Best Car Shows in Pennsylvania

If you’re an avid car enthusiast living in Jersey City, New Jersey, you can satisfy your passion by attending some of the famous auto shows in Pennsylvania. Whether you’re interested in vintage cars, muscle cars, hot rods, exotic cars, or concept cars, you’ll have no trouble finding an event that suits your fancy. The following is a list of car shows worth checking out in the Keystone State:

Car Show in Pennsylvania
Image via Flickr by J. P. H. Gallery | Licensed by CC BY 2.0

Philadelphia Auto Show

The Philadelphia Auto Show is one of the largest car shows in Pennsylvania, drawing over 250,000 visitors each year. This annual event takes place in late January or early February at the 700,000-square-foot Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. It features more than 700 vehicles, including new vehicle releases, luxury cars, exotic cars, antique automobiles, tuner cars, and concept cars. 

Admission fees for the Philadelphia Auto Show are $14 for adults and teenagers and $7 for seniors and children aged seven to 12. From Jersey City, you have to drive about one and a half hours to get to the venue.

Fall Carlisle

If you’re a classic car buff, the Fall Carlisle is a must-attend event for you. Starting in late September, this five-day event marks the end of Carlisle’s automotive flea market and car show season. Every year, hundreds of thousands of car lovers from all over the country make their way to the 82-acre Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds to buy, sell, trade, and celebrate all things automotive. 

The main highlight of Fall Carlisle is its automotive flea market. Comprising more than 8,000 vendors, this massive flea market offers a wide array of auto-related items, including parts, accessories, collectibles, and memorabilia. If you want to add to your classic car collection, you can purchase one of the 2,000-plus vehicles available at the car corral. There’s also a two-day auction that gives you an opportunity to buy a car at an affordable price. 

It costs $10 to attend Fall Carlisle on any day of the week except Sunday, when the entrance fee is reduced to $7. Carlisle is about a three-hour drive west of Jersey City.

East Passyunk Car Show & Street Festival

Held in late July in Philadelphia, the East Passyunk Car Show & Street Festival is a one-day outdoor festival that brings together some of the most impressive classic vehicles in the country. During this event, you’ll find almost 200 classic cars, antique cars, custom cars, trucks, and motorcycles lining up between Broad Street and Dickinson Street on East Passyunk Avenue. These vehicles are vying for an array of awards to be handed out at the end of the show, including 12 “best of show” awards, a “people’s choice” award, and “top 50” awards. Admission to this festival is free. 

Pittsburgh Auto Show

Another car show in Pennsylvania you shouldn’t miss is the Pittsburgh Auto Show. Taking place around mid-February at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, this yearly event showcases an interesting selection of new, exotic, and classic vehicles in a family-friendly environment. One of the highlights of the auto show is its exotic car section, which features the latest models from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. Besides viewing awesome vehicles, you can also learn about the latest car safety features, calculate the cargo capacity of a new SUV, sit behind the wheel of a sporty coupe, and much more. 

Ticket prices for the Pittsburgh Auto Show are $12 for attendees aged 17 and above, $6 for children aged six to 16, and $10 for seniors and military members. The driving distance from Jersey City to Pittsburgh is about 370 miles, which takes roughly six hours. 

Tuner Evolution Car Show

The Tuner Evolution Car Show is one of the most anticipated custom car shows in the East Coast region. This auto show is held at the 150,000-square-foot Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks in late July. It features some of the finest customized vehicles from around the world, numerous vendors showing off aftermarket products, and drift demos and competitions. Plenty of awards are up for grabs, including the “best domestic” award, the “best VIP” award, the “best team overall” award, make- or model-specific awards, and an array of specialty awards. 

General admission to the Tuner Evolution Car Show is $25 per person. The event is located in Oaks, which is about a two-hour drive from Jersey City. 

International Car Show at Schenley Park

On a weekend in late July every year, Pittsburgh’s historic Schenley Park transforms into the venue of one of the biggest car shows in Pennsylvania. As part of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, the International Car Show at Schenley Park consists of 20 separate displays featuring over 2,500 vehicles, including classic cars, muscle cars, exotic cars, street rods, and custom cars. You can also watch exciting vintage races on the streets surrounding the Bob O’Connor Golf Course in the park. Attendees aged 12 and above are required to pay an entrance fee of $5.

Eastern Division AACA National Fall Meet

Since its inception in 1955, the Eastern Division AACA National Fall Meet has been held in the beautiful city of Hershey during the first week of October every year. Situated on the parking lots and grounds surrounding The Giant Center and Hersheypark, this event features approximately 1,500 show cars, more than 1,000 car corral spaces, and a huge automotive flea market with over 9,000 vendors. You’ll have the chance to see some of the most unusual antique cars, classic cars, and custom cars in the country. 

Admission to the Eastern Division AACA National Fall Meet is free. To get to Hershey from Jersey City, you need to drive west for about two and a half hours.

Attending car shows in Pennsylvania allows you to indulge in your love for all things automotive and take a break from the monotony of everyday life. If you need more information about car shows in Pennsylvania, feel free to speak with the friendly and helpful staff at New Jersey State Auto Used Cars. Contact us anytime during our business hours.