While the 2025 Carlisle Ford Nationals car show may have taken place between Friday, June 6 and Sunday, June 8, for those in attendance in Central Pennsylvania, the days leading up to it were affectionately known as “Ford week.” Prior to Friday’s official start, vehicles were both rolling onto the National Parts Depot Showfield as well as staging within their respective display galleries. Guests were coming to town, and vendors were set up to do business amongst each other in advance of the official start time. Ford week has become an annual tradition for Blue Oval lovers around the world, going all the way back to the first year of the Carlisle Ford Nationals in 1995.
Special displays this year included those focused on the Mercury Motorsports Capri, 60 years of the GT350, a pair of amazing Ford GT displays, 70 years of the Thunderbird, the Galaxie Nationals, and the MK1 North American Focus. Best of all, show cars didn’t just stay stationary to be seen—they ventured out onto the grounds so guests could see the wheels in motion. From the Thunderbirds to the Galaxies, plus a grand cruise-in from Shelby American, there was no shortage of cool cars on the move.
In addition to the cars on parade, there were a variety of walk-arounds in front of the stage. This included offerings from Ford Performance, Fat House Performance, Shelby American, Ford Motor Company, Duncan Brothers, Saleen, and more. Speaking of Ford, they showed up and showed out in an epic way, with two great displays AND, as part of their Midway showcase, unveiled for the first time to enthusiasts a pair of 2026 Mustang offerings with their FX package. These vehicles, tipping their proverbial caps to Mustang’s past, embraced modern technology with a build toward the future.
As Friday transitioned to Saturday, the sun shone through for a bulk of the day as guests from around the world converged to watch Formula Drift racer Ben Hobson showcase his talents on the Carlisle track in partnership with RTR Vehicles. Local drifter and PROSPEC driver Adam Heishman was also part of the fun and, in addition, there were competitions like the rolling burnout and donut contest, rolling exhaust contest, and Sunday morning’s Real Street Shootout (autocross). Those contests weren’t the only outlets for awards—Hemmings.com recognized its top five clubs, and John Clor from Ford Performance Group honored the Coolest Clubs (one winner plus two honorable mentions).
Two great parades helped wrap up the event—one on Saturday and one on Sunday—as showgoers and the community alike began to look forward to 2026. On Saturday night, in partnership with the Downtown Carlisle Association, a few hundred Fords hit the street as part of the annual Downtown Carlisle Ford Parade, Park, and Party. And on Sunday morning, not long after the Real Street Shootout concluded, the Awards Parade was held, recognizing those who were chosen by their peers on the Showfield.
While the 2025 event is in the books with 3,319 cars attending this year, planning is already underway for 2026. Mark your calendars for June 5–7, 2026, as the Carlisle Ford Nationals return with even more of what you love—Ford on the Midway, special guests, walk-arounds, indoor displays showcasing the Bronco 60th Anniversary, Roush 50th Anniversary, and tent displays highlighting the 50th Anniversary of the Starsky and Hutch Torino, and 40 years of the Ford Taurus, while Building Y hosts the annual Carlisle Select display. Call 717-243-7855 to register for 2026 or visit CarlisleEvents.com for details, spectator admission, and more.
