The Allentown Dominican Festival, which last year drew an estimated 15,000 people downtown, will not take place downtown in 2025 after organizers said they could not afford the increased cost the city is imposing on them to hold the event.
The festival’s organizer said the city has been “hostile” toward the event, but a city spokesperson said staff have been open to working with the organizers to find a compromise. However, because the size of the annual event has increased, the costs have too.
Allentown also was also unable to issue the festival a permit in 2025 because it has around $15,000 in outstanding fees for EMS and police services from 2024…