Center City Allentown is getting its first open-air marketplace on Saturday, Nov. 14, with food, music and handmade goods from local businesses set to fill DLP Plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free, family- and pet-friendly event runs rain or shine, and organizers say it is designed to show off the full range of cultures and small businesses that call downtown Allentown home.
The Downtown Allentown Marketplace is presented by the Downtown Allentown Alliance in partnership with the Allentown Chamber of Commerce, according to discoverlehighvalley.com. As lehighvalleylive.com reports, the marketplace will take place at DLP Plaza, near Ninth and Hamilton streets, and is billed as the first of its kind for the area. Lisa Finkelstein, executive director of the Downtown Allentown Alliance, said the event celebrates Allentown and Lehigh Valley cultures, businesses and people, with fresh produce, prepared foods, live music, local artists and artisans, hands-on activities and downtown businesses all part of the mix, per the same report.
Six Performances, One Afternoon
Organizers have lined up six distinct cultural performances for the day, according to the outlet’s reporting. Paza, Tree of Life will share Native American traditions, while the Janosik Polish Dance Ensemble performs Polish dance. The Philadelphia-based group describes itself on its own website as janosikdancers.org as celebrating 30 years of performing Polish folk and national dances and songs.
Rounding out the lineup, Carmen Belly Dance and Arabic Drumming will perform belly dance and Arabic drumming, The Pilgrims of Deep Run will bring traditional Irish music, and Afro Friends LV will take the stage alongside DJ Romeo. Clave Legacy, a 12-piece ensemble, is set to close out the day with Latin jazz and salsa, the outlet’s report notes.
Food Stalls and Local Makers
Hungry visitors will find a global spread, with food vendors including Spice Route, Kou Kitchen, La Cocina del Abuelo, Cozy Crumbs Cafe and Beestar Tanghulu, according to the same account. Local farmers and artisans are also expected to sell fresh produce and handmade items alongside the food stalls…