Michael Mcelroy does not want you to confuse the Grand Prix of the Long Beach Lifestyle Exhibition with an automotive lounge.
“We are not a car show,” said the director of the Lifestyle Expo, who is in his 46th year. “We have something interesting for everyone.”
MCELROY, from Long Beach, has led the exhibition for 18 years since 2007. He missed two years due to health problems, but his “right man” Rod Henderson has filled and was essential to his success since, said Mcelroy.
During almost two decades of the exhibition, Mcelroy said, it is the variety of exhibitors who make 270,000 feet of exhibition space an interesting visit.
The exhibition tour is an experience of around 90% of nearly 200,000 participants in the Grand Prix during the largest annual event of the city.
“It’s a bit like the 405,” said Mcelroy. “People have to go through the Hall Expo to get other views on the track (race).”
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From left to right, the first lieutenant Dean Smith and the director of the Lifestyle exhibition Michael Mcelroy helps in parking in the long Beach Convention Center on Tuesday April 8, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram)
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From left to right, the first lieutenant Dean Smith and the director of the Lifestyle exhibition Michael Mcelroy helps in parking in the long Beach Convention Center on Tuesday April 8, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram)
Living style exhibition will be a respite from the roar of Indycars and other vehicles during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The event will take place from Friday to Sunday from April 11 to 13. The exhibition, on the other hand, will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Visitors will be entitled to variety and immensity, said Mcelroy. The number of sellers has not necessarily increased in recent years, he said, but individual exhibitors are asking for more and more space.
Many sellers organize “shows in the show”, such as the exhibition of the American army, which understands what Mcelroy calls “convivial” robotic dogs. Last year, said the director of the exhibition, the army and the air forces doubled their number on their recruitment cabins.
Many interactive exhibitions adapted to children are also included in the more than 100 participating suppliers.
New to the exhibition this year:
- Historical display with a storyboard of each year / winner of the Grand Prix of Long Beach at 50.
- A 45 -minute autograph session with Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Paul Tracy at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday April 12. Hero cards will be available, said Mcelroy, or fans can bring an article to sign.
- More family dishes. There have always been a lot of food and drinking tasting samples, said Mcelroy, but this year, the accent is more important on convenience, like a company called one Farm Fresh which provides meals directly to your home.
Some of the return favorites include the immersive race simulator of Cooler Master, which is back for its second year. Fans can participate in the “Dyn X Challenge” tournament by registering at the stand just like last year, said Mcelroy.
The Family Fun Zone, on the other hand, offers interactive games, a video arcade and popular children’s electric cars. After all, said Mcelroy, the future of the Grand Prix is in the hands of the next generation.
“Each year, I see the photos of these children enjoying these cars,” he said. “To see the look in their eyes. They are on the new cloud.”
Then there are the paddocks, which offer a scene behind the race. You can get closer to drivers, engineers and mechanisms and watch them work on real -time cars. Brian Redmond, inaugural winner of the Grand Prix, will be in the GT America Paddock, said Mcelroy, working on a historic formula of the formula.
“Just the sound of these old cars that pull up are just enough to go crazy,” added Mcelroy.
Chocolate Monshine Co. returns with her gourmet fudge – just in time for Easter.
“It’s a bad place to go because it’s so good,” said Mcelroy, explaining that the fans did not stop asking if the confectioner would be back.
The exhibition will also include educational stands promoting STEM programs, such as the SAE program of the Technical Institute of Long Beach and Cal State University. Mcelroy said 200 students from the Unified School District of Long Beach will be entitled to a day on the track of various sponsors, and that racing engines and engineers will pronounce motivation speeches and talk about the impact of the race industry.
And there will be tons of long -prices for long beach souvenirs.
Overall, the Lifestyle Expo improves the experience of the Weekend Grand Prix, said Mcelroy.
“It’s a kind of place to get out of the noise,” he said, “get out of the sun and go together, recharge and then come back outside.”
Compared to other tracks across the country, none is getting closer to Mcelroy to Long Beach, not even at Indianapolis 500.
There is nothing better than walking in the exhibition and seeing people have fun, said Mcelroy.
“This is our common goal,” he said about the entire Grand Prix team. “Our fans.”
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