Automotive world coming to I-X Center

CLEVELAND — If you're a fan of anything automotive, it's time to mark your calendars and make your plans. The countdown to automotive excitement is here. Tickets are already on sale the Cleveland Auto Show, presented by Huntington Bank.The show opens its doors at the I-X Center at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 and runs through 8 p.m. Sunday, March 3.An annual event that kicks off the automotive selling season in Northern Ohio, the Cleveland Auto Show is your chance to see virtually everything the automotive world has to offer, all under one roof."With more than 850 new pre-production and production vehicles on the Show floor, the Cleveland Auto Show is a great place to shop if you're in the market for a new vehicle," says Dave Waikem, chairman of the Cleveland Auto Show and vice president and co-owner of the Waikem Auto Family dealerships in Massillon. "It's a must-see if you're a fan of anything automotive and a lot of fun for the whole family."See a vehicle you like on the show floor and you might be able to take it for a drive while you're there. This year, 11 different brands will make vehicles available at Ride-N-Drive events, including: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Mazda, Ram, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen. Joining those brands and new this year, Nissan also will have vehicles available for test drives at the show.At Camp Jeep you'll be able to ride along as professional drivers put Jeep trail-rated vehicles through a series of obstacles that include the 12-foot tall Jeep Mountain. At Millionaire's Row you'll get the chance to see vehicles worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, up close.Optimus Prime, the Western Star Truck that starred in "Transformers: Last Knight," will be there every day the show is open. New this year, the Celebrity Car Museum will have some instantly recognizable vehicles on hand from television and the movies, including: Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine van, the "Shaggin' Wagon" from the 1994 film Dumb and Dumber and the DeLorean Time Machine made famous by the Back to the Future movie franchise to name a few.Head out to the Show on Monday, Feb. 25 for Family Day, presented by Medical Mutual, when children 15 and under get in free. Veterans, active duty military personnel or first responders, get free admission on Thursday, Feb. 28, which is "Heroes Day."While you're at the Show, don't forget to register to win either a 2019 Honda Accord or a 2019 Honda Ridgeline, the Car and Truck of the 2019 Cleveland Auto Show and this year's Official Giveaway Vehicles. This year, the Cleveland Auto Show and the Northern Ohio Honda Dealers are giving away two, 36-month leases, one for each vehicle, to lucky grand prize winners the last day of the show. Just register at the official vehicle giveaway booth near the front entrance of the show, or mail your entry starting Feb. 22 to Official Vehicle Giveaway Contest, c/o GCADA, 9150 South Hills Boulevard, Suite 150, Broadview Heights, OH 44147. Check out clevelandautoshow.com for official giveaway rules.You can get other show details there such as updates on celebrity appearances as well.Show hours are: from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, which is opening night; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 1 and Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays, and 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. from Monday through Thursday.Tickets are available online right now at clevelandautoshow.com. Admission for adults is $14 while seniors and pre-teens aged seven to 12 get in for $12. Children six and under always get in free — and parking is always free courtesy of your franchised new vehicle dealers.