Chicago Auto Show 2019: Final day for show Monday
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Monday is the final day to check out the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place and it's also Family Day at the show.
Family Day at the Chicago Auto Show means fun for everyone. In addition to the interactive displays, they've got performance, live music, even pet-friendly events.
The President's Day Holiday makes it a perfect day for the entire family to check out the Chicago Auto Show, whether you're looking for a car, or looking for a day of fun or looking to adopt a dog at Turtle Wax.
"This afternoon we have a dog adoption event at our booth at Chaos and Cuddles in conjunction with the Chicago Wolves and we're teaming up with Cicero Wagon Tails to bring 10 dogs to the Chicago Auto Show today to help get dogs adopted," said Turtle Wax Global Marketing Director Kelly Cagney.
Interactive displays are the most popular, from the four indoor test tracks to simulators and sports as well as something new at the Ford display: the Ranger Scramble Net, built on shipping containers, hand-tied, using approximately 10,000 feet of rope!
Did you know there are more than 200 songs that have the word Cadillac in the lyrics? The Cadillac Music Room is a very cool, interactive display, with a great vibe!
"Anyone can come in, lounge and actually experience songs that have Cadillac in the lyrics through the decades, by artists from the '30s, '40s up until currently," said Cadillac Global Product Presenter Rosemary Vivian-Sturr.
And just beyond the music room you can check out the LeMans Style Racecar and beyond that, a 1959 El Dorado Convertible! And that's what this show is all about, something for everyone!
Show organizers said attendance is up double digits over last year. Discussing the energy required to keep up a great show for patrons, show chairman Ray Scarpelli explained, "It's the crowds. You see we just met a young family here, and to see their excitement, see their enthusiasm, I get some energy off of it."
That energy was quite apparent at the Chevy and LEGO displays. Aidan Eillariny, 7, put together a Lego Chevy Silverado.
"I just like all the cars," he said, marvelling at how many adults were in line with him putting the LEGO cars together.
All kinds of cultural displays and services were on display this Presidents' Day. Presenting a series of native dances were the artists from the Trickster Art Gallery in Schaumburg. Melody Cerna is in charge of the group's outreach to veterans at the auto show.
"It brings out everybody from the city, shows significant cultural importance, and anywhere that we can show off and spread cultural awareness, we like do that," she said.
"Everyone from the city gets to come out see all these cars maybe even try to win a car!" said Advik Krishnakumar, 11, of Hawthorne Woods. His buddy, Shaalin Shah, loves all the virtual reality and video games available to show goers.
With work and school mostly closed for the federal holiday, a lot of young families made a day of this final installment of this year's auto show.
Sherryann Bianzon of Morton Grove came with her husband and two daughters, ages 6 and 2.
"It is very important for us to spend time together especially because we both work during the week," she said. "We want to take the time to do something with both of our kids."
From here, Chicago's 400 new car dealers hope to kick off a spring selling season. Despite the weather, there's optimism.
"The economy is great, employment is at an all-time high, gas prices are low and it's a great set of incentives that are offered after the Auto Show," Scarpelli said.
The show is open until 8:00 p.m. For more information on the Chicago Auto Show, check out our guide.
