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Events

MotorCities Events 1170

Tell us when you plan to visit the MotorCites National Heritage Area and we will find some possible events for you. We hope to see you soon!

 

Additional Info

  • Event Title Car Capital Auto Show 2025
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, July 26, 2025 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
  • Event Location R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, Lansing, MI
  • Event Description Join the R.E. Olds Museum for the 32nd Annual Car Capital Auto Show! Space is limited to 225 vehicle entrants this year. It’s a day of cruising, fun and entertainment! 100% 3rd Party Judged Show!

Additional Info

  • Event Title KAARC Red Barns Spectacular Car Show & Swap Meet
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, August 2, 2025 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Event Location Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners, MI
  • Event Description Brought to you by the Kalamazoo Antique Auto Restorers Club, the RED BARNS SPECTACULAR is the most anticipated show of the season. Hailed as the region's “Grand Daddy” of antique, classic and special interest car shows, it is One BIG Day, Two HUGE Shows --a Judged Show field & Driver’s Choice Show field. Both are open to any vehicle 25 years or older, including cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, vintage campers, military vehicles, fire trucks and boats! More that 1,500 show vehicles will be on the show field, along with special areas for antique campers brought to you by the Tin Can Tourists, cars for sale, antique boats and vintage bicycles. Plus, check out over 380 Swap Meet Vendors Onsite and shop for those hard to find car parts, tools, literature, antiques, arts, crafts and more in the Season’s Largest Swap Meet! For more information, check out the Red Barns Spectacular's Facebook page.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Back to the Bricks
  • Event Date(s) August 11-16, 2025
  • Event Location Flint, MI
  • Event Description One of the best Classic Car Events in the Nation. Get all the information about all six days of events that make up this year's edition of Back to the Bricks!

Additional Info

  • Event Title 2025 Woodward Dream Cruise
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, August 16, 2025 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Event Location Woodward Avenue in Oakland County
  • Event Description The world's biggest cruise is coming your way! There are no fees to cruise in the event or to watch. Anyone can participate, although those not driving a classic car are asked to stay out of the two right lanes nearest to the curb. For more information on events and the route map, visit the website.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Automotive Showplace: 1952 Packard "Macauley" Pan American
  • Event Date(s) This Fall
  • Event Location Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave, Detroit
  • Event Description After World War II, designer Richard Arbib of the The Henney Motor Company - Packard’s coachbuilder - was tasked with refreshing Packard’s styling. Arbib’s design called for a 1952 Packard convertible to be cut in half horizontally in order to remove a four-inch strip of body to reduce its height in a process known as sectioning. To lengthen the car, Henney drastically extended the rear quarter panels while the windshield was cut and lowered for a sportier look. This vehicle is the first of six Pan Americans that were built for the show circuit - four of which remain - and belonged to Edward Macauley, head of Packard design in the 1950s. Macauley periodically altered the car to meet his taste and current styling. Some of Macauly’s personal updates include the dashboard and “egg crate” grille insert from a 1954 Packard as well as quarter panels and taillights from a 1955 model.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Cruisin' Hines
  • Event Date(s) Sunday, August 24, 2025 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Event Location Hines Park
  • Event Description The biggest classic car cruise in the country. Cruisin' Hines features only classic cars.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Driven to Win: Racing in America
  • Event Date(s) Now Open
  • Event Location Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
  • Event Description Presented by General Motors, the first comprehensive exhibition covering various forms of American auto racing, including stock car, sports car, drag racing, Indy car, hill climb and land-speed racing, is now open in Dearborn. The 24,000 square-foot exhibit provides visitors an in-depth look at the people, the experiences, the culture, the spectacle, the risks and the innovations centered in the world of American auto sports.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Woodward Dream Festival
  • Event Date(s) Wednesday & Friday, August 13 & 15, 2025
  • Event Location M1 Concourse, Pontiac
  • Event Description How can you top the Woodward Dream Cruise? That’s impossible, but you can make it the car experience of a lifetime thanks to the Woodward Dream Festival at M1 Concourse. This event makes the perfect complement to Dream Cruise Week. Here’s a chance to experience all the best hot rods, muscle cars, customs and cruisers on the planet — past, present and future. You’ll see many of those iconic machines you’ve been reading about and lusting after your entire lives.

Additional Info

  • Event Title 7th Annual Autos for Autism
  • Event Date(s) Friday & Saturday, July 25-26, 2025
  • Event Location Stahl's Automotive Collection, New Baltimore, MI
  • Event Description Join the Stahl's Automotive Foundation for the 7th annual “Autos for Autism” event to benefit the Ted Lindsay Foundation. This year, you’ll have the rare chance to meet Wayne Carini, host of Chasing Classic Cars, along with legendary automotive designer Wayne Kady. Drive your classic, explore lots of incredible vehicles, enjoy live music, and experience activities the whole family will love.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Achievement: African Americans' Accomplishments & Contributions in Automotive Exhibit
  • Event Date(s) On Display Now!
  • Event Location Automotive Hall of Fame, Dearborn, MI
  • Event Description The contributions Black Americans have made to the automotive industry have not been celebrated or even fully captured and shared. Very little effort has even been made to conduct the required research to identify the individuals, much less curate an exhibit on their accomplishments. The Automotive Hall of Fame recognizes that these are important stories that need to be told.

Additional Info

  • Event Title M1 Cars and Coffee
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, August 2, 2025 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.
  • Event Location M1 Concourse, Pontiac, MI
  • Event Description Join the M1 Concourse for their monthly Cars and Coffee events on the first Saturday of each month. This month’s featured cars are SRT, Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth and Jeep. This event is family-friendly and tickets are $20/car.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Automotive Festival
  • Event Date(s) Sunday, August 3, 2025 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Event Location Columbia Center, Troy, MI
  • Event Description Troy’s premier automotive festival, the 17th Annual Troy Traffic Jam, features legacy vehicles, favorite classics, and high-end exotics for everyone to enjoy! There will be lots of events for everyone, including pedal car races for younger car enthusiasts, Tech Talks with leading designers, and demonstrations from local robotics teams. This event is Free to the public and registration to show your vehicle is $25 in advance or $30 at the festival.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Vintage Truck & Tractor Show
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, July 26, 2025 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Event Location Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners, MI
  • Event Description The Gilmore hosts its annual Truck and Tractor Show, with a theme of GMC and Chevrolet trucks, though all types and all years of trucks are welcomed. This will include antique, vintage, military, emergency, commercial, pickup trucks, and utility vehicles. Several awards will be given out for the trucks brought to the show. This event is sure to be enjoyable for all.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Lincoln Car Show
  • Event Date(s) Friday and Saturday, August 8 & 9, 2025 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Event Location Gilmore Car Museum
  • Event Description This is one of the premier car shows focused on Lincoln vehicles. The event will celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the Lincoln Motor Company being acquired by the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln is one of the premier luxury marques which was originally founded by Henry Leland in 1920.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Whizzer Motorbikes Lecture
  • Event Date(s) Thursday, August 7, 2025 7 p.m.
  • Event Location Pontiac Transportation Museum, Pontiac
  • Event Description This lecture highlights a fascinating history of the world’s highest volume motorized bicycle – built in Pontiac from 1946 to 1966. FREE admission.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Ypsilanti Fire Department in Residence
  • Event Date(s) Wednesday - Friday, July 23-25, 2025 Noon - 4 p.m.
  • Event Location Michigan Firehouse Museum, Ypsilanti, MI
  • Event Description The Museum hosts the Ypsilanti Fire Department in the Old Firehouse with three of their fire trucks. The YFD will be living in the Old Firehouse, covering the city and responding to calls from there. This includes opening up the fire pole for use by the firefighters. Visitors can see the department in action!.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Cars & Coffee
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, August 9, 2025 8:30 - 10 a.m.
  • Event Location Ford Piquette Plant Museum, Detroit, MI
  • Event Description Come show off your wheels! Detroit’s eclectic community of antique, classic, quirky and always fabulous rides. All are welcome. Free coffee and donuts while supplies last. A/C and restrooms are available on the first floor.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Racing: The Heart & Soul of Ford Motor Company
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, August 9, 2025 10 a.m.
  • Event Location Ford Piquette Plant Museum, Detroit, MI
  • Event Description Enjoy a presentation that combines Henry Ford, history, and racing! This talk will cover the racing that Henry Ford was personally involved in his lifetime — from the very first race that led to the beginning of Ford Motor Company, to his beloved Model T setting records on the track. Todd Bryan is the President of the Henry Ford Heritage Association and Chairman of its Speakers Bureau. He is also an engineering supervisor at Ford Motor Company.

Additional Info

  • Event Title "Detroit Wheels: Early Motor City Stories" Exhibit
  • Event Date(s) Now through Sunday, August 17, 2025
  • Event Location Ford Piquette Plant Museum, Detroit, MI
  • Event Description A special collaboration between the Detroit Historical Society and the Ford Piquette Plant Museum brings together an extraordinary collection of antique automobiles for a temporary exhibit. This first-floor exhibit features ten rare vehicles from the Society’s collections normally stored in archival “bubbles,” plus two other historic vehicles: one on loan from Fair Lane, the Home of Clara and Henry Ford and one from a private collection. These cars represent Detroit’s first heyday of automobile invention including handmade vehicles, one-of-a-kind automobiles, and cars associated with famous Detroit names. Special exhibit tickets are $10 and are available at the link below.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Distracted Driving Simulator
  • Event Date(s) Now Open!
  • Event Location Sloan Museum of Discovery, Flint, MI
  • Event Description The new Distracted Driving interactive game helps drivers see the dangers of driving while distracted and emphasizes the important message of vehicle safety. The new exhibit was supported by a 2024 MotorCities Challenge Grant. Cellphones, text messages music, podcasts and other drivers on the road are introduced to your virtual vehicle while you play. The exhibit actually asks visitors to drive while simultaneously texting messages to friends. The resulting virtual accidents that take place have monetary “costs” assigned based on vehicle damage. Upon completing the course, visitors will see the costs of distracted driving, as well as receive messaging on the dangers of texting while driving. The Distracted Driving Simulator is located in the Museum's Durant Gallery and is free with general admission.