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Car Show & Swap Meet · Hershey, PA
The AACA Fall Meet (officially the AACA Eastern Division Fall Meet) is a recurring antique-car show and swap meet held each October on the grounds and parking lots surrounding Hersheypark and the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. Often called simply "Hershey" by old-car folks, it's one of the largest antique automobile shows and flea markets in the country, and it draws collectors and spectators from across the region for a few jam-packed days. It is not a year-round storefront — it's a once-a-year event, so the trick is knowing when to come and what to expect.
Our take If you're planning around Hershey week, treat early October like a major-event weekend: come Tuesday through Thursday for the flea market and corral, save Friday for the show field, and give yourself extra drive time — the whole area gets busy. Free to get in, but plan for paid parking.
For us at the shop, Hershey week is one of those local events you plan around rather than stumble into. The meet runs during the first full week of October — in 2026 that's October 6 through 9 — and it transforms the parking lots and fields around Hersheypark and the Giant Center into a sprawling automotive flea market, car corral, and judged show. Admission to all of it is free; what you pay for is daily parking, which is charged by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. If you're an old-car person, or even just car-curious, it's worth the trip.
There's a rhythm to the week worth understanding. The flea market and car corral are the main event Tuesday through Thursday — acres of vendors selling parts, literature, memorabilia, and project cars, plus rows of vehicles for sale in the corral. Friday is the big judged car show, with the parade of vehicles rolling onto the show field around 6:00 a.m. If your goal is to dig through the flea market or shop the corral, the official advice is to come Tuesday through Thursday; some vendors start packing up Thursday afternoon, so don't save it for the very end of the day. If you want to see the polished, fully-restored cars on the field, Friday is your day.
Practically speaking, this is a big-crowd, lots-of-walking event, and the surrounding Hershey area gets busy that week — traffic, hotels, and restaurants all feel it. We'd treat it like any major Hershey-weekend trip: arrive early, give yourself extra drive time, and have a plan for parking and food. Confirm the current year's exact dates, parking rates, and event schedule on the official site before you go, since those are set by the organizers and can shift year to year. For us, it's a genuinely fun day out and a reason a lot of out-of-town visitors are rolling through our part of Pennsylvania in early October.
Acres of vendors selling antique and classic car parts, literature, memorabilia, and project vehicles. Runs Tuesday through Thursday; the best days to shop. Free to walk in.
See event details →Rows of antique and collector vehicles offered for sale by their owners. Open Tuesday through Thursday alongside the flea market. A good spot if you're shopping for a classic of your own.
The showcase event: fully restored vehicles parade onto the show field early Friday morning (around 6:00 a.m.) to be judged. The day to come if you want to see polished, concours-quality antique automobiles.
These reflect the typical week-of-event pattern; the meet is annual, not a daily attraction. Always confirm the current year's exact dates and daily schedule on the official site before you go.
Hershey Region AACA business office, Chuck Wagon Lodge, 131 Museum Drive, Hershey, PA 17033 (event held on the grounds surrounding Hersheypark and the Giant Center)
Hershey Region AACA: 717-566-7720
AACA Fall Meet (Hershey) is in Hershey, PA. The map shows both pins — AACA Fall Meet (Hershey) and our shop in Grantville — so you can see exactly where it sits relative to us.
It's held each year during the first full week of October. In 2026 the dates are October 6-9. Because it's an annual event and not a year-round attraction, the exact days shift slightly from year to year — always confirm the current dates on the official site before planning travel or lodging.
The flea market and car corral run Tuesday through Thursday, and that's the best window if you want to shop for parts, literature, or a project car. Note that some vendors begin packing up Thursday afternoon. The judged car show is Friday, when restored vehicles parade onto the show field early in the morning (around 6:00 a.m.). Pick your day based on whether you're there to dig through the swap meet or to admire the show cars.
Admission to all areas — flea market, car corral, and car show — is free and open to the public. What you pay for is parking, which is charged at a daily rate by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts. We'd confirm the current parking rate on the official site, since prices are set by the venue and can change.
Bring comfortable, broken-in shoes and plenty of time — this is acres of ground and a lot of walking, often on grass and gravel. Dress for October weather, which can swing from warm afternoons to chilly mornings. It's one of the largest meets of its kind, so expect big crowds and heavier-than-normal traffic around Hershey that week. Arrive early and budget extra drive time.
Dogs are allowed as long as they're leashed and you pick up after them immediately, but they are not permitted in the car corral or the show car area. If you're planning to spend most of your time among the show vehicles, it may be easier to leave the dog at home. Confirm the current pet policy on the official site, since event rules can be updated.
If you're coming in for Hershey week, a few of our other guide stops pair well with the meet — and if your own classic or daily driver acts up on the trip, we're a short drive away in Grantville.
The year-round car museum in Hershey — a natural companion if you can't make the October meet or want more after it.
Driving in for the show and something doesn't sound right? Here's how we can help out-of-town visitors.
The meet wraps around these same grounds — easy to build a fuller Hershey day around both.
Verified via: AACA Eastern Division Fall Meet (official site) · AACA Fall Meet official FAQs · Hershey Region AACA: Fall Meet information · AACA: 2025 Eastern Fall Meet event listing
The AACA Fall Meet (Hershey) is an independent local event we're featuring in our guide — we're not affiliated. Details are from the place and public sources and were accurate at the time of writing; please confirm current hours before visiting.