“The Military Appreciation Days, thanks to Dayton Area Toyota Dealers, are a big hit for us,” she said, “so we are excited to have them keep coming back.
“We see a bump in attendance because of it – a trend we’ve seen over the last few years,” Danison continued. “From 2017 to 2018 it was up 8 percent and we moved from one Military Appreciation Day to two. Attendance was up 7 percent in 2019 over 2018, so we feel that it’s been a benefit to the show, and it’s a great way to thank our veterans and active-duty military service members.”
All with military ID will gain free entry those two days.
What’s in store at the show
There will be upwards of 200 of the latest and greatest cars, pickup trucks, crossovers, SUVs, minivans, hybrids and Harley-Davidson motorcycles parked inside the Dayton Convention Center Feb. 20-23.
Plus, you may win the use of some hot metal of your own.
The Miami Valley Chevrolet Dealers are once again offering a two-year lease, with a value of between $9,000 and $10,000, of a 2020 Chevy Equinox SUV to some lucky attendee. To enter, visit an area Chevy dealership between now and Feb. 19 or until 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at the show. Six finalists will be drawn from the total entries at the dealerships. One finalist will be drawn each day of the auto show, for a total of four additional finalists. Finalists will be notified by phone prior to Sunday’s drawing. All 10 finalists must attend the auto show Feb. 23 for the final drawing which will take place in the Chevrolet display at 3 p.m.
Before the Internet made so much vehicle-purchasing information available, prospective buyers had to drive from dealership to dealership for test drives and details on features and prices. At the convention center, 22 E. Fifth St., show-goers are welcome to open doors and slip behind the wheel of almost everything on the floor. Product advisors will be on hand to speak with and plenty of product information will be available, but the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles does not permit direct selling at the show.
Other show highlights will be:
• Back for a repeat, the Toyota Drive Center featuring different models for test-driving around downtown Dayton, located at the main entrance on Fifth Street
• Special entertainment attractions Feb. 22-23 for kids, including animals from Wild Hearts African Farm Mobile Teaching Zoo; visits from all four Cincinnati Reds mascots; and balloon and face-painting artists
• Photo scavenging hunt. Nine photos of certain aspects of show vehicles (make and model) will need to be identified for entry to win a Samsung 55-inch Ultra HD TV
• Selfie contest – posting a selfie with one’s favorite vehicle and the hashtag #DaytonAutoShow for the chance to win a gas gift card.
The 2020 Dayton Auto Show’s presenting sponsors are the Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun.
For more information, look for a special 2020 Dayton Auto Show tabloid inserted in the Feb. 16 Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun.
HOW TO GO to the Dayton Auto Show
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 20, noon-9 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21, noon-9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
WHERE: Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. Fifth St.
ADMISSION: $8 for adults at the door, $6 students with student ID, $6 online at https://daytonautoshow.tix123.com/. Children ages 9 and younger are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
DISCOUNTS: Feb. 20-21 – Military Appreciation Days, all with military ID will gain free admission; seniors, age 65-plus, $6 at door
PARKING: Available in the Oregon District Parking Garage (formerly named the Transportation Center Garage), one block east of the Dayton Convention Center on Fifth and Jefferson streets. There is a covered skywalk on Level 1 that will bring you to the third floor of the convention center facility. Daily rates are $2/hour or part hour with a $6 maximum.
INFORMATION: DaytonAutoShow.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/DaytonAutoShow; Twitter: @DaytonAutoShow; Instagram: @DaytonAutoShow
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