The automotive events at Carlisle are affordable family fun for those who purchase a spectator admission ticket.  There aren’t many entertainment venues that offer $10-$20 admission tickets (depending on the event) that in turn allow upwards of 10 hours of entertainment once on-site.  In addition, with kids 12 and under admitted for FREE, bringing a family of four to a Carlisle car show is, hands down, one of the best “bang for the buck” options in central PA.

What was already super affordable is now even more so with special online-only discount pricing on tickets for the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals, Carlisle GM Nationals, and Fall Carlisle.  These three shows take place May 12-13, June 23-24, and September 27-October 1 respectively, and each offers a variety of historic automotive displays, parts shopping, activities, etc.  Further, they carry an in-person ticket cost of $13 (IPN), $12 (GM), and $13 (Fall) per event.  Now, with the “Sweetheart of a Deal” Valentine’s Day Promotion, those prices which are already discounted online by $2 get an extra dollar’s savings between February 13 and two weeks before the event itself. 

Those savings mean that a spectator coming to Carlisle for Import & Performance Nationals is paying just $10 for admission between February 13 and May 1.  Admission to the Carlisle GM Nationals is just $9 between February 13 and June 12 and a ticket to Fall Carlisle to shop the massive automotive flea market is just $10 between February 13 and September 18.  Spectator tickets must be purchased online within the promotional period to receive this discount.  Click on “Tickets & Gift Cards” on the website home page and then click on “Buy Tickets” under the specific event header.  The discount will automatically be applied within the purchase transaction during the promotional time period, which begins Monday, February 13.  Online spectator admission prices for these three events return to their original prices two weeks preceding each event.

Other events on the Carlisle car show schedule also have discounts in place, either by way of standard online ticket purchases or in person by showcasing a valid military ID (ID holder only).  In addition, events offer a spectator ticket purchase option that includes parking, and all-new in 2023, Carlisle Events gift cards.

It’s easy to see why families from near and far travel to Carlisle.  Not only are the car shows great family fun, but they are educational too with decades of past, present, and future classics on display.  There are also parts, toys, collectibles, merchandise, and more for sale within the automotive flea market.  Save time by skipping the lines, save money by buying online, and spend an enjoyable day out with friends and family at Carlisle in 2023 and beyond.  Learn more online at CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.  Don’t delay…Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and of course, the Carlisle Events season schedule starts April 19 with Spring Carlisle.

Summertime means sun, fun, and outdoor excitement for many in and around central Pennsylvania.  It also means the return of car show excitement by way of Carlisle Events at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  Annually, Carlisle Events employs some 200 part-timers and will be looking to add to that roster as part of a two-day job fair, February 24-25 within the Carlisle Events offices. 

The job fair runs 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday the 24^th and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday the 25^th and is open to all potential applicants ages 14 and up.  Would-be workers are invited to stop in to apply for a variety of job opportunities.  Jobs range from part-time with the security team to gate workers, ticket takers, customer service, facilities, and more.  Multiple shifts are available too, though a majority of the employment carries primary hours during car show set up, tear down, and/or event weekends between April and October.  On-the-spot hiring may take place.  Candidates are encouraged to bring two forms of ID and be prepared to fill out an application in person at the job fair.  Applications are also available online at CarlisleEvents.com/careers.  The Carlisle Fairgrounds is located at 1000 Bryn Mawr Rd. on the north side of Carlisle, just off Route 34.  Turn at the light and follow the signs for the job fair and the Carlisle offices.

In addition to working outdoors and being around some of the coolest cars and trucks on the planet, would-be hires also have access to the following:

• FREE admission to events before and/or after shift
• FREE employee meal with your shift (up to an $8 value)
• FREE snacks and drinks throughout your shift
• FREE work shirt and hat provided
• FREE parking within close proximity to the facility
• Annual employee appreciation party
• Flexible scheduling opportunities may exist
• Competitive wages

These opportunities exist in a fast-paced, live event environment.

Applicants must be at least 14 years of age for consideration and if in school, would need applicable work permits once hired.  These jobs are great for a student looking for their first work-related experiences, a retiree looking to stay busy, or anyone in between. 

The first large-scale car show at Carlisle is Spring Carlisle and its two-day collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions.  The spring events run in conjunction with one another, as Spring Carlisle takes place April 19-23 at the fairgrounds, while the auction takes place April 20-21 at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center.  Complete schedule information is available at CarlisleEvents.com and job fair-specific questions can be fielded at 717-243-7855 x111.

2022 was a high-water mark year for the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar’s, hosting the largest amount of show cars ever at any car show at Carlisle!  A record total of 3,454 Fords adorned the Nationals Parts Depot (NPD) Showfield and with them, came an amazing display of rides within the Featured Vehicle Displays.  For 2023, the displays will be even more amazing with a quintet of planned features.

June 2-4, 2023 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds welcomes back Ford lovers from around the world and this time will highlight the SVT Cobra, Coyote powerplants, the Ford Lightning, an SVT Reunion, the Malaise Era, and a 40^th Anniversary of Saleen.  These displays will be positioned in various spots, including Building T, Building R, and under tents on the NPD Showfield.

• The Snake Comes Out of Hiding in 2023
  • Launched by Ford’s Special Vehicle team for the 1993 Model Year, the SVT Cobra was designed to showcase SVT’s hallmarks of performance, substance, exclusivity, and value.  Whether you are talking about the original Fox-based Cobra and Cobra R, the SN-95 Cobras, or the New Edge Cobras, these are some of the most sought-after late-model Mustangs.  The 2023 display includes many of the aforementioned rides, plus special guests, and even an on-grounds parade Friday, June 2.
• Hear the Howl with the Coyote Den
  • The Coyote Den is coming to Carlisle and will feature vehicles not only equipped originally with Coyote powerplants but also the ever-popular Coyote swaps.  The display also comes to life Friday and Saturday with a rev, or howl if you will, from the participants as well as those on the NPD Showfield that are also Coyote based.

• Lightning Strikes in June
  • Sunny and 75 – that’s the weather for June 2-4, or so we hope.  So, when we say lightning strikes, we mean it as a way to best describe the Ford Lightning’s 30-year anniversary celebration.  The display includes the ever-collectible and popular first-generation OBS SVT Lightning, the Flaresided second generation, and the new all-electric Ford Lightnings.  In 1993, SVT started it all when it delivered a performance truck to its enthusiasts.  Some of the originals from ’93 will be at Carlisle and the display tent will also welcome a few examples of each generation thereafter.  There’s even a planned parade on June 2 too.
• But Wait…There are More SVT Honors Planned
  • Ford’s SVT group has produced more than seven different SVT branded rides before its absorption into Ford Performance.  SVTs include the Lightning of course, but there’s a Cobra, Shelby GT500, Focus, Contour, GT, and Raptor just to name a few.  The other rides in this display will join the Lightning for a parade on Friday.  If you have an SVT but aren’t in the display itself, you’re welcome to join in!

• 40^th Anniversary of the Saleen
  • In 1983 Steve Saleen debuted his namesake brand of performance products.  Fast forward 40 years and the products and the man himself are still going strong.  2023 hosts a 40^th Anniversary display of the Saleen and aims to include a nice gallery of performance cars and their parts too.  The anniversary also includes seminars, parades, and more.
• The Malaise Era
  • The “malaise era” refers to the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s and encompassed some of Ford’s often forgotten vehicles.  Building R (near Gate 2) will feature these Fords.  While the “malaise era” encompasses a lot of vehicles, we’re hoping to showcase a gallery of odd, off-the-wall stuff many of us have forgotten about.

The Carlisle Ford Nationals is actively taking display consideration submissions online through the Carlisle Events/Carlisle Ford Nationals web page.  The submission process is ongoing into at least the first quarter of 2023.  Apply today for display consideration.  The vehicle doesn’t have to be the best of the best, but it does need to fit one of these display themes.  Don’t have something that fits the bill for these displays, but own a Ford?  Showfield registration is open now.  Full details on the event, links to purchase tickets, and more are available at CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855 today.  

In sports, before the regular season starts, there are tune-up contests.  For Carlisle Events, its annual tune-up event is a sleeper of an event that more enthusiasts within automotive circles are learning about; Auto Mania at the Allentown Fairgrounds.  While this event is smaller in comparison to the more grandiose events like it held in Carlisle, for Allentown show-goers, it’s their Daytona 500, their big game…it’s the show that gets it all going!

From noon on January 20 through 3 p.m. on January 22, thousands of guests mixed and mingled with a few hundred vendors and millions of automotive pieces and parts for an event that has been going on now for 34 years.  Auto Mania is also Pennsylvania’s largest indoor and heated event of its type, so it’s easy to see why guests from the region over walked aisle upon aisle of automotive pieces and parts, collectibles, and merchandise.  Each vendor table saw a constant stream of customers daily.  Items like Mopar oil pans, Ford-specific fuel lines, Camaro bumpers, garage and floor mats, videos, vintage magazines, toy cars, and more were all offered.  There were also a few food vendors positioned within Ag Hall, giving everyone some great culinary options throughout the weekend.

For anyone at the event that thought Friday was busy, they had not seen anything yet.  When the doors opened Saturday, there were again lines to gain access to the show.  Once inside, the guests were shoulder to shoulder and aisles were packed with enthusiasts.  Saturday’s turnout, combined with the one from Friday gave everyone a lot of what they wanted.  Sure, the shopping was there, but most importantly, the unmatched camaraderie that comes with an event like this was prevalent throughout.

As the final day rolled around, it served as one last chance to buy parts, check out last-minute deals, and even visit with the dedicated group of vendors who set up outdoors.  In all, what better way to enjoy a January day than to spend it with friends talking cars, buying parts, and getting excited for events season at Carlisle which commences on April 19 with Spring Carlisle?

“What a fantastic weekend,” said event manager Tim DeMark.  “It just goes to show what the Carlisle name means to the collector car hobby.  I really would like to thank the vendors and our guests for a fantastic weekend.  I encourage everyone to 'like' us on Facebook.  This way, everyone knows what we have going on and how they can be part of this great weekend next year.  Save the date because we can’t wait to do it again, January 19-21, 2024.”

Up next for Carlisle Events is Spring Carlisle.  This massive automotive flea market event spans five days, April 19-24, and includes a two-day classic and collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions.  Gates open at 7 a.m. each day and kids 12 and under are admitted FREE.  There is also a military discount available for ALL events for in-person purchases (with valid ID).  Complete details about Spring Carlisle can be found at CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.  For auction information, visit CarlisleAuctions.com or call 717-960-6400.