Published October 22. 2026 10:21AM

More than 130 artists, nine performance groups and community organizations returned for “Art in the Park” at West Park, 16th and West Turner streets, Allentown on Sept. 12 with the event’s theme of “renewal.”

“This year, the idea of renewal is especially powerful. We lost beautiful, historic trees in the July 4 storm, but we are determined to help West Park recover and flourish,” Art Show Director Alan Younkin said.

Fortunately, pleasant weather greeted art lovers and their families during this day of creativity, entertainment and community connection.

The annual celebration and art and craft marketplace has attracted artists from the Lehigh Valley and beyond for more than half a century to West Park.

In keeping with this year’s renewal theme, “Art in the Park” encouraged visitors to support efforts to restore West Park’s trees damaged in the Independence Day storm while preserving its historic beauty for future generations with donations to the park’s tree fund.

Tracy Maley, a resident artist at JuxtaHub in Emmaus, paints West Park’s historic fountain during Art in the Park.

Artists DreadyDee and Caroline Rivera Atanacio share a booth in the Art in the Park marketplace. DreadyDee maintains a studio at JuxtaHub in Emmaus, while Atanacio creates her work from a studio in Dorneyville.

Lower Macungie Township siblings Ella Bui (9) and Drew (13) check out a couple of demonstration instruments on display at the CMS Community Music School tent.

Press photos by Ed CourrierMembers of Macungie Minstrelaires belt out “We Come to America” from the 1908 West Park Band Shell. From left, are: Sheri Harris, Grace Miles, Katie DeCario, Jim Hoffmann, Director Darice Hoffmann, and Michele Doxtater. Story and additional photo appear on page A5.

Master Pastelist Jacqueline Meyerson works on a photo-realistic pastel painting, using a photograph of her subject as a reference. Meyerson, who maintains a studio in Lower Macungie Township, demonstrated her artistic process during September’s Art in the Park event.

Macungie-based musicians Jacqueline Ott-Tran and Jeremy Wong perform in a shady spot adjacent to West Park’s historic fountain during the September “Art in the Park.”