Page 15 - Indulge June 2017

samplings from the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
wineries while taking in the panoramic views
of Beltzville Lake and the Pocono Mountains.
The event also includes live entertainment
and displays from local artisans and crafters. waters, the Center Valley
Celebrate the long history of potato
farming at the Spuds & Suds street festival
in downtown Bath on Aug. 26. The festival
will serve up any potato dish imaginable
(think everything from loaded potatoes to
potato pancakes), and will also feature a
number of other food and drink vendors —
including Weyerbacher Brewing.
Also in August, Bethlehem VegFest
boasts one of the top festivals of its
kind. The 7th annual Bethlehem VegFest
takes place on Aug. 26 on the beautiful
Southside Bethlehem Greenway. The festival
includes more than 100 food and small
business vendors, as well as cooking demos,
renowned speakers, and live music.
EMBRACE YOUR INNER
OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST
You don’t have to leave the Valley
to find numerous places to get in touch
with nature while also experiencing a few
thrills along the way. By land or water, the
landscape of the region is diverse and
ripe for recreational pursuit.
Get wet and wild with Pocono Whitewater
Rafting Adventures during the dam releases
on the Lehigh River throughout the summer.
Dates include the second and fourth
weekends in June (10/11 and 24/25); the
second, fourth and fifth weekends in July
(8/9, 22/23, and 29/30); and every weekend
in August. The 13-mile trip runs through the
Lehigh Gorge State Park and
includes 18 action-packed
Class II and Class III rapids.
If your interests lie in calmer
L.L. Bean store’s Outdoor
Discovery School offers a
Kayaking Discovery Course
every weekend (Saturdays
and Sundays) throughout the
summer. Classes take place at
both Nockamixon and Marsh
Creek State Parks.
If having both feet on the
ground is more your thing,
there are numerous hiking
trails throughout the Valley –
including state parks – that offer special
events throughout the season. On July
22, Jacobsburg State Park holds its annual
Get Out Lehigh Valley: Big Trees event,
which includes a hike along the cooling
Bushkill Creek (bring your four-legged friend
along for a dip in the waters) and exhibits
and demonstrations by the Jacobsburg
Historical Society. Visitors can also enjoy
Jacobsburg’s 1,000+ acres of trails filled
with wild flowers, wildlife and streams
while on horseback. Guided Jacobsburg
Trail Rides are provided by Quarter K
Ranch, with rides available select times on
weekdays and most weekends.
For those with both a passion for heights
and a need for speed, you can now race a
friend down Camelback Mountain’s 1,000-
foot dual zip lines for a truly heart-pounding
experience. You’ll zip through trees up to
eight stories above ground, which makes for
a truly heart-pounding adventure. Zip line
hours are 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. through June, and
9 a.m. – 8 p.m. in July and August. The zip
line tickets can also be combined with the
full Tree Tops course, which includes vertical
cargo nets, ladders, high wires and more.
SIGNATURE MUSICAL EVENTS
Of course, it wouldn’t be summer in the
Valley without the signature musical festivals
the region has come to be known for. With
hundreds of musical performances over 10
days, Musikfest has drawn nearly a million
visitors annually over the last six years. This
year’s event takes place Aug. 4-13. And
the food? Let’s just say that it’s become a
main attraction all on its own. The ‘Fest’s
more than 60 options, which compliment
the theme of each festival venue, include
Caribbean, Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican,
German and Pennsylvania Dutch fare.
Musikfest also has longtime vendors that
visitors look forward to each year, such as
the Bethlehem Dairy Store and “Aw Shucks”
Corn. If you’re a true ‘Fester, however, you
know that you’ve got to have the Musikfest
mug in hand at all times — and that there
are plenty of brewers at the festival and
throughout Bethlehem to top off your refill.
If you’re a picker yourself — or even
if you’re just an admirer of those who can
skillfully play a six-string — you’ll enjoy
the 10th anniversary of Martin on Main,
happening Aug. 5. The event is more than
just a celebration of C.F. Martin & Co.’s
history in Nazareth; it’s also a signature event
for the entire town. Live musicians will play
on several stages throughout the day, though
it isn’t uncommon to find guitar enthusiasts
playing up and down Main Street. The
festivities will also feature food and drink,
artisans and a raffle for a Martin Guitar.
Sadly, all good things have to come to
an end — including summer. The Great
Allentown Fair always marks the turn of the
season in the Lehigh Valley, sending summer
out with a bang. The Fair runs Aug. 29-Sept.
4 and will feature the grandstand concerts,
midway rides and agricultural events
that fans have come to expect. Pig races,
petting zoos and self-guided tours through
Agri~Land let visitors experience the pride
of area farms, which also sets the Fair apart
from other festivals.
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