Old Fire Farts of York County, Pa.

The SPAAMFAA Board of Trustees, in partnership with the White Rose Fire Preservation of York Chapter, would like to invite you and your family to join us for the 2024 SPAAMFAA 56th National Summer Convention in York, Pennsylvania. This event promises to be a one of a kind, as we have partnered with the Professional Car Society (PCS) to bring close to 300 antique vehicles to the muster on the Central York High School parking lot on Saturday, June 8th.

Welcome to York County, Pennsylvania for the 2024 SPAAMFAA National Summer Convention, June 4 to 8, 2024.

Register soon, as rooms are going fast.

Our host hotel is the Four Points By Sheraton York, 1650 Toronita Street, York, PA 17402. Phone (717) 846-4940. The hotel is conveintly located near the interchange of Interstate 83 and US Route 30.

Anyone booking a room at the host hotel should do so as a private individual and not as a SPAAMFAA member. When you mention SPAAMFAA, it automatically puts you in the block of rooms that ATHS had reserved for us and those rooms are all taken on Thursday and Friday night, so the hotel computer tells you they are all booked. There are still rooms available at the host hotel. In addition, when making your reservation, if you use a third-party site like Expedia or Hotels.com, you may get a slightly better rate.

A second overflow hotel is also available less than one-half mile away from our host hotel, TRU by Hiton, 1520 Toronita Street, York PA 17402. Phone (717) 812-0001. This hotel is a less than 5 minute drive from the host hotel, most of which will be spent waiting for the traffic light at US Riute 30.

Direct link for room reservations at the TRU by Hilton at the Summer Convention room rates. Your room choice is $154 for either a King bed or two Queen beds.

If traveling by vehicle, York is located along Interstate 83 about 26 miles south of Harrisburg, PA and about 52 miles north of Baltimore, Maryland. We are 101 miles west of Philadelphia and 214 miles east of Pittsburgh, PA along US Route 30. York is 18 miles south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Harrisburg West interchange.

If traveling by air, the closest major airport to York is Harrisburg International Airport, which is 30 miles away in Middletown, PA. Baltimore/Washington International Airport is 68 miles away, south of Baltimore, Maryland.

The Old Fire Farts of York County, PA have planned a wonderful four full days with various events and are also offering many free events for you during the week.

Free goodie bags for you at registration.

Free shuttle van to move you from the host hotel to events.

Free Pennsylvania Dutch welcome dinner and ceremony on Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at St. Matthew Church Social Hall, then a tour of the York County Fire Museum next door.

Free ice cream social on Thursday from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in front of the host hotel.

Free hospitality room every night Tuesday through Saturday, with auctions on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Two free evening seminars -

• On Wednesday, Greg Halpin, York City Fire/Rescue Chief Historian, will talk about American LaFrance apparatus in the York City Fire Department.
• On Thursday, Gary Hardwick will speak about his years as a consultant to major apparatus manufacturers and why things have changed.

A free muster on Saturday that is family friendly with music, food, and entertainment.

Schedule and/or locations subject to change

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. SPAAMFAA Convention registration open at the Four Points By Sheraton York.

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Free Pennsylvania Dutch Welcome Dinner at the St. Matthew Church Social Hall, 839 West Market Street, York, PA 17401.

Following dinner, a tour of the York County Fire Museum, 757 West Market Street, York, PA 17401.

We will have a free shuttle from the host hotel to the dinner if needed.

9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Social time in the Old Fire Farts Hospitality Room, the Imperial Ballroom.

 

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. SPAAMFAA Convention Registration open at the Four Points By Sheraton York.

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bus Tour #1 to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with over a hundred locomotives and rail cars. Then a ride on the Strasburg Railroad and more.

Lunch will be on your own at the Station Snack Bar with sandwiches or box lunches.

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Board of Directors meeting in the Imperial Ballroom with lunch provided.

Wednesday Dinner is on your own.

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Special Speaker, Greg Halpin, who will provide a PowerPoint presentation, "York, Pennsylvania, an American LaFrance Town?" This is a free event.

8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Social time with a firematic auction in the Old Fire Farts Hospitality Room, the Imperial Ballroom.

 

Thursday, June 6, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. SPAAMFAA Convention Registration open at the Four Points By Sheraton York.

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Antique Truck Show at the York Expo Center. We have a free shuttle to the show.

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bus Tour #2 to Schuylkill County and visit with the Black Diamond Chapter of SPAAMFAA at their warehouse full of fire apparatus plus their fire museum where a Polish lunch will be provided.

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Free Ice Cream Social in front of the host hotel. The Old Fire Farts of York County are happy to provide this event to our members and registered guests.

Thursday Dinner is on your own.

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Special Speaker, Gary Handwick, will talk about how fire apparatus has changed during the last two decades and why. This is a free Event.

8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Social time with a firematic auction in the Old Fire Farts Hospitality Room, the Imperial Ballroom.

 

Friday, June 7, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. SPAAMFAA Convention Registration open at the Four Points By Sheraton York

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Antique Truck Show at the York Expo Center. We have a free shuttle to the show.

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bus Tour #3 to Greater Hanover Fire Museum & the Gettysburg Fire Museum with a lunch stop around noon on your own.

Friday Dinner is on your own.

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Chapter Presidents meeting followed by the General meeting in the Imperial Ballroom.

9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Social time in the Old Fire Farts Hospitality Room, the Imperial Ballroom.

 

Saturday, June 8, 2024

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The 11th Annual York Fire Muster and Flea Market with the Professional Car Society at Central York High School parking lot for two great events free of charge.

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. SPAAMFAA Dinner, at Union Fire and Hose Co., 30 East Canal Street, Dover, PA 17315. Shuttle available to the dinner.

9:00 p.m. - ??:00 p.m. Social time in the Old Fire Farts Hospitality Room, the Imperial Ballroom.

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Schedule and/or location subject to change

Central York High School parking lot
601 Mundis Mill Road
York, PA 17406

Ther muster will be held in conjunction with the Professional Car Society, who will also be displaying member vehicles at the muster site.

You must pre-register by May 15, 2024. There will be no on-site registrations.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Check-in is at the tent on the east end of the Central York High School parking lot.

10:00 a.m. All apparatus must be in their assigned spots.

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Judging will begin, so be by your apparatus to answer any questions.

12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. After your apparatus is judged, register for pumping at the tent on the east side of the lot.

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Awards will be announced.

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Flea market area will be along the rear of the school parking lot. Your car or trailer will be next to your space. You can begin setting up at 7:00 a.m. You must supply your own tables, chairs, and tent if needed.

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Several food vendors will be on site for breakfast and lunch.

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Shuttle van from the host hotel to the muster and back every 2 hours.