FROM MIKE GARLAND OF CARLISLE EVENTS 

On the Move – Annual Fall and Winter AutoFest Events Moving

Carlisle Events to Relocate Shows to Lakeland Beginning in the Fall of 2015

CARLISLE, PA – Carlisle Events, based in Pennsylvania, has been promoting some of the largest collector and classic car events in the world since 1974 and has been part of the Florida automotive scene since November of 2012, hosting two events annually.  Now, with its fall show currently underway at Festival Park in Zephyrhills, Carlisle Events is proud to announce that beginning in November of 2015, both Zephyrhills AutoFest offerings will take place at the Sun n’ Fun complex in Lakeland, Florida and will be rebranded as Fall Florida and Winter Florida AutoFest respectively. 

The move becomes official on November 13 at 5:30 p.m. as part of the conclusion of day one of Fall AutoFest.  On hand will be Carlisle Events co-owner and co-founder Bill Miller, co-owner Lance Miller, the entire Carlisle Events staff who have traveled to Florida for the show as well as vendors and guests of the event.  Once announced, enthusiasts can officially look forward to even bigger offerings by Carlisle Events at the Sun n’ Fun complex starting with Fall AutoFest in 2015.  In fact, the size and growth of the show at Festival Park is what ultimately constituted the chance to move to the larger venue in Lakeland.

Historically speaking, Fall AutoFest and Winter AutoFest host three aspects which draw enthusiasts over four days.  AutoFest shows host a swap meet (automotive themed flea market), car corral (classic cars for sale) and an auto auction.  The auction, presented by Carlisle Auctions sees 300+ classics, past, present and future, cross the block and each is available to the highest bidder.  Now, with the move to Lakeland, Carlisle Events will bring a collector car show to the event as well as an expanded foot print for additional vendors, activities and, since Sun n’ Fun is known for its air shows and festivals, Carlisle Events welcomes plane owners, planes, plane themed vendors, RVs, antique bicycles, women’s bingo and the Women’s Oasis.  The oasis, known as the home away from chrome, provides non-automotive themed shopping options to better entice families to the event.

When Fall AutoFest launches November 12, 2015, guests can also enjoy a special acrobatic flying display to serve as an opener for an event that expects to be positioned within Polk County for years to come.  Further, one of the best aspects of the new facility is its ease of access from many major roadways.  Located at 4175 Medulla Rd in Lakeland, the Sun n’ Fun Complex is easy to access from I-4, I-75, I-275, the Polk Parkway and U.S. 301.

Finally, guests and vendors alike coming to Lakeland and Sun n’ Fun can expect a clean, groomed facility with great camping, shaded areas, plenty of convenient parking for the public, a FREE on grounds air museum, friendly and helpful staff, onsite showers and ample trailer/support vehicle parking.  There is also a massive selection of hotels, restaurants and shopping, plus the complex is not too far from the major family themed attractions that Central Florida is known for and as such, immediately becomes a destination location. 

Though Carlisle Events has its current Fall AutoFest event taking place now and its Winter AutoFest event scheduled for February at Festival Park, the company looks forward to the move in November of 2015.  Having been part of the community since 2012, Carlisle Events would like to issue a special thanks to the Zephyrhills community for their support as well as the Sierra family who initially started the event many years ago.

“I want to say thank you to the Sierra family,” said Bill Miller, Jr., co-owner and co-founder of Carlisle Events.  “The Sierra family has been long time friends and the AutoFest events are ones I used to attend as an enthusiast.  To see these shows grow to the point where a move was necessary can only speak to the hard work that the Sierra family and the Carlisle Events team have put into these shows and the continued passion of car enthusiasts from around the world.  We look forward to everyone joining us in Zephyrhills for the remainder of this event as well as our February show here at Festival Park and hope to see everyone follow us to Lakeland for our November 2015 show.”

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About Carlisle Events: Carlisle Events is a partner or producer of 13 annual collector car and truck events. Events are held at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds (Carlisle, PA), Bloomsburg Fairgrounds (Bloomsburg, PA), Allentown Fairgrounds (Allentown, PA) and Festival Park (Zephyrhills, FL). The season schedule hosts five automotive swap meets of varying size, four auctions, as well as individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, imports and kit cars and tuner and modern customs. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, events hosted at Carlisle attract more than a half a million enthusiasts annually from all corners of the globe. More information is available via www.CarlisleEvents.com.