Hershey Swap Meet

[Rex_A_Lott]

I know its a ways off yet, but I'm planning to make my first trip to Hershey this fall. Anyone have any suggestions for places to stay ( or avoid) and things for the wife to do when she gets tired of looking at cars?
We will just be spectators, not taking a car to show.
Thanks

[Clem Clement]

That is a very difficult Q. When Momma gets tired... If you bring a camper and park in a camp ground, Momma can stay at the camper and read or relax. If Momma wears out in the middle of the red field, you are going to go to a lecture.

I don't know if the tours of the Hershey factory run in October. It is a good tour, except they pump chocolate smells everywhere and when the tour is over you come out in the candy store and buy everything chocolate.

You might contact the Hershey visitors bureau about a bed and breakfast. Also ask about tours and bus schedules. Perhaps there is a shopping bus tour Momma would like.

Good luck. My Sandy sez she ain't never coming to Hershey.

[Steve Wastler]

As Clem points out, My woman has flat out refused to ever go. I even furnished pictures of other wives pulling the wagon of parts, and she still said no.............

[Flop]

usually a bad idea to take the significant other as bad as that sounds unless you have one of those million dollar coaches.

[Roger V]

In contrast, you couldn't prevent my wife from going! She's made forty out of forty-one years (gee they expected at least one parent to be present when our son was confirmed on one Hershey weekend). While she watches our spaces so I can hit the fields, she looks forward to seeing friends there, looking at what others sell, going to area quilt shops, eating at the various neat local restaurants, etc. Many attending wives get together to go out shopping such as in Reading. It's been said that you may have to go as far as a 75 mile radius to get a room though more motels have been built recently in the area. We usually get the next year's room nearly a year in advance.

[raprice]

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What I do is go on Priceline.com and tell them I want a 3 star hotel in the Hershey or east Harrisburg area. I've never been disappointed. I usually start with a price of around $79 per night. I might have to increase it $10 more and usually I'm in luck.
Rog

[Terry, NJ]

Prepare for lots of walking. Hershey is big! In the weeks before, take a lot of walks. Take your vitamins. Unless you're just a looky loo, you'll probably need something to carry your treasures in to the parking lot. If you can't find it at Hershey, the guy who has it stayed home. With my back, I have to carry meds. I get halfway across the field and I'm in agony. I hope this helps!
Terry

[Deluxe Delivery]

Been goin' to Hershey since '66. Never slept anywhere other than Hotel Chev*****. ( not sure I can say that word here). Suburbans have housed me and my family with great comfort. Think camping surrounded with old cars and old car people. ...it's really part of the experience...being right there in the middle of the action 24/7. Toilets, showers, food, it's all there...why ever leave?

[theHIGHLANDER]

I've done similar to deluxe delivery. Usually showing a car, I set up a sleeping area in the overhead of the trailer. I stay at Highmeadow Campground in the areas where there's no hook up, from Tues thru Sat, $160. Hard to beat. All you need is a bed and a shower (showers there have always been good n clean), there's things that go on in the evenings, the auction is happenin Thurs and Fri night, and I try to park by the road. Kinda nice to kick back before dinner and watch all the cars go by with a frosty beverage, or even a cup of coffee after the long days at the meet. You'll be a bad mofo if you cover every field in 3 days. It gets overwhelming pretty fast, but ain't that the juice? Saturday's show is a musn't mss too. Many line up at the gate before sunrise and see them all going in. The trucks, especially the big ones, have been off the hook tha last couple years too. Rooms are not cheap so $160 for a whole week is a smokin deal.

[Ed Northrop]

Can you give directions to Highmeadow campground.
Ed

[Roadster62]

My girlfriend went to Hershey for the first time in 1977 and loved it, we got married the following June.

[Deluxe Delivery]

Well stated, Highlander. My favorite spot early Saturday Morning is at the center of the bridge over the road. Every car entering the field must pass beneath you. You get to see the tops of everything ! Plus folks in the cars are all hyped and waving and blowing their horns. I remember an extremely early high wheeler piloted by what looked to be two teens looking excited and scared at the same time. They got an ovation from the crowd on the bridge. Give me chills even now ! Ahhh Hershey

[theHIGHLANDER]

Originally Posted by Ed Northrop

Can you give directions to Highmeadow campground.
Ed

Here ya go...


http://www.hersheycamping.com/

[jim1932]

when is it? the week of columbus day?

[Roadster62]

I've done two nights in the van then one or two in a motel when the family arrives on Thursday. One of the great on field events it the early cars driving around in the flea market at night on the way to the ice crean stand just down the isle from me. Brass era cars at night time driving around is something special. Bob

Originally Posted by Deluxe Delivery

Been goin' to Hershey since '66. Never slept anywhere other than Hotel Chev*****. ( not sure I can say that word here). Suburbans have housed me and my family with great comfort. Think camping surrounded with old cars and old car people. ...it's really part of the experience...being right there in the middle of the action 24/7. Toilets, showers, food, it's all there...why ever leave?

[Ken Bull]

Spent 3 days each @ Carlisle & Hershey for 14 years shopping for parts to restore my 40 Pickup (sold in 2009) & my 36 Cabriolet (mostly completed fall 2011) So many finds & good times & friends. Best part after a tough day walking venders? Camping close by in my Van Camper!

[Rex_A_Lott]

Thanks guys for the tips. I'd probably be better of leaving her home, but its her birthday weekend....and the only way I could afford divorce is to sell all my old car stuff.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Rex_A_Lott

Thanks guys for the tips. I'd probably be better of leaving her home, but its her birthday weekend....and the only way I could afford divorce is to sell all my old car stuff.

Her birthday.............well then you better buy her a new red wagon to pull all your parts around Hershey!

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Her birthday.............well then you better buy her a new red wagon to pull all your parts around Hershey!

Tom you know how to take care of women!

[Bruce Adams]

My wife always drops me off in the morning and picks me up in the evening.
She goes off antiquing, exploring and shopping.
There are lots of antique shops and specialty shops as well as the standard Big Box stores such as WalMart and BJ's within driving distances.
Harrisburg has decent tourist spots, and the AACA museum is close to the flea markets.
There are also a lot of restaurants within easy driving distances.
The Airport and East Harrisburg is but fifteen minutes away in the morning, and there are easy back roads that pop you right into the fields at Hershey. This also eliminates the parking fees at the car show.
The evenings have had car auctions in the past, but there is no guarantee of these.

[Rex_A_Lott]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Her birthday.............well then you better buy her a new red wagon to pull all your parts around Hershey!

That sounds like a grand way to create some memories....almost as good as the year I bought her the shotgun.

[Deluxe Delivery]

As far as memories are concerned, this is one of my best. It's around 1992. It's Fall Hershey. The location...going up the slope from the bottom to the stadium. The puller of the wagon...my oldest Molly. In the back seat is my middle...Abby. Front seat is the beautiful Mrs. Delivery. Molly is now a Licensed Speach Therapist in her own home. Abby will be Dr. Abby in another year and Mrs. Delivery...still beautiful. Do yourself and your family a big favor...Take 'em to Hershey !

[Deluxe Delivery]

The previous post only makes sense if you are looking at this picture. It's that CRS I tell ya !

[Richard Wilson]

Looks like they are off to the candy store for a wagon load of Hershey candy bars. "You can carry all of those rusty car parts dad, we need our wagon!"

[Clem Clement]

Remember long ago when on Show day, the show cars rolled up past the Stadium evenbefore dawn. We could get a cheap plate of eggs in the wharehouse accross the road and watch the cars as dawn broke. AND that wonderful oldster who would be seated in a pickup truck and announce every vehicle as it approached him? Who was that great person? He seemed to know everybody and every car. His chatter was thrilling to hear. I always noted to whomever I was standing with, that we were enjoying something truly special in life.
Clem

[Roadster62]

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Both our kids started going to Hershey before their first Birthdays. Adding a Old Cars newspaper bumper sticker to their wagon every year was always fun. Your first Hershey is the one you always remember, mine was 1969. It's still fun, but the early years were so much better. Bob

[Clem Clement]

On Thursday nights I always go by the RED BALL to hear Frank play. That small event is so HERSHEY, so AMERICAN, SO perfect!! Them boyz do some strummin, drummin and blowin and it doesn't matter what they sing. One time they played the Auctioneer 3 times straight with 3 different singers. It was so wonderful. I cry always becasue I know they are playing for some in uniform, those passed on and those present and absent. Don't miss the event at this fall's Hershey. I can't imagine standing next to my Lady listening to Frank and the group play. She will never attend Hershey thus I usually call her to listen with me. I have been bone cold and suddenly warned by the fellowship of the music and I have seen the magic Hershey mist fall during the music time. I know in my heart if the world could attend and stand in the hallowed field of Hershey amongst the rusty car parts and listen to that band of Hersheyites, we would have a better and peaceful world.
Clem Clement

[1931 flamingo]

Why am I choking up inside reading this?? Thanks Clem.

Paul in CT

[theHIGHLANDER]

Clem, that's a moving impression of Hershey. Ebay be damned!!! Nothing like haggling $5.00 off of a part with a human being, or the feeling you get when that "big part" sells. Dad had his hands full raising the family and we didn't get to Hershey until 91. Went every year for the next 4, then I missed it until 07. That last 4, except for 09 (!), was like going to Florida for spring break weather-wise. I can be found in the Packard section of the Green Field (go figure, huh?) and have been sharing a tent with the Dayton Museum. For '12, I'll be on a Model A mission as well as my usual Packard hunting. Might show a car again for Senior, we'll see. What I hope to see is several Ford Barners this year as well as the "Usual Suspects".

Here was 08, driving the Jesse Vincent Packar Speedster:


More later. I'm hungry...

[Shadetree]

Gone are the days of the hill climb. Cold enough we could see our breath with the sun shining brightly, standing shoulder to shoulder watching as these old soldiers chugged their way to their parking space. A time to remember

Now the course is a little easier and we have bleachers to sit on....