>>> LEAD EAST is a giant 50’s PARTY, offering more unique events than 15 normal shows put together! People come together every year, set up their pop-up tents and BBQs next to one another, and kick back to wallow in the good vibrations that permeate the air for this magic, nostalgic weekend. The mellow atmosphere that glows over Parsippany every Labor Day Weekend is unmatched by any old car or oldies music festival anywhere!
If you dig the good old days of greased hair, tail fins, and 50’s rock n’ roll, have we a PARTY for your entire family! Join us to relive and revisit the best decade in history. We GUARANTEE there is no other event remotely like this on the planet. If you don’t have a great time at LEAD EAST, check your pulse to see if you are still alive!

Since 1982, we’ve produced a 100% American, 100% family, 100% fun weekend of classic cars and legendary music with a full array of activities unmatched by any other event anywhere! Our events are held at first-class hotels with air-conditioned indoor events. We have two indoor and two outdoor stages with live entertainment on all four stages simultaneously! We’ve had old fashion Drive-In Movies for all 40 years! indoor movies also with a verity of titles and cartoons for the children. There are activities and clowns for the children and young at heart.

LEAD EAST offers a virtual smorgasbord of indoor and outdoor activities. From start in the morning with a Doo Wop A Cappella group singing our National Anthem over our public address system, until the third 50’s movie in each night’s triple feature at our outdoor ACE DRIVE IN finishes, every day offers a long list of fun things to do for young and old alike. Sock Hops, Drive-In Movies, Cruising, Jitterbug and Swing Dancing, Doo Wop A Cappella, Prom Night, and MORE!

Most car events are over by 4:00 in the afternoon and people pack up and go home, but LEAD EAST is just getting started! It rocks day and night, with some people still dancing in the parking lot when the sun comes up! LEAD EAST is renowned and unchallenged as THE BEST Oldies Nostalgia weekend anywhere! No other event even comes close.

Once again Lead East, the world’s biggest and best oldies festival, will be held at the Hilton Hotel 1 Hilton court Parsippany New Jersey on Labor Day weekend and will prove to be our best event ever. Our 40th year, under new Ownership, has many surprises and improvements in store we hope to see you there.

– 1800 OLD CARS
- 21 Bands, DJs & Doo Wop Groups
- NY/NJ Metro’s Biggest Old Car Event

LEAD EAST is for 1982 and earlier vehicles — but it’s an oldies festival/party not just a car show! NOTE: Newer radically customized cars and/or any car or truck with a chopped top, low-riders with hydraulics or airbags are also welcome! A car with a custom paint job is NOT a serious custom (multiple body modifications required). We have changed the cutoff from ’72 to ‘82 because for years many of you have asked us to do so. Some-hard core LEAD EAST veterans want to keep it ’72 or earlier, but times are changing and there are plenty of cool cars from the 70’s & 80’s.

The word LEAD is a synonym for “customized car.” We fill four adjacent parking lots with 2000 restored classic 1982 and earlier cars, customs, low-riders, and street rods. Many are for sale. Last year it attracted cars from more than 30 states — from as far as California, Florida, Texas and even Canada, because it offers activities and non-stop entertainment unlike any other “car show”.

If you love custom cars — a true American art form — year in and year out LEAD EAST gathers more ‘lead-sleds” (customized cars) than any other event on the planet. This event was created in 1983 to promote the custom car movement, and it has done just that. Many cars have been built and finished with LEAD EAST as the deadline, the event being an incentive for enthusiasts to start and complete their dream car. There are always a number of fresh, incredibly high-quality customs on display at the event that we guarantee you have not seen. A WORD TO THE WISE… CUSTOM CARS SHOULD PRE-REG EARLY call 908-876-9100.

We’d love to see your 1982 or earlier vintage car at LEAD EAST 2023! It’s your choice, you can register your car at the show or Pre-Register in Advance. Every year a higher percentage of the cars entered are pre-registered!

BASIC PRICING
Weekend Spectator Wristbands: $55 Adult or $45 Junior (12 – 16 years)
One Day Spectator Adimission: $20 Adult or $15 Junior (12 – 16 years)
One Day Family Plan: $50 (Includes 2 adults and their children ages 12-16. Children under 11 are free. Concert, party and dance tickets available at the door at prices listed above)
One Day Car Plans: $50 Saturday or Sunday (Includes 2 arm bands)
$35 Saturday or Sunday (Includes 1 Arm Band)
Includes all children in car under 17.
If you have questions or comments, please call us at (908) 876-9100 during regular business hours.