Shows West of the Mississippi
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Not all events during the winter months are held in the southern states, and this month we’re checking out long-running swap meets west of the Mississippi River. (Two of them have lasted for more than half a century, congratulations!) If you’re within driving distance of these events, don’t miss out on the chance to scrounge around for parts and make contact with dealers from around the country.
Park City, Kansas
The 42nd Annual Kansas Sunflower Swap Meet for Charity will be held February 3-4, 2017, in the Kansas Pavilions (I-135 and 85th St. North, Park City, Kansas) and Hartman Arena (8151 North Hartman Arena Dr., Park City, Kansas, 67147). Parking is $5 per day at the Kansas Pavilions and free at the Hartman Arena.
According to show owner Lareina Saindon, these two indoor locations will host more than 2,000 swap spaces and more than 550 vendors of every kind of automobile parts and related items you can think of. “The swap is open to all kinds of auto, truck, and bike parts and related items. We also have dealers with vintage signs and gas pumps, memorabilia and literature. It’s a big show, and there is something for everyone.”
The show was founded and run by the local Model A Ford club for its first 40 years. This is the second year that the Saindons have run the show. Due to changes in the previous venue, the show is now held at two locations just down the street from one another. “We bought the show from the Model A club and turned it into a non-profit,” Saindon said. “The show supports the Arc of Sedgwick County. It’s a big social event here, and we wanted to keep it going, so we’re trying to continue what the club built and worked so hard at for 40 years.
“You always find some interesting things at the swap.”
Depending on the weather, which should be gorgeous this year, Saindon says that the swap will attract between 15,000 and 25,000 enthusiasts. The swap is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, so get there early and wear your walking shoes!
For more information, go to: KS Sunflower Swap Meet
Parts, parts, and more parts! If you need it, chances are good that you’ll find it at the 42nd Annual Kansas Sunflower Swap Meet February 3-4.
With good weather, the attendance at the Kansas Sunflower Swap Meet will reach near 25,000 people. Get there early!
Springfield, Missouri
The Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E Plex in Springfield, Missouri (3001 North Grant Ave., Springfield, MO, 65803), is the place to be on February 10-11, 2017, for the 19th Annual Automotive Swap Meet. This is the largest indoor swap meet in the state, and all automotive related parts and accessories are welcome on the grounds. Vendors from 32 states will be present, ensuring a lively variety of items. In addition to car and truck parts, the show also features petroliana dealers that offer everything from gas station collectibles to vintage signage.
The show is open each day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is $5 each day for everyone over 14 years of age.
For more information, go to: Springfield MO Swap Meet
Vendors from 32 states will set up shop at the 19th Annual Automotive Swap Meet on February 10-11.
Puyallup, Washington
The 51st Annual Early Bird Swap Meet will be presented by the Model T Ford Club of Tacoma on February 18-19, 2017 at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup, Washington (110 9th Ave. SW, Puyallup, WA, 98371).
According to show organizer Charlie Ostlund more than 600 vendors will occupy more than 1,200 indoor and outdoor vending spaces on the grounds. “We get vendors from all over the west and Canada, it’s a big show and a lot of fun,” he said. “We even have several local car clubs that hold their annual meetings during the show.”
More than 10,000 spectators are expected during the two-day event, and this swap literally has something for everyone. All automobile and automobile-related items are welcome at the show, and petroliana and literature are also present. “There is a big variety of items for sale here, and we have one of the nine buildings on the grounds devoted entirely to antiques and collectibles,” Ostlund said. “We have a lot of people out here restoring old trucks, and even semis.”
The Club has run the show since starting it, and it uses money raised during the year to support community youth activities, local charities, and food banks. The Club also awards scholarships to area youth who pursue automotive technology. “The Club gives scholarships to encourage young people to get interested in old cars, and the group at Clover Park Technical School even restored a Model T and displayed it at the show,” Ostlund said.
This is the oldest swap meet in the state of Washington, and it’s safe to say that it is now one of the oldest in North America. You don’t pass the 50-year mark without putting on a great show, and you can bet the Model T club members have a lifetime’s worth of knowledge about this hobby to share, so as you’re checking off the parts on your “wish list,” don’t forget to engage these folks in a conversation. No doubt, you’ll learn an awful lot about the hobby.
For more information, go to: Early Bird Swap Meet
The Model T Ford Club of Tacoma hosts the oldest swap meet in the state of Washington—51 years and still going strong.
San Diego, California
What do you get when chapters of the Early Ford V8 Club of America, The Horseless Carriage Club of America, and the Antique Automobile Club of America decide to co-host a swap meet in southern California? You get the Big 3 Auto Parts Exchange and Car Corral, and it’s one of the longest running swaps in the state.
The 51st Annual Big 3 Auto Parts Exchange and Car Corral will be held February 24-26, 2017, at Qualcomm Stadium (9449 Friars Rd., San Diego, CA 92108). This event is open to all automotive and automotive-related items, but you’ll find a fair share of odds and ends there, too. The grounds around the Stadium are massive, so bring your sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes, you’ll need both.
Be sure to check out the website for directions and additional information regarding parking.
For more information, go to: Big 3 Parts Exchange
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