If you’re like many folks who dread looking for a new car or truck because of being bugged by a salesman, head over to the Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Show running March 21-24. Here you won’t get bugged or harassed, as it’s salesman free. But there will be representatives present from the major car manufacturers to answer your questions and hand out literature on the brands.
Held each spring at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, the Greater Lehigh Valley Automobile Dealers Association (GLVADA) brings their latest offerings for the public to see and consider without having to drive to each dealer’s lots. The area’s 50 dealerships that comprise the association, will allow showgoers to kick the tires so to speak and be seated in their new models that includes exotics such as Lotus, Porsche and the new Viper.
New this year will be the “Luxury Pavilion” where high-end luxury brands will be exclusively displayed.
And for the first time, the “Harley Davidson Showcase” will display Harley’s new models that will include heavyweight customs, cruisers and touring models.
For RVers, the “RV Showcase” has everything from pop-ups to luxury motorhomes on hand to sit in and consider before buying.
Nissan and Ford will offer “Ride & Drives” whereby visitors can test drive their various models.
Nissan will have their Leaf all-electric vehicle for testing, which will give folks an opportunity to drive a pure electric car to see if it’s for them.
Ford will bring their Focus, Fusion, C-Max Hybrid (that I’m currently testing), Escape, Edge, Explorer and F-150 pickup for testing. And each driver will receive a free gift at the completion of the ride-and-drive.
Within the show there’s a “Green Passport” program whereby showgoers can receive a passport and after having the 18 spaces stamped at each “green” brand, will be eligible for a free gift. Last year iPad’s and other goodies were given out.
If you’d like to get free passes to the show, register for GLVADA’s 2013 Ambulance Chase 5K Race (run or walk) that will take place Sunday, March 24 at Stabler Arena. The race starts at 8 a.m. with an awards ceremony at 9 a.m. The race will benefit youth education programs offered by Cetronia Ambulance Corps and is being endorsed by Capital Blue Cross and the Young Lawyers Division of the Lehigh County Bar Association.
A large number of Lehigh Valley non-profit organizations will be tending booths to promote and interest showgoers to their programs. In addition, GLVADA will host a Community Days program whereby 24 non-profit organizations will sell $10 tickets to the show from which GLVADA will return $5 for every ticket sold, back to that organization. It’s an opportunity for charities to raise funds with on-site promotional displays.
Kicking off the show on Wednesday, March 20, is a Preview Party Gala with the theme this year being “America’s Highway.” The Gala is a fund raising event that gives a pre-show peek at what’s in the show. Tickets are priced at $75 a piece or $125 for couples. Ticket prices include light food and beverages. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit the Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital. For tickets log on to GLVAutoShow.org/gala.
For children, the show will have Radio Disney, a Kid’s Safety Zone, Med-Evac demonstrations and Davinci’s Center’s Robot. Plus, kids can try their skills on Lehigh Valley Health Network’s robotic surgeon, which is the same system used by LVHN’s doctors. The finals for this skills competition will take place at LVHN’s Health Fair at Coca Cola Park on June11, 2013.
Show days and times are: March, 21, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; March 22, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; March 23, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; March 24, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; $7 for Senior Citizens 55 and over and children 6-14; children under five are free. Parking, incidentally, is spacious and free.
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