What if we just pretend it is going to happen and then pretend it did happen and then post about it like it happened.

Fabulous idea

Big agriculture show at the fairgrounds next week. Hopefully this means brighter things on the horizon!

I really hope it can happen this year.

Not sure if many of you were aware, but the famous Ritz BBQ was forced out of business in 2020 due to COVID. However, new owners have purchased the place and plan to reopen in February/March, just in time for Pinfest 2021!!!!

https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/food-drink/restaurants/mc-ent-ritz-barbecue-reopening-under-new-owners-20201208-jgu3usj3djfnvdw7sz5eaxyqy4-story.html

Yeah, well it can't be any worse than the last time a bunch of us went there. The single most abysmally poor dining out experience I've ever had.....by far!!!

Don’t hold your breath. You’ll probably have to check it out in 2022

If ever.

Come On Man!

I too am doubtful about a 2021 show. disappointed of course but somewhat relieved since I have a few games to restore and bring and haven't gotten them finished yet.

I'm not planning on attending even if pigs do take flight, and it actually happens this year. Hopefully it can take place next year..

I would go

That's a big part of the problem. Attendance would be too light. Maybe a much smaller show, as in the past, if anything.

Come on guys! Let's get a show going. What are you worried about? PA has indoor dining, other shows are open to the public and have been for months! Let's get something going this year! I cant stand the thought of going 2 full years without an Allentown show! If they hold it, I will come!!

I think it can happen. 1/3 of the US population should be vaccinated by then. Plus 1/4 of the population probably already had covid. That puts us close to 60% immunity. Our wonderful g*vernment wants 70-80%.

Wife was just asking about show, she wants to go.

Went in 2016 for the first time and had a fun time. Would live to return again.

Unfortunately like other shows where you walk around and look at things, Pinfest is an interactive show. I'm not keen on bringing my pinballs for everyone to touch, sneeze, cough and whip alcohol based hand sanitizer all over my machine. Nor do I want to be the next guy in line Sorry... Best case is 2022

What if we all wore gloves?

What if everyone entering has to provide proof that they’ve received both doses of the vaccine. Then you get a wrist band that allows you entrance through any of the doors, including the side and rear flea market.

Anyone that feels that their freedom is being infringed on by having to get vaccinated can stay home.

^^ sorry but no!

Ever heard of Pandora's box?

I disagree as well and I work in the medical field.

Proof? You mean that little card they gave me when I got the sledgehammer to the arm, I mean vaccine, which anyone could easily make a fugazi of? There would be scalpers in the parking lot selling bootleg cards lol...

I guess i am simply not as afraid of this as others.
I am however, quite sympathetic to your position. I wear a mask, i wash my hands frequently, and i stay socially distant.
I vote no show until this is stamped out from the face of the earth.

But, if there were a show i would go.

If they really wanted to wipe clean the whole corona family , it would have been done already.
Little by little perhaps. I, as others, are itching to get to the shows and play pinball and mingle with other humans rather than flat screens.

I don't plan to get the vaccine for the foreseeable future. I (along with other members of my family) was exposed to three different people who were positive for Covid over the past six months and nobody got it. Nobody wore masks or social distanced either. At the time, the sick people thought they had the common cold. Testing later confirmed Covid.

Two of the people who had it said it felt like a mild cold that was gone within a week and the third never had any symptoms whatsoever and felt great the whole time. On the other hand, I personally know several people who got the vaccination recently and all but one said they felt like crap after the second shot for perhaps 1 1/2 or 2 days. Most had to stay home from work they felt so bad.

Personally, I'll take my chances, at least for now without the vaccine. I reserve the right to change my mind later if new information becomes available and I have no problem with others who may choose differently for themselves. But me, personally, I'm tired of hiding in my house worrying about what ifs. I'm going to try to live my life and enjoy it. If Allentown is held, I will be there and people can come play my machines all they want.

I think the bigger problem is that the show likely takes a year to set up.
It is now january.
I usually make my hotel reservation in february.
There is still no clear policy or end to this so it is unlikely the infrastructure for such a show could be hurridly assembled. And, based on the feedback above, attendance would be light at best by both vendors and pinheads.
It wont happen in may.

How about anyone who doesn't want the risk of getting COVID can stay home, and the rest of us can have a show without having our freedoms infringed upon?

Hello everyone, just a heads up and perhaps some opinion from you if you like. I’ve already scraped May as I’m not seeing that happen. I am however encouraged by some recent speculation that is being suggested by some authorities. I’ve talked with venue management about alternative dates. I have the last week of July and first week of August available. I’m leaning toward July. The reason being is there is a monster event that starts The first week of August (Musicfest in Bethlehem). I’m worried about hotel availability.

Anyway, I’m working on it. At least we will have an idea by spring where we are headed. I’m hoping for heard immunity by May/June as suggested. A show with significant restrictions just can’t happen.

Ivan
Pinfest 202?

Late July is a pretty safe bet. It’ll be even safer if JNJ’s one dose vaccine reads out well in late January or early February. I’ve got international travel booked in late summer early fall and I’m one of the more COVID conservative folks I know. Fauci even said he expects indoor concerts to be a thing by the fall.

Thank you for the update and a ray of hope.

hope is all we have at this point.

Thanks for the update Ivan. I'm sure when your show happens. There will be much participation and it will be successful and fun for all.

if it does happen i think the line to get in will reach the farmers market!!

For sure it did that in 2019

Bring a game. No waiting!

UGH, hopefully any other weekend beside the weekend of July 30th.. I really want to go this year.

I can't imagine indoor concerts in the fall being realistic, at least in Ohio. We have barely scraped the surface on getting health care workers vaccinated let alone the general public. If I get my first shot by fall I will consider myself lucky, the rollout here is agonizingly slow and lacking any real plan or timeline. I'd love to get back to shows but 2021 seems like a pipe dream. The problem you will have is all the people that will rush to these shows are likely the same people who haven't been that careful to begin with, and I'm not really in a hurry to do that unless I'm vaccinated. It's all pretty depressing.

Hoping that it can happen in July. Crossing my fingers that the Canada/USA border be re-opened and most can be vaccinated by then.

If the borders stay closed, that will mean a significant percentage of attendees won't be able to attend 'till 2022

COVID sux...

Do that many Canadians come to the Allentown show? I know a couple years back someone from Canada bought a beer neon from me.

i'd say lots do,,,

Yes they do. They buy a lot of pins.

I usually bring between 5 and 8 machines there, more than half usually are bought by Canadiens. Been that way for me for the last ten years in Allentown.

Assuming the show even happens, I hope the border restrictions are removed by then. Be disappointing if our neighbors to the north couldn't come.

I bought a neon a few years ago...LOL. Could have been me!

I would say LOTS from the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto-London-Windsor corridor attend this show, along with some from the Maritimes.

While I have skipped a few years as of late, there's a bigger gathering of Canucks in Allentown than any pinball/arcade show in Canada.

I am hoping that it's gonna happen this year... as if you think that machine prices are crazy as of late in your area, you haven't seen the pricing up North...i-n-s-a-n-e...

Coors Silver Bullet!!

I would be in for late July!

Nope! LOL... mine was a Molson Ice NIB.

Been in the COVID trenches since day 1. When Pinfest happens, I will be there!