Most people want to touch a butterfly," DeBerry said. “The nectar stick is the safe way to connect. And when one lands, the look on people’s faces is pure joy.”
Butterflies carry powerful symbolism for many who visit the tent.
Some see them as signs from loved ones who have passed, or as symbols of transformation and renewal.
"We hear so many stories," DeBerry said.
“For some it’s about weddings, for others, funerals, or even baby announcements. Butterflies unite people of all ages and backgrounds.”
