After a whirlwind 2014/40th Anniversary Season, Carlisle Events is already gearing up for its 2015 schedule. While the Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals held May 15-17 is of particular interest to our readers, the season kicks off in January with Auto Mania in Allentown, Pennsylvania. This event is Pennsylvania’s largest indoor heated swap meet and is a great way for enthusiasts to beat the winter blues by connecting to buy, sell and trade all things automotive. The all-weather event not only connects old friends and allows new relationships to be made, but also furthers family fun with a supporting farmer’s market. In all, event #1 for Carlisle Events in 2015 serves as a great way to rev up for the New Year and new event season.

Up next for Carlisle Events is a special feature and a happening not officially on the season schedule, but an important spotlight none the less. At the end of January, many of the Carlisle Events staffers will trek to the Philadelphia Convention Center for the historic Philadelphia Auto Show and will present the third annual Philly Face-Off.

The 2015 theme for this display is Import vs. Domestic. Cars built around the world and owned by local and regional enthusiasts will be part of the display, which should feature about two dozen cars on each side. For Carlisle Events, this year’s theme follows two which were wildly successful, Mustang vs. Camaro (2013) and Ford vs. Mopar (2014).

Just weeks after this fun in Philly, Carlisle Events is back in Zephyrhills, Florida for the final time ever for Winter AutoFest.  The weekend fun runs February 19-22 and features a large swap meet and car corral, plus a collector-car auction of 400-plus vehicles, backed by Carlisle Auctions.

The Carlisle-based season ramps up with its home based schedule of events. The fun starts April 22-26 with Spring Carlisle that features a massive swap meet and car corral, a two-day auction offering backed by Carlisle Auctions, and the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow engine-buildup challenge. 

For our readers, the highlight of the year is  the Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals, on May 15-17. This popular show hosts kits, replicas, imports and specialty cars from around the world. With enthusiasts visiting Carlisle from all over the mid-Atlantic region, they come not only to show and see rare and unique cars, but to also meet industry guests, listen to music, shop the large kit-car themed swap meet and to take a trip around the automotive world.

For 2015, Asian cars are the main feature on the import side of the aisles, and the Passport Program returns too, allowing guests to earn prizes by walking the grounds and seeing all the cars. The Cumberland Valley region is also a popular draw for guests as the scenic back -country roads and covered bridges make for great afternoon car cruise options for those looking to take a break from the show itself.

Carlisle’s Summer of Muscle follows as the Ford Nationals, GM Nationals and Chrysler Nationals honor some of the best muscle cars of all time. In addition, a nice array of tail fins and chrome are showcased too. For Ford weekend, the GT, Thunderbird and Merkur will take center stage, while GM hosts a nice array of 5th Generation Camaros, the IROC Camaro, Fins of the ‘50s as well as a cool ‘80s music to compliment the IROC reunion. Chrysler fans coming to Carlisle in July can honor the cars and individuals that have helped make history with the Mopar Hall of Fame. Event weekend also hosts Collector Car Appreciation Day, a Forward Look reunion, massive swap meet and more.  In fact, the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals are such a draw that 2014 saw record showfield totals and is the biggest all-Mopar themed event in the country!

As the schedule approaches a grand finale, Carlisle Events shifts into high gear for four events in a six-week span. Carlisle Performance & Style continues to honor the hottest, newest and freshest trends in the hobby and will do so with an all-new date: July 17-19. Not long after, it’s Carlisle Truck Nationals weekend where trucks, Jeeps, SUVs, Vans and more are showcased alongside Monster Trucks and Mini Trucks too. The Bloomsburg Nationals follow for what can only be described as an all-star event. This weekend, August 14-16 in north central Pennsylvania welcomes all makes, models, styles and eras of production

Finally, Carlisle’s specialty show season concludes with Corvettes at Carlisle. The world’s largest all-Corvette show focuses on the 1965 Corvette in 2015 with a special 50th Anniversary display and a patriotic Salute to Service. GM Engineers come back to Carlisle along with other great seminars geared directly at Corvette lovers and owners.

Carlisle Events ends it season much like it started, with a pair of swap meet, car corral and auction events. Fall Carlisle runs September 30-October 4 and Florida Fall AutoFest takes place November 12-15. Complete details on all 13 of the Carlisle Events shows as well as the Philly Face-Off at the Philadelphia Auto Show can be found on the web at www.CarlisleEvents.com.