Family-Friendly Autism Events In Pennsylvania: Potential’s 9th Annual Car Show & Family Fun Day
Fall in southeast Pennsylvania brings a unique, vibrant energy that’s hard to find anywhere else. And what better way to celebrate community, connection, and support for families than with a day filled with cars, fun, and giving back?
The 9th Annual Car Show & Family Fun Day for Autism is returning on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and we can’t wait to see you there. This event brings together families, car enthusiasts, volunteers, and local businesses for a shared purpose: supporting programs for children and adults with autism. Explore all the details on our event page.
Why A Car Show For Autism?
Community events should happen more often, outside of expected holidays. It’s events like these that create opportunities to leave a lasting impact for others. Our annual car show connects the community to autism services through a family-friendly experience that sparks conversations.
This flagship fundraiser delivers shiny cars, smiling faces, and a mission that matters. Join us for a day of horsepower and heart, supporting autism and life-changing resources for families. What we do matters now more than ever, as access to autism services faces critical challenges including:
- Medicaid Cuts: Reduced funding threatens coverage for therapies, putting low-income families at risk of service disruption and financial strain.
- Disparities In Access: Rural and minority communities face inequitable access to autism services, preventing timely and appropriate care for many individuals.
- Therapist Shortages: Limited numbers of certified ABA therapists create long waitlists, delaying essential interventions for children and adults with autism.
Job postings for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) jumped 58% between 2023 and 2024, reflecting an increasing need for specialists (US Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts). This rising demand underscores why every registration, donation, and volunteer hour is so vital in contributing to programs like ours to help children AND adults with autism be their best.
Proceeds from this year’s event will directly support our FUNdamental Kitchen initiative – an ambitious $75,000 project to expand and enhance Springtime School’s kitchen. With this game-changing addition, we’ll have advanced, new ways to support and improve social connection, life skills, and independence for students as they learn to cook and collaborate safely.
How You Can Participate: Register, Sponsor, Vendor, Or Volunteer
The car show grows bigger and better each year thanks to the dedication of our incredible community. These 5 groups make it possible for us to welcome 1,500 guests from across the country:
1. Car and bike owners: You can easily register online as a car or bike owner! Once registered, get ready to show off your ride and compete for a few cool prizes.
2. Sponsors: A special thank-you to our Platinum Sponsors, Lang’s Home Remodeling and Dorman Products, as well as all our sponsors as they continue driving our programs forward and creating environments that nurture growth and independence for individuals with autism.
3. Vendors: Partnering with local businesses and artisans helps us expand our network, offer more engaging activities, and strengthen connections with families in our community.
4. Food vendors: Food vendors from all over bring together a selection of delicious meals, snacks, and treats to give everyone just a little more to enjoy throughout the day.
5. Volunteers: It’s not too late to join us! From setup to raffles to managing the kids’ tent, volunteers ensure the day runs smoothly so everyone has a memorable experience.
Each participant helps us create the welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere that makes the annual Car Show for Autism a standout event each year.
9th Annual Car Show & Family Fun Day For Autism Schedule
For a quick refresh, here’s the event schedule for this year’s car show. Screenshot it, print it, or pass it along. Rain or shine, we’ll be there!
| 2025 Car Show For Autism Schedule | |
| 🎉 | 1:00pm Event Start & Kids’ Tent Opens |
| 👋 | Afternoon Appearance By Trenton Thunder’s Mascot, Boomer The Blue Thunderbird |
| 🗳️ | 3:00pm People’s Choice Closes |
| 📣 | 4:00pm Tricky Tray Announcements |
| 🏆 | 4:30pm 50/50 Winner Announcement & Trophy Presentations |
| 🌇 | 5:00pm Car Show Event Ends |
Car Show & Family Fun Day For Autism FAQs
Keep the following in mind to make the most of this year’s event:
1. Is The Event Free To Attend?
Yes! Admission is free. Bring your family, friends, and your love for cars — no tickets needed. Please consider a suggested $10 general parking donation.
2. What Is The 50/50 Raffle?
The 50/50 Raffle gives you a chance to win half of the total money raised while the other half supports Potential. You must be present to claim your prize if your ticket is drawn. Tickets are available at the 50/50 table.
3. How Does The Tricky Tray Raffle Work?
Place your tickets into the buckets or bags for the prizes you want most. You can spread tickets out among prizes or go all in on your favorite!
4. Who Can Win Door Prizes?
Registered car owners are eligible to win a door prize. Listen for your registration number to be called during the show.
5. Is The Event Rain Or Shine?
Yes! The Car Show & Family Fun Day for Autism is a rain or shine event. We’re ready to roll no matter the weather, so bring your umbrellas or sunglasses, and get ready for a great day in support of autism acceptance!
Celebrate Community & Connection At The Car Show
Every Potential car show celebrates community, connection, and making a real difference. That’s why we encourage everyone to get involved – your support directly impacts the lives of the people we serve. Take Jim from last year’s blog, Potential Donor Spotlight With Jim Hering. His involvement fueled his passion for giving back and highlighted the vital role community support plays for families navigating life with autism. Stories like his show that every contribution, big or small, creates meaningful change.
Drive Connection, Fun, & Impact At Our 9th Annual Car Show
Every community event is a chance to celebrate connection, build skills, and make a real impact. The Car Show & Family Fun Day for Autism does all this – blending fun, family, and community support into one unforgettable day.
Whether you’re showing a car, cheering on a friend, volunteering, or enjoying a family-friendly outing, your presence truly matters. Together, we can make this 9th Annual Car Show our most successful yet while building a brighter, more independent future for individuals with autism. Join the excitement!