The third annual Allentown Arts Fest returns Friday, Sept. 30, through Sunday, Oct. 2, at its original location of Cedar Beach Park in Allentown.
The three-day festival will feature three stages of entertainment and more than 300 vendors, artists, musicians, comedians, buskers and performers, according to the ArtsFest Facebook page. Admission is free.
Highlights include a "Graffiti Jam," in which artists from around the east coast will do live graffiti paintings. The finished panels will be displayed during the duration of the festival and then set up at various locations throughout the Lehigh Valley.
Bethlehem-based Tape Swap Radio will also have its own stage during the festival. Featured performers include: The Lionhearted, Pink Hex, Sean Kappy, Under the Clothesline (Friday); Fairmont, Broski, Doghouse Charlie, Today We Fight with Peace, Becca Maye, Doctor Ransom, William H. Travis (Saturday); and Seer and Keien Be and Jameek Jones.
Additionally, there will be a beer truck, screenprinting demonstration booth, yarnbombing, 3-D printer display booth, skate park area, "LV Kids Rock" camp and screenings of an Allentown ArtsFest short film by Matthew Blum.
Here is the main stage lineup:
FRIDAY
- 5 p.m.: The Front End
- 6 p.m.: KEG
- 7 p.m.: Coatspeak
- 8 p.m.: Sing, Bird of Prey
- 9 p.m.: St. James & The Apostles
SATURDAY
- 12:30 p.m.: Kayla Avitablie
- 2 p.m.: Flip Book Oscilloscope
- 3 p.m.: Silent Animals
- 4 p.m.: Big Shaboozle
- 5 p.m.: Surf Out
- 6 p.m.: Medusa's Disco
- 7 p.m.: Wood Chickens
- 8 p.m.: King Dead
- 9 p.m.: This Way to the Egress
SUNDAY
- Noon: Mad Road Artists
- 1:30 p.m.: Nitschmann Step Team
- 2 p.m.: AmRev 2
- 3 p.m.: Nitschmann Step Team
- 3:30 p.m.: Wildlings
- 5 p.m.: Heavy Temple
- 6 p.m.: GSGA
- 7 p.m.: Summer Scouts
Organizers launched a IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign last year to raise money for the festival. The inaugural Allentown ArtsFest in 2014 was plagued by downpours, which in turn put the festival $30,000 in debt, founder Brandon Wunder said during a 2015 interview.
Festival hours are: 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Cedar Beach Park is located at 2600 Parkway Blvd.