Event Coverage Hershey, with a twist

There is no doubt that many Hambers attend the Hershey Car Show each year, the first week of October. Some of us are actually members of the AACA- and to us this is the Annual Fall Meet. 2022 will be unlike any other year. The swap meet setup day will be Monday. The swap meet and car corral will run from Tuesday through Friday. The car show will be Friday. Please do not show up on Saturday, or you’ll have an easy time finding a parking space!

 

Local rumor says EVERYTHING has to be gone 10:00 pm Friday night. That means tents, outhouses, trash. So look for things to be F'd up Friday. I just hope the food vendors show up, but I doubt it. The excuse last year was covid, but that was an excuse. Greed was the reason.

 

What do you mean? There were food vendors there last year.

Does anyone know if our European and Canadian friends are able to come this year? Last year, they couldn't due to travel restrictions.

 

Looking forward to it.

 

Most of the good food vendors were not there. Yes, to the foreigners.

 

My stickers came in todays mail.

 

That is sad to hear- the TCA (Train Collector's Association) changed a bunch of rules/created a bunch of hoops to jump through at York some years back and it killed a fantastic/world-renowned meet... sounds eerily familiar...

 

The changes to the Hershey show were dictated by the owner of the grounds. They want the park open for paid admissions on Saturday. I think that is the start of a Halloween themed weekends for them.

 

I’ve no knowledge of this, but I don’t understand. Why would greed play a part in no food venders not being there? Is it because of less people, less sales, or are other events going on at the same time, etc?

 

Herco raised the space rent for food vendors and percentage to the point many thought it not worthwhile to work like a dog all week for free. As has been said they claim they can make more money on Sat. with the park so they moved the dates. Picture 9000 flea market vendors , many with rented tents trash containers everywhere, and thousands of out houses that ALL have to be gone by 10:00 pm Friday. Since they can't pick up all the stuff in an hour who's going to go without an outhouse after they start collecting? Or where do you throw trash after they start collecting containers? Years past there were tents and containers there for the whole week after. It takes time to set up AND tear down. The end is near! Last year they paved HPD which goes right past the flea market in about June. BUT they chose to work at every intersection on Tuesday which is set up day. 9000 vendors trying to get to their spaces while construction crews F with every intersection interrupting the flow. They even chose the same day to paint cross walks down the center of town.

 

So many rumors…..

The Hershey Region fully expects to hold the Fall Meet at Hersheypark in 2023 and beyond.

The property IS owned and controlled by HERCO; and it’s use is subject to their rules. Several years ago, the chocolate company itself was nearly sold.

In past years, the swap meet evaporated Saturday morning like the morning mist on hot blacktop. I imagine the same scene will play out this year on Friday. We try to keep our vendor spaces open until the early afternoon; but by 4pm we are long gone and very little remains on the swap meet fields. It looks like the park activity begins Saturday at 2pm- so Herco will have ample time to reset.

A longtime vendor told me his biggest concern is that his rented tent cannot be erected until Monday morning. He joked that he’ll help the men put up the tent so he can begin to set up. By the time the general public arrives Tuesday morning; things will look quite normal.

The Canadians WILL return this year. They missed 2021 and 2022- they are chomping at the bit.

Less certain is the Western Europeans. Their money has slipped in value and they are facing economic conditions that are far worse than ours.

Food vendors come and go. No one will starve. If you are really worried, bring your own food. Better yet- patronize the myriad of restaurants in the area. Now I am concerned about the Dunkin Donut tent in the Green Field.

The Fall Meet will go on for years to come. Yes, everything in not like it used to be. But it will still be the premier swap meet-car coral- car show. Enjoy it.

 

Yes, the only thing that's constant in life is change. Hershey will still be Hershey, I'll be there, and all I need to do now is sacrifice a goat or two to the weather gods.

 

So true about local restaurants. It aint Hershey if we don't hit The Parkside at least once.

 

So thats why no pizza?

 

BINGO. Take notice some of the food truck have Herco name on them. Chase out the independent's and replace them with their own?

 

We'll be there 53 years in a row now. WILL THE PARK BE OPEN SATURDAY? Grandkids want to know. Hope Dale's and the pizza guy return this year.

 

Hoo boy, in my younger days, I recall many mornings feeling like shit wandering the flea market..because of having TOO MUCH fun at the Parkside the night before.

 

Exactly! Soul Burrito was not there last year, I was totally bummed out. Worst news is it turns out they sold the business at the end of 2021 too. Hershey will never be quite the same now.

https://www.pennlive.com/food/2021/...ke-bittersweet-decision-to-sell-business.html

 

Just don't forget to pay the bill. Lol

 

The park will be open on Saturday from 2-10 pm for Hersheypark Halloween. Check the website for details.

 

Stickers were in my mailbox today, the countdown starts!

 

Please stop by and say hello, Spaces C4J 39-42 feel free to leave heavy parts for the day, that way you don't loose shopping time taking stuff back to your car/truck. Look for light pole #41. Bob

 

I'll be there OBE- 37,38

 

I will be there! C4J 36

 

This will be our 54th year going to HERSHEY. Over the years we have seen many, many changes so don't let the new Monday to Friday dates get you upset. I remember when they closed the airport and everyone said that it was a sign that HERSHEY was over, not so! Also when they built the Giant Center, rumor was that HERCO was taking over the entire venue, again, not so! Just go and enjoy yourself and don't listen to all the rumors. When you see it in print in the Antique Automobile A.A.C.A Magazine then you can believe it.

 

If it is like the venues that my niece deals with with her food truck the Greed is 100 % from the venue. At the local big car show the venue has total control over food and beverage concessons. The same operation has had the beer tent/corral for the past 30 years and the owner of that is the main food concession operator for all events at the fairgroinds. My niece passes on a lot of events because the fees for her to be there eat too deep in her budget.

It looks like the real problem is for the guys who might not be able to get away from work who were planning on going on Saturday.

As for Friday being screwed up it will probably be like the Portland Oregon swap meet on Sunday. Vendors loading up around noon and bailing out if they didn't pack up and leave the night before as a lot do on the racetrack.

 

I'm going Tuesday and looking forward to meeting my friend of 15 years-The Hot Rod Grille-although we have been friends, we have never met in person! This should be good.

 

We're on our way home Thursday, will follow the on line coverage of Friday.
Bob

 

If you go home early you will miss a very cool DB truck on the show field, it's not green.

 

I have to see if I can get off work Thursday -Friday and catch the tail end.