2021 East Texas Auto and Cycle Show canceled due to pandemic

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - The annual East Texas Auto and Cycle Show has been canceled after careful consideration from the committee and the East Texas Crisis Center overlooking the event.

We spoke with organizers who explained how the ongoing pandemic canceled yet another event.

For the first time in 31 years, the Auto and Cycle Show will not go on. The committee canceled the event to maintain the safety of those participating in this year’s event.

“To know that this year we have to forgo all that, it was a very tough decision for the guys that work on this show all year long,” Executive Director of the East Texas Crisis Center Lana Peacock said.

This four-day event was scheduled to be held at the Harvey Convention Center in Tyler. In years past, dozens of vehicles would fill up the building to help raise funds for the crisis center.

“We average about raising $200,000 each year. That’s a combination of the auto cycle show and the car raffle that goes with it.”

This renovated 1965 Mustang coupe will be this year’s raffle prize. Raffle tickets are $10 apiece. They’re extending the deadline for the raffle until March 20 at 4 p.m.

“Every direction that we could go that can help us raise funds to keep these services and programs going, we’re going to do what we have to do.”

Every year on average, the Crisis Center helps 400 women and children who are victims of family violence, sexual assault and more. The center serves five counties in East Texas.

“We want to make sure that we have the resources that we need to provide these services and we don’t stop the services.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the crisis center has seen an increase in needed services. On top of that, their 2020 fundraising events were canceled, too. Peacock says the loss of support will affect their annual revenue.

For more information on how to enter the raffle. Click here for more information. Good luck!

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