For the majority of my life, Allentown was the place I called home. I knew, or at least thought I knew, everything there was to know about Allentown. From the little market on 7th St. with the hidden stromboli kitchen in the back, to the annual Great Allentown Fair.
The Great Allentown Fair is not called “Great” for no reason. Before you even enter the fairgrounds you are greeted by cotton candy and funnel cake infused air and music that gets louder and louder with every step you take. The Great Allentown Fair is like a portal to a different dimension. In the heart of Allentown amid all the school buildings and offices is a momentary escape from normalcy. The moment you step into the fair all your worries and assignments are left at the door. Immediately the atmosphere crackles with joy and energy. The sound of laughter and music encapsulates you in feelings of exhilaration and nostalgia.
The first thing that truly caught my eye was the people flying in the air from the trampoline show. My friends and I saw them from a distance and decided we had to go watch. We made our way past the crowds of people, the screams of people on rides, and the flashing lights that come from every ride. Finally arriving at the trampoline show, it was even more insane close up. We watched in awe as the performers did tricks mid-air, as if they left all their worries on the ground and ascended into the sky.
After the trampoline show, my friends and I decided to explore the seemingly never-ending fairground. We pass by countless colorful food trucks who all claim they make the best fried oreos in the world and have lines miles long. Amid all the laughter, chaos, and blasting music, if you are there long enough you begin to see why The Great Allentown Fair is so great.
Not only are there never-ending games, rides, and food options, but those same people working the never-ending games seem to have everlasting smiles. My friends and I gave in to the ethereal, sugary smell of funnel cake and stood in line waiting for what was about to be the best funnel cake of our lives. The menu seemed to go on for ages getting better better the more you read. We were the last people in line so we had plenty of time to scan the menu, but of course we were stumped when it was our turn at the window. The sweet lady working at the window gave us her recommendations and even let us sample some things. She told us how she actually hated funnel cake but continued to run a food truck because nothing makes her happier than seeing children’s faces light up at something so simple – funnel cake.
Every worker and performer we encountered seemed straight out of a fairytale. Their are smiles are contagious and they leave an eternal sense of joy after each encounter they have with people. The Great Allentown Fair is not just any fair, it is a place where ordinary becomes extraordinary and it is not far off from a magical place. When leaving the fair, I am reminded of the people in my hometown and the sense of unity and wonder created when we all come together.
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