It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means plenty of backyard barbecues and ceremonies to honor the brave service members who’ve given their lives for this country.
It also means there’s an extra day to take in some events around the Lehigh Valley.
Here are The Morning Call’s best bets for fun on this extended weekend.
Mayfair Festival of the Arts returns to Cedar Crest College
For more than 30 years, Mayfair Festival of the Arts has been a tradition in the Lehigh Valley, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever.
This year’s festival, to be held Friday through Sunday at Cedar Crest College, features arts, crafts, food, music, live performances and a bigger-than-ever drone show.
New this year, day passes will be required for entry to Franki’s Fun Zone — which includes a climbing wall, Crayola table, bounce house and slide, inflatable obstacle course, trampoline and train ride — to help streamline the experience for families.
Here’s the entertainment lineup:
Friday: Main Stage, 4-6 p.m. Rogue Diplomats, 7-10 p.m. Go Go Gadjet; Artist Market Stage, 6-7 p.m. Kristen Morgenstern
Saturday: Main Stage, 12-2 p.m. The Large Flowerheads, 3-4:30 p.m. Billy Bauer Band, 5:30-7 p.m. The Wonton Soups, 8-10 p.m. Steal the Sky; Artist Market Stage, 2-3 p.m. Stacy Gabel, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Erin Kelly, 7-8 p.m. Kendal Conrad
Sunday: Main Stage, 12-2 p.m. Class of ’84, 3:30-5:30 p.m. The Castaway Band, 7-9 p.m. Philadelphia Funk Authority; Artist Market Stage, 2-3 p.m. Adeline Csontos, 5:30-7 p.m. Melody Cruz
The weekend will end with a drone show at 9 p.m. Sunday, featuring more than 200 illuminated drones, twice as many as last year, flying twice as high and lighting up the night sky in a showstopping finale.
If you go: Admission and on-site parking are free. Bracelets for Franki’s Fun Zone are $10 per day at the info tent; the LV Rocks rock wall and trampolines have separate admission fees, payable on site. Hours are: 4-10 p.m. Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cedar Crest College is located at 100 College Drive, Allentown. mayfair.cedarcrest.edu.
Pennsylvania Youth Ballet presents spring production
The Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley will present their spring ballet performances of Carnival of the Animals and The Four Seasons on Saturday at Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center.
The two short, family-friendly ballets were first performed in 2016 with original choreography by Pennsylvania Youth Ballet artistic director Karen Kroninger Knerr. Carnival of the Animals consists of individual movements representing different animals. The Four Seasons showcases well-known pieces representing spring, summer, fall and winter.
Featured dancers include Francesca Reto, 17; Aidan Lazo, 17; Marley Gidusko, 16; Andy Alulis, 19; and EllaMary Groller, 15.
More than 70 dancers from the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet will appear in this production. Meet the cast during a free meet-and-greet after each show, and join the dancers on stage for photographs and a behind-the-scenes view of the production.
If you go: Performances are 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday at Zoellner Arts Center, 420 E. Packer Ave, Bethlehem. For tickets, visit zoellnerartscenter.org or call 610-758-2787.
The Pennsylvania Youth Ballet / Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley will present its spring ballet performances of Carnival of the Animals and The Four Seasons, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem. (Hub Willson)
The circus is back at PPL Center
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus returns to the PPL Center in Allentown this weekend, with jaw-dropping stunts, laugh-out-loud fun and unforgettable memories.
Gather your family and friends and get ready to witness the ultimate party under the big top during one of seven shows.
Be sure to arrive early: The all-new Ringling Hype Crew will get the party started 30 minutes before show time with DJ-led moments and surprise audience participation. The pre-show is included with admission.
If you go: Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and noon and 4 p.m. Sunday. Get tickets at pplcenter.com/events/detail/ringling.
The cast of the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus will be at the PPL Center in Allentown this weekend. (Associated Press)
Summer fun starts at Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park opened earlier this month, but Saturday is the first day for the Wildwater Kingdom water park.
Get drenched by the 317-gallon tipping bucket at Seaside Splashworks, float on the Wildwater River, race your friends on Aqua Racer or feel the thrill of the 65-foot Python Plummet slide tower.
If you go: Wildwater Kingdom is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and only on weekends until June 1, when it’s open daily. Dorney Park is open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. Admission to Wildwater Kingdom is included with park tickets. sixflags.com/dorneypark.
Families walk to a cove for the swimming lesson Thursday, June 20, 2024, during the 15th annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall Township. Dorney Park joined hundreds of aquatic centers across the nation to promote the importance of water safety and swimming skills in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown and Swim-in Zone. (Emma Reed/The Morning Call)
Have a weekend event for us to consider? Email us at goguide@mcall.com.