The Fair, now in its 163rd year, occurs over the Labor Day weekend. It’s a holiday time for kicking back. It’s the last days of summer fun with an eye toward harvest time.

The Fair, older than many of Lehigh Valley events, predates the Civil War (1861 - ‘65). The Fair, held at the The Allentown Fairgrounds, 17th, Liberty and Chew streets, Allentown, dates to 1852. The Lehigh County Agricultural Society, a nonprofit, operates the Fair and Fairgrounds, home to the Allentown Farmers Market year-round except during Fair week.

According to its bylaws: “The object of the Society is and shall remain the improvement and advancement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Livestock, Domestic and Mechanical Arts and the entertainment of its membership and patrons.”

You can find everything from funnel cake to funk music at the Fair, 4-H displays and baking and grange competitions in the Agri-Plex to some of the top country, pop, rock and comedy performers on the Grandstand Stage, which, with 7,000 seats, and seats or standing-room on the track for up to approximately 14,500, makes the venue the Valley’s largest.

Here’s what’s in store for you at the 2015 Great Allentown Fair.

Grandstand Stage: Def Leppard, Styx, Tesla, 7 p.m. Sept. 1; Little Big Town, Ashley Monroe, 7 p.m. Sept. 2; Carrie Underwood, Josh Dorr, 7 p.m. Sept. 3;

Eric Church, The Lone Bellow, 7 p.m. Sept. 4; deadmu5, 8 p.m. Sept. 5; Jim Gaffigan, 8 p.m. Sept. 6, and J&J Demolition Derby, 5 p.m. Sept. 7.

Agri-Plex: Lehigh Valley Master Chefs and Culinary Experts

Sept. 1

5 p.m., Valenca Executive Chef Amanda Cox; 6 p.m., Weaversville Inn-Jessica’s Tea Room Chef-Owner Mark Prostko, Pastry Chef Jessica Caley

Sept. 2

1 p.m., H2O Kitchen Chef-Owner Jason Hook; 3 p.m., Pocono Produce Executive Chef Doug Petruzzi; 4 p.m., Sodexo Executive Chefs Tomas Garrido, Jason Christein; 5 p.m., Hamilton Kitchen Executive Chef Drew Stark; 6 p.m., Mitzi’s Table Chef-Owner Matt Roth, Sous Chef Kayla Swinicki

Sept. 3

1 p.m., K Heeps Inc. Andy Palco, John Morris; 3 p.m. Best Western Executive Sous Chef David Troxell; 4 p.m., Paxos Restaurants Corporate Chef Christopher Heath; 5 p.m., Savory Grille Chef-Owner Shawn Doyle; 6 p.m., Kingfish Chef-Owner Cale Beck

Sept. 4

1 p.m., Roar Social House Executive Chef Gregory Feidler; 3 p.m., Sodexo at NCC Executive Chef Char Hartley; 4 p.m. Sodexo at LVHN Executive Chef Michael Brack; 5 p.m., Art Café Owner Ann Takacs; 6 p.m. 187 Rue Principale Executive Chef Dustin Selvaggio

Sept. 5

1 p.m., Cupcake WarFAIR, sponsored by Egypt Star Bakery. People’s choice tasting followed by judging; 3 p.m., NCC Cooking Instructor Mary Grube; 4 p.m., About Thyme LLC Chef-Owner Lynn Milet

Sept. 6

1 p.m., Fair demonstrator Jeanine Villano-George, Anthony George; 3 p.m., Iron Chef Competition, sponsored by K. Heeps Inc.: Spinnerstown Hotel Chef Ricky Heinrichs versus H2O Kitchen Chef-Owner Jason Hook; 6 p.m., Harmon Live Catering “The Culinary Experience” Chef-Owner Darryl Harmon, Opinionated Palate Chef-Owner Barry L. Sexton

Sept. 7

1 p.m., Iron Shaker Competition

Agri-Plex: Culinary Contests, sponsored by PenTele Data

Sept. 1

7 p.m. Pa. Preferred Chocolate Cake-Baking Contest

Sept. 2

2 p.m., Elite Gourmet Catering Savory Pie Contest; 7 p.m., Mitzi’s Table “Macaroni And Cheese With A Twist” Contest

Sept. 3

2 p.m., Pennsylvania’s Incredible Angel Food Cake Contest, sponsored by Crystal Spring Farm; 7 p.m. The Great American Spam Championship

Sept. 4

2 p.m., Gold Medal Flour Cookie Contest; 7 p.m. Clover Hill Vineyards And Winery’s Cooking with Wine Chili Contest

Sept. 5

2 p.m., Pa. Preferred Chocolate Cookie, Brownie or Bar Baking Contest; 7 p.m., Bechtdolts Orchard Fresh Peach Dessert Contest

Sept. 6

2 p.m., A&A Plumbing Best “No Bake” Dessert Contest; 7 p.m. The Third Annual Cherylanne C. Neidlinger Memorial Lupus Awareness “Chopped” Wing, Dipping Sauce and Sides Contest

Sept. 7

2 p.m., Grim’s Orchard And Family Farms Blue-Ribbon Apple Pie Contest

Agri-Plex: Competitive Exhibits Judging

Aug. 29

9 a.m., Domestic and Fine Arts (Dept. 18, 19); 9 a.m., Youth (Dept. 11)

Aug. 30

9 a.m. Handcrafts, Antiques (Dept. 19)

Aug. 31

7 p.m. Home Products (Baked Goods only, Dept. 15)

Sept. 1

9 a.m., Group Exhibits (Granges, Dept. 20); 9 a.m., Wine Products (Dept. 21); 9 a.m., Canned Goods (Dept. 15); 9 a.m., Farm, Orchard, Garden Products (Dept. 8, 12, 13, 14)

1 p.m., Flowers (House Plants, Dept. 17)

Sept. 3

1 p.m., Flowers, Specimen Flowers, Artistic Arrangements (Dept. 17)

Agri-Plex: Centennial Stage

Sept. 2

2:15 p.m., Dave Fry; 3:15 p.m., Ffourtissimo; 5:15 p.m., Coloring Contest; 7 p.m., Lehigh County Agricultural Society “Agricultural Recognition Night”

Sept. 3

3:15 p.m., North Down South; 4:15 p.m., Ryan Michael; 5:15 p.m., Play-Dough Sculpting Contest; 6:15 p.m., All In Good Time

Sept. 4

2:15 p.m., Dave Fry; 3:15 p.m., Jason Hahn; 4:15 p.m., Brian Xander; 5:15 p.m., Pumpkin-Carving Contest; 6:15 p.m., Gesture Without Motion; 7:30 p.m., Kan Do K9 Dog Training Club

Sept. 5

2:15 p.m., Lehigh Valley Harmonizers; 3:15 p.m., Mark Mysterrio; 4:15 p.m., Elysium String Quartet; 5:15 p.m., Mother-Daughter, Father-Son Look-A-like Contest; 6:15 p.m., Gesture Without Motion; 7:30 p.m., Kan Do K9 Dog Training Club

Sept. 6

3:15 p.m., Celebrity Grape-Stomp Contest: Media versus firemen, policemen; 5:15 p.m., Rain-Gutter Regatta Contest; 6:15 p.m., Ryan Michael; 7:30 p.m., Kan Do K9 Dog Training Club

Sept. 7

2:15 p.m., Break from Blue Collar; 3:15 p.m., Dave Fry; 4:15 p.m., Mark Mysterrio

Agri~Plex Square, sponsored by Service Electric, PenTeleData

Matt’s Family Jam, 4:30, 6:30, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 1; 12:30, 2, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 2; 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3; 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 4; 2:30, 8, 9:30 p.m. Sept. 5; 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 6, 7

Livestock Judging Tent

Aug. 30

10 a.m., Open, 4-H, Ag-Ed Classes, Rabbits and Cavies (Dept. 9)

Aug. 31

10 a.m., 4-H Projects (Dept. 10)

Sept. 1

10 a.m., 4-H Projects (Dept. 10); 1 p.m., Ag-Ed Home Products (Dept. 10); 3 - 5:30 p.m., Market Steers, Lambs, Goats, Dairy Beef Weigh-In; 5:30 p.m., Market Swine Weigh-In; 7:30 p.m., 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Demonstration

Sept. 2

10 a.m., All Breeds Dairy (Dept. 2, 10) 4-H, Ag-Ed, Open (Showmanship 4-H, Ag-Ed); 3 p.m., Dairy Goats (Breeding, Market Showmanship 4-H, Ag-Ed Dept. 6, 10)

Sept. 3

10 a.m., Breeding Sheep (Breeds - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; Dept. 4, 10); 10 a.m., Swine-Breeding Classes (Dept. 5, 10); 10 a.m., Swine Showmanship, Market Hogs (Dept. 5, 10); 2 p.m., Meat Goats (Breeding, Market, Showmanship 4H, Ag-Ed (Dept. 6, 10); 6 p.m., Animal Mardis Gras

Sept. 4

Noon, 4-H, Ag-Ed Beef Cattle Showmanship (Dept. 10); 4-H and Ag-Ed Market Steers (Dept. 10); 4-H Ag-Ed Dairy Beef, Showmanship (Dept. 10); 3 p.m., Beef Breeding; 6 p.m., Overall Showmanship Contest; 7:30 p.m., Bale-Throwing Contest

Sept. 5

1 p.m., Lehigh County 4-H (Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goat) Sale

Sept. 6

1 p.m., Barnyard Olympics; 2 p.m., Pedal Tractor Pull

Sept. 7

1 p.m., Livestock Exhibitors Meeting

RCN Farmerama Theater

Sept. 1

4:30 - 5:30 p.m., Fair Opening-Ceremony, 2015 Fair Queen introduction; 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., RCN Sports Talk: Chris Michael, Joe Craig; 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

Sept. 2

1:30 p.m., Lehigh Valley Senior Spelling Bee; 3 p.m., Glen Miller One-Man Band; 5:30, 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show; 7 p.m., RCN Sports Talk: Chris Michael, Joe Craig

Sept. 3

3, 5 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show; 6 p.m., RCN Sports Talk: Chris Michael, Joe Craig; 8 p.m., B104 New Artist Showcase: Angelica Joni

Sept. 4

1:30, 4:30, 7 p.m., Tom Yurasits; 3, 5, 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

Sept. 5

1:30, 4:30, 7 p.m., Tom Yurasits; 3, 5, 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

Sept. 6

1:30 p.m., Ferdinand the Bull Band; 3, 5, 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

Sept. 7

2, 3:30 p.m., School of Rock; 3, 5 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

MainGate Courtyard, sponsored by Diefenderfer Electric And Telecommunications

Pirates of the Caribbean High Dive Show, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1; 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2, 3, 4; 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5, 6, 7

MainGate

6 p.m. Sept. 1,The Cherry Bombs; 6 p.m. Sept. 2, Stereotype; 6 p.m. Sept. 3, Tricky Stacy; 6 p.m. Sept. 4, M80; 6 p.m. Sept. 5, Flowers for Tacos; 11 p.m., Foam Party; 6 p.m., Sept. 6, The Aardvarks

Allentown Fair information

Hours: 4 - 11 p.m. Sept. 1; noon - 11 p.m. Sept. 2 - 6, and noon - 10 p.m. Sept. 7

Admission: $8; ages 12 and under, free; senior citizens (65-plus with ID), $4, after 2 p.m. Sept. 2; Preview Night, Sept. 1, $3 or $1 plus can of food for Second Harvest Food Bank; “Weekdays Under The Wire,” noon - 2 p.m. Sept. 2, 3, 4, everyone free; discount Fair admission tickets through Sept 1 online, allentownfairpa.org, or at box office.

Parking: Onsite, $8 via Tunnel Gate 7 along Liberty Street.

InFAIRmation Centers: Fairgrounds east, west ends; 610-433-7541

Aug. 30

10 a.m., Open, 4-H, Ag-Ed Classes, Rabbits and Cavies (Dept. 9)

Aug. 31

10 a.m., 4-H Projects (Dept. 10)

Sept. 1

10 a.m., 4-H Projects (Dept. 10); 1 p.m., Ag-Ed Home Products (Dept. 10); 3 - 5:30 p.m., Market Steers, Lambs, Goats, Dairy Beef Weigh-In; 5:30 p.m., Market Swine Weigh-In; 7:30 p.m., 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Demonstration

Sept. 2

10 a.m., All Breeds Dairy (Dept. 2, 10) 4-H, Ag-Ed, Open (Showmanship 4-H, Ag-Ed); 3 p.m., Dairy Goats (Breeding, Market Showmanship 4-H, Ag-Ed Dept. 6, 10)

Sept. 3

10 a.m., Breeding Sheep (Breeds - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; Dept. 4, 10); 10 a.m., Swine-Breeding Classes (Dept. 5, 10); 10 a.m., Swine Showmanship, Market Hogs (Dept. 5, 10); 2 p.m., Meat Goats (Breeding, Market, Showmanship 4H, Ag-Ed (Dept. 6, 10); 6 p.m., Animal Mardis Gras

Sept. 4

Noon, 4-H, Ag-Ed Beef Cattle Showmanship (Dept. 10); 4-H and Ag-Ed Market Steers (Dept. 10); 4-H Ag-Ed Dairy Beef, Showmanship (Dept. 10); 3 p.m., Beef Breeding; 6 p.m., Overall Showmanship Contest; 7:30 p.m., Bale-Throwing Contest

Sept. 5

1 p.m., Lehigh County 4-H (Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goat) Sale

Sept. 6

1 p.m., Barnyard Olympics; 2 p.m., Pedal Tractor Pull

Sept. 7

1 p.m., Livestock Exhibitors Meeting

RCN Farmerama Theater

Sept. 1

4:30 - 5:30 p.m., Fair Opening-Ceremony, 2015 Fair Queen introduction; 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., RCN Sports Talk: Chris Michael, Joe Craig; 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

Sept. 2

1:30 p.m., Lehigh Valley Senior Spelling Bee; 3 p.m., Glen Miller One-Man Band; 5:30, 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show; 7 p.m., RCN Sports Talk: Chris Michael, Joe Craig

Sept. 3

3, 5 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show; 6 p.m., RCN Sports Talk: Chris Michael, Joe Craig; 8 p.m., B104 New Artist Showcase: Angelica Joni

Sept. 4

1:30, 4:30, 7 p.m., Tom Yurasits; 3, 5, 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

Sept. 5

1:30, 4:30, 7 p.m., Tom Yurasits; 3, 5, 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

Sept. 6

1:30 p.m., Ferdinand the Bull Band; 3, 5, 8 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

Sept. 7

2, 3:30 p.m., School of Rock; 3, 5 p.m., Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Thrill Show

MainGate Courtyard, sponsored by Diefenderfer Electric And Telecommunications

Pirates of the Caribbean High Dive Show, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1; 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2, 3, 4; 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5, 6, 7

MainGate

6 p.m. Sept. 1,The Cherry Bombs; 6 p.m. Sept. 2, Stereotype; 6 p.m. Sept. 3, Tricky Stacy; 6 p.m. Sept. 4, M80; 6 p.m. Sept. 5, Flowers for Tacos; 11 p.m., Foam Party; 6 p.m., Sept. 6, The Aardvarks

Allentown Fair information

Hours: 4 - 11 p.m. Sept. 1; noon - 11 p.m. Sept. 2 - 6, and noon - 10 p.m. Sept. 7

Admission: $8; ages 12 and under, free; senior citizens (65-plus with ID), $4, after 2 p.m. Sept. 2; Preview Night, Sept. 1, $3 or $1 plus can of food for Second Harvest Food Bank; “Weekdays Under The Wire,” noon - 2 p.m. Sept. 2, 3, 4, everyone free; discount Fair admission tickets through Sept 1 online, allentownfairpa.org, or at box office.

Parking: Onsite, $8 via Tunnel Gate 7 along Liberty Street.

InFAIRmation Centers: Fairgrounds east, west ends; 610-433-7541