Day at the Fair

The Freedom Fest Fair brings its family-friendly and fun-filled events to the Horse Park of New Jersey.

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Grammy award-winning Christian rock band Third Day


will give a concert July 12 at Freedom Fest Fair.


   Freedom Fest, a mission of the Allentown Presbyterian Church, began as a small area festival in 2003 as a way to help raise money for area churches and charities. Last year, with the help of new attractions like the Great American Frontier and Wildlife Show, the festival doubled in size.
   After being designated a New Jersey State Agricultural Fair by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Monmouth County Board of Agriculture this year, the festival was renamed Freedom Fest Fair. Having outgrown its former location at Allentown High School, the fair will be held at the Horse Park of New Jersey July 10 through 14. The premier equestrian park on the East Coast, the 147-acre facility has hosted world-class events like qualifying exhibitions for the Olympic Games.
   "We wanted to really build a statewide agricultural event promoting our philosophy and mission of the church," says Nicholas DeMauro, one of the event’s founders and co-chairmen. "This is the first ever fair at the Horse Park of New Jersey. They have run many, many spectacular horse events here, but they’ve never had a fair of this magnitude."
   In addition to the Allentown Presbyterian Church, proceeds of the fair will benefit St. John’s Catholic Church, St. James Episcopal Church, Hope Firehouse, Allentown Rescue Squad, Adoptive Parents of Central New Jersey, the Give Back Foundation and more.
   Two indoor benefit concerts will be offered — Southern rock group 38 Special, sponsored by D.A.R.E. New Jersey, will perform July 10, and Grammy Award-winning Christian rock band Third Day will perform July 12, sponsored by the Allentown Presbyterian Church.
   The five-day fair is jam packed, featuring nightly performances of the Lance Gifford Magic Show and Robinson’s Racing Pigs and Paddling Porkers. The Great American Frontier and Wildlife Show returns with a larger exhibition, bringing everything from mountain lions and black bears, to timber wolves and a petting zoo, and will perform several shows each night. Other attractions include a horse fair, monster truck rides, live music, rides by Amusements of America, games, professional lawn mower racing, agricultural shows, food vendors and craft exhibitions. As always, the event will go out with a bang Saturday evening with a spectacular fireworks display.
Freedom Fest Fair will be held at the Horse Park of New Jersey, 626 Route 524 (exit 11 off of Route I-195), Allentown, July 10-14. Opens 5 p.m. daily, 10 a.m. Sat. Admission costs $5, under 11 free. A continuous shuttle bus service will be offered from downtown Allentown, Allentown High School, Byron Johnson Park and The Bank. Camp Days will be held July 11 and 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and allows for unlimited use of rides and attractions, $10 per child. Third Day will perform July 12, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost, $30-$40. Concert tickets include fair entry and $5 ride discount. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.freedomfestfair.com