On Thursday afternoon starting at 4:00 PM, there is "kickoff show" over at the Expo Center which is just outside of the gates going into the fairgrounds. There is music, food trucks and other activities to start the weekend off. Typically, there will be 400 plus cars that will be on display. As for as evening activities, it is pretty much limited to people just sitting outside of the hotels with their cars talking to other owners. There is no organized cruising going on. Unlike some venues, where they basically run you out of the facility at say 6:00 PM, Carlisle is open around the clock and you can come and go as long as you have a window sticker.
Chryslers at Carlisle has turned into a Thursday through Saturday show. Vendors are now arriving on Tuesday and Wednesday to start setting up. By Thursday, mid day, the swap meet is really active with buyers trying to beat the crowd or to find that elusive NOS part or awesome price. By Saturday afternoon at 2:00, many of the vendors are starting to wrap things up. By 7:00 PM, I would say that over 50% of the vendors will be loaded up and pulling out, heading back home. If your intent on looking for parts, you can easily spend two days going through the swap meet. We stay at our swap meet spots and typically do not close up the tent until 8:00 PM or there about. Usually after about 7:00 PM, mostly just people out walking the grounds and socializing.
If your coming to view the cars, Friday afternoon and Saturday are the big days for the cars to come out. The good thing about Carlisle is that they park the cars based on year model or body style. If you are primarily interested in viewing the 68 to 70 B-bodies, they are pretty much all grouped together. Also, do not forget that there are special displays in Buildings T and Y show casing certain cars or years and there will also be additional displays outside of those buildings as well.
Sunday is pretty much a travel day for everyone. They do present the awards to the show winners on Sunday mid morning. Last year, Buildings T and Y were already being emptied by mid morning on Sunday as well. Very few vendors will be set up with a full display as they are in the pack mode at that time.
As I tell anyone who is a Mopar fanatic, then Carlisle is our shrine that we visit yearly. We have been doing the event since 92, and a lots has changed over the years and it continues to grow each year while most other shows are getting smaller. We will be in our usual vending location and looking forwards to seeing new and old friends. As in the previous years, we are not able to get up to the FBBO tent as we are taking care of our customers. Hawk and his guys do take care of us with an assortment of food goodies which are awesome. We will take care of the tables and chairs again this year for the tent.
We look forward to another great show in Carlisle and hope that the turnout is good and anyone who is undecided will come on out to the event!!!
Thanks,
Richard
