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Allentown Newbie


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I have never been to Allentown, only lived in PA 2 years, and I would like some advice about it. Parking, Warmup areas, food suggestions, yada yada yada. Im excited because this will be my first show in 2 years and want to make it a good experience for us. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks guys!!!

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I have never been to Allentown, only lived in PA 2 years, and I would like some advice about it. Parking, Warmup areas, food suggestions, yada yada yada. Im excited because this will be my first show in 2 years and want to make it a good experience for us. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks guys!!!

Welcome, justafan78!

I live nearby and can help with specifics. First of all, don't be too afraid of the lack of parking. It's there, just not much right at the stadium. You will likely walk 2-3 blocks. The area around Muhlenberg College located one block North is a good neighborhood, as is the neighborhood about 2 blocks South of the stadium. There are also 3-4 business parking lot owners looking for a quick $10, and that's pretty cheap under the circumstances. In any case, arriving 2 hours early is a good idea. Roam around the adjacent city park, watch corps practice, maybe set-up a small picnic.

The entire street behind the back sidelines is a sight to see with all the corps buses, food trucks, etc. Something few people do is walk over to the Corps Entry gate and watch the unifomed kids come in to play wearing the uniform and game face. These are the very best young people America has to offer and it's thrilling to see them up close. Watching them come off the field is equally impressive, all sweated, spent, and satisfied.

If you don't have center section seats, or are seated too low, give up your seats and hang-out up on the walkway between the lower and lower deck. You'll be kept outside the 20 yard lines up there, but the height makes it all OK and gives you a really decent show. Some people even enjoy it all from the outer ends, sitting on the grass. Stadium concessions are good and priced low. The souvenir area is inside the stadium and a bee hive of activity.

The Greater Allentown and Lehigh Valley Area is actually pretty large (750,000). It has just about everything other areas have but some of it is spread out and not easy to find. Depending how long you spend in the area will decide what you get to do.

This is the biggest tourism weekend of the year, so expect some added traffic and full hotels. Hotels are still listed as available on Expedia, but the prices are jacked-up about 30-40%. Besides DCI there's an always busy theme park (Dorney), Triple A baseball (highest in attendance over the past 4 years in all of the minor leagues), a massive music festival in Bethlehem, and one of the country's biggest antique and specialty car shows in Macungie.

Tons of shopping, most interesting area being the new Promenade complex about 5 miles South in Saucon Valley. Add-in Pennsylvania's highest grossing Casino (The Sands) in Bethlehem, the Crayola Factory in Easton, and several decent museums, there's something for everyone. But again, it's pretty spread out, minimum public transportation, and few taxis.

Sure some of this helps!

Edited by Fred Windish
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Justafan78, I am not from the area, but just wanted to say that I was lucky enough in 2008 to have the opportunity to attend both nights of tha Allentown show. One of the best drum corps experiences ever!

Oh, also you should buy Michael Boo a root beer flavored snowcone...

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Love Allentown, and especially now that my daughter likes to come with me.

Piece of advice - Bring stadium seat cushions!

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it's a sub.

Are you trying to be a Hero by being such a Grinder?:rolleyes:/>

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