Winter AutoFest Wows Tens of Thousands in Lakeland

LAKELAND, Fla. - March 1, 2016 - PRLog -- As Winter Florida AutoFest in Lakeland has come and gone, so have the nearly 30,000 guests that converged on the SUN ‘n FUN complex in Polk County.  Carlisle Events brought its second show to the grounds and first-ever winter offering, much to the joy of the copious amounts of automotive enthusiasts who made the weekend their entertainment destination of choice.  Overall, Winter AutoFest hosted a swap meet, car corral, a trio of car shows, a two-day collector car auction, Air and Coach Concours and even paid homage to the aeronautical base that SUN ‘n FUN is all about with airplane rides and a daily fly over, accompanied by the National Anthem.

Gates opened at 8 a.m. Thursday and ushered in a new era in central Florida automotive entertainment.  Aisles were packed with locals and snowbirds alike that were looking for deals on all things automotive.  From common to ultra rare, the swap meet had it all.  Guests were buying tires, wheels and headlights in one area, then turning the corner to admire an early 1900s era Ferris wheel seat that had been converted into a go-kart.  On the opposite side of the tree line, classic cars were being prepped for the auction, while hundreds more were parking for the weekend car show or to be sold within the car corral.

Friday not only was day one of the auction, but also the first day of autograph signings for former Dukes of Hazzard TV star Tom Wopat.  Wopat wasn’t the only guest onsite throughout the weekend, as Sunday welcomed Butch Patrick who as a child actor portrayed Eddie Munster on the TV show The Munsters.  In between Wopat’s first autograph Friday and Patrick’s final one on Sunday, the weekend welcomed a nearly 200-car Mustang show hosted by the Imperial Mustang Club of Polk County, an ultra rare spotlight of Kaiser-Frazer cars, a Batmobile and millions of dollars worth of motor coaches via the Air and Coach Concours.

If it could be sold, it was; and that’s what made the weekend so much fun.  With the sounds of Terry Mason’s Hot Rod Show playing to the crowd, the hustle and bustle of each day made the four-day event speed by like a drag car on the quarter mile.  In the end, those who came to the event left with not only a few miles on their shoes, but memories that will certainly bring them back for “the next event” in Lakeland.

Speaking of the next event, Carlisle Events returns with Fall AutoFest in November.  That show gets underway starting November 10, while Winter AutoFest returns starting February 23, 2017.  Complete details on both as they come together can be found via www.CarlisleEvents.com.