DES MOINES, Iowa (May 2, 2023) – Get up close and personal with Military vehicles from World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Afghanistan Wars during the 48th annual Military Vehicle Preservation Association – Historical Archives Convention, June 15 – 17 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The MVPA-HA will bring together military vehicle owners and vendors throughout the US, Canada, and our overseas members. They come from 16 international chapters and affiliates and 69 U.S. chapters and affiliates.

Military vehicles both wheeled and tracked will be on display for the public. The public can witness military vehicle owners try their driving skills in a blind driver’s skill test where the co-driver attempts to verbally steer the driver through a series of serpentine cones. Owners of jeeps and small trucks can also test their clutch and brake skills on a vehicle size teeter-totter. “We bring a lot of big events to Des Moines, but this may literally be the biggest, if not the heaviest,” said Catch Des Moines President and CEO Greg Edwards, referencing the size the vehicles. “It’s not often that civilians can interact with our military might like this and see what goes into protecting our country up close and personal.”

“Get up close and personal to a part of saved history that helped the US Military to supply and fight the battles,” said Kevin Emdee, president of MVPA. On Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17 the group will parade some of the vehicles around the fairgrounds to showcase what they call “History in Motion.” Along with the parade and vendors, the public will be able to vote on vehicles that have been modified from their original military purpose and those that are not military vehicles but pay tribute to the armed forces.

Tickets will be required inside the Varied Industries building to see the vendors and some of the vehicles. Tickets: Adults: $15.00, With Spouse: $20.00, With Children 11 – 18: $25.00. Children 10 and under: Free. Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves with ID Card: $5.00, with Spouse $10.00, With Children 11 – 18: $15.00 children 10 and under: Free. Tickets can be purchased here.

You can see a full schedule of events at mvpa.org.

 

About Catch Des Moines

The Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, collectively known as Catch Des Moines, is the official destination marketing organization promoting and representing Greater Des Moines to leisure travelers and meeting/sports planners. Our focus is to increase visitors to the metro and elevate the visitor experience to drive economic success and enhance the quality of life in the 14 local Greater Des Moines communities we represent. For more information, visit catchdesmoines.com.