ALLENTOWN – Fall means shorter days, a chill in the air, the aroma of pumpkin spice and the annual Allentown Fall Festival.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10-11, Main Street and Heritage Park in Allentown will be transformed into an area of food and festivities during an event that is sponsored by the Allentown Business Community Association (ABCA). Residents of all communities are invited to share in the fun.
ABCA events coordinator Heather Saracen said the festival “is very important to the businesses in town. It really helps us survive and lets people know our businesses are here.”
Businesses, vendors and artisans will showcase their products. Allentown’s restaurants will offer specials and there will be activities for children and live music near the Old Mill.
On Oct. 10 there will be a classic car show. A Civil War re-enactment will be held in Heritage Park on Oct. 10-11.
Parking for visitors will be provided throughout the borough and at the Upper Freehold Regional School District campus on High Street, from which a shuttle bus will run into downtown Allentown.
Saracen said a number of factors have contributed to rising attendance at the festival.
“Last year was the first year we had a beer garden and that certainly helps bring up attendance,” she said.
Starting at noon each day, the Allentown Lions Club will once again host a craft beer garden behind Bruno’s One Sweet Ride on Main Street.
The beer garden will feature 12 brews on tap and brewery representatives will be on hand to answer questions and discuss their beers. The beer garden will feature live music and food.
Beer tickets will be $5 each and will be good for one serving of either 16-ounce pours or 12-ounce pours of beers with a higher alcohol content.
Funds raised by the Lions Club at the beer garden are used to support the Allentown Memorial Day parade, sponsorships for participants in the annual Boys State and Girls State programs and Boy Scout projects.
Saracen said she hopes the variety of events and Allentown’s small town historic feel will translate into a fun and successful fall festival.
“The ABCA works hard to put on this festival. We hope everyone comes down and enjoys it,” she said.