Now that car show season is upon us, our staff felt that it would be a great service to our readers and fans, to provide event alerts for the upcoming weekend shows. This particular weekend features one of the biggest car shows of the year with the Detroit Autorama/World of Wheels/Cavalcade of Customs underway. For those of us that can’t make it to the that major event, there are several other events around the country that are also worth checking out. In not particular order, we have found some of the larger events that we can highlight for enthusiasts around the states.

Carlisle Winter AutoFest, SUN n FUN Convention Campus, Lakeland, Florida. 02/25/2016 – 02/28/2016

The Winter AutoFest takes place at its all new facility, the SUN ‘n FUN complex in Lakeland, Florida. A car show event that is suitable for enthusiasts of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most die-hard car guy or gal or you’re a family looking for a day out of the house, Winter Florida AutoFest has it all. The weekend plays host to thousands of collector and classic automotive enthusiasts who will come to SUN ‘n FUN for one of the largest automotive swap meets in the region. In addition, there are classic cars and trucks available within the car corral or enjoy a thrilling collector car auction presented by Carlisle Auctions. Not only are there multiple forms of automobilia for sale, you can check out or be part of a classic car show. Throughout the weekend, hundreds of classics, spanning generations of production, will be on display with awards presented at the conclusion of the event. In addition, there’s a great array of food, games, displays, guests and more.

46th Annual World of Wheels, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana 02/26/2016-02/28/2016

Hot rods are always at the heart of each show, but in recent years the composition has expanded to include manufacturers displays.

50th Annual Big 3 Auto Parts Exchange and Car Corral, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California. 02/26/2016

This event was first held in the spring of 1966 when just a few club members got together in the parking lot at the College Grove Shopping Center. The next year it grew to about 200 vendors and was held at the Sears parking lot in Hillcrest. The event continued there for another year and then moved to the parking lot behind the old Sands Hotel in Kearny Mesa. The City of San Diego then decided to ban swap meets, so arrangements were made to move the event to the Sears lot in El Cajon. As the event continued to grow, this site could no longer accommodate the huge number of participants so the event was moved to El Cajon Speedway parking lot. This site accommodated the growth of the event, but as the parking area was all dirt and the winter rains constantly turned the annual automotive event into a mud bowl, a new site had to be found.

With a change in policy by the City of San Diego allowing swap meets, arrangements were made to move the event to Jack Murphy (Qualcomm) Stadium in 1980. There the “BIG 3” Parts Exchange has become an annual fixture for individuals who appreciate those fantastic vehicles of the Past. There is no charge to the general public to attend this event, however, there is a stadium parking fee. The shoppers hours are 12 noon to 4PM Friday, 8AM to 4PM Saturday and 8AM to 12PM Sunday.

AACA Museum Pioneers in African-American Auto History, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 02/012016-04/30/2016

In salute of Black History Month, The AACA Museum presents a history of the pioneers in the African American community who contributed to the advancement of the automobile industry. These men and women laid the foundation for others to pursue careers in such fields as franchised car dealers, designers, custom car builders, race car drivers and manufacturers.

This first annual exhibit begins with the struggles of African-Americans following the end of slavery and their desire to have their ideas and inventions recognized as equals. Patrons will learn about the only recorded African-American car manufacturer, C.R. Patterson of Ohio and W.H. Phelps, who patented an apparatus for washing over-sized vehicles, along with other esteemed names. While learning the history, visitors can take the opportunity to assemble their own paper traffic signal patented by Garrett Morgan—courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Dayton Auto Show, Dayton Convention Center, Dayton, Ohio 02/25/2016-02/28/2016

Each year the Dayton Auto Show rolls into town with displays of the latest and greatest models and automotive technologies. See all your favorite sports cars, sedans, SUVs, minivans, and motorcycles from 26 different manufacturers, and enjoy some fun for the whole family. It’s an auto show, and much more.

Greater Milwaukee Auto Show, Wisconsin Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 02/20/2016-02/28/2016

New cars, trucks and SUVs will fill the Wisconsin Center for the 2016 Greater Milwaukee Auto Show! Saturday, February 20 – Sunday, February 28, 2016. Saturdays 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Thursday 3 p.m. – 9 p.m., Friday 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Cleveland Auto Show, IX Center, Cleveland, Ohio. 02/27/2016-03/06

The Cleveland Auto Show marks the start of the spring selling season in Northeast Ohio. Featuring concept, pre-production and production vehicles from the world’s auto manufacturers, the show is held annually at the I-X Center with nearly 1.2 million square feet of exhibits. The Show also features an array of entertainment including sports and celebrity appearances. The Cleveland Auto Show is a consumer show and a favorite family tradition since 1903.

The first Cleveland Auto Show was held in February that year at Gray’s Armory in downtown Cleveland, featuring 15 Cleveland-made automobiles, in addition to several other manufacturer exhibits from other cities throughout the country. With leading automakers of the time, like Winton, White, Jordan and Peerless — just to name a few — the city of Cleveland was regarded as one of the leading manufacturers early in the American automobile industry. In fact, Cleveland was considered the first Motor City until 1908, when Detroit became center stage for the burgeoning industry.

38th Corvette Chevy Expo, Galveston Island Convention Center, Galveston, Texas. 02/27/2016-02/28/2016

The Corvette Chevy Expo has a Large Swap Meet in the Aftermarket Showcase with Major vendors from all over the US selling hard to find parts and accessories by the truckload. You will also see World Class Chevrolet Show Cars. This is a concours style judged event is full of awards. Chevrolets that receive 98-100 points also are presented the President’s Award.

Palm Beach Gardens High School Car Show, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. 02/27/2016
The Palm Beach Gardens High School Car Show is a large event featuring classic cars, muscle cars, and sports cars. We will also have a kids area and silent auction, as well as food trucks and vendors. The event will take place on February 27, 2016 from 10 AM through 4 PM.