MotorCities National Heritage Area logo
girl-american-car-cropped.jpg

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 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 Young Modelers Club
  • Event Date(s) Saturdays Running October 10th, 2026 thru April 10th, 2027 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Event Location Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society, Eastpointe, MI
  • Event Description Ages 8 to 16, parents welcome to join in. For those who have never built a model, we give you a free snap-together kit to build and take home! All supplies such as tools, paint, glue, etc will be provided for those who bring their own model to build. Members of IPMS Warren model club will be there to help and teach modeling techniques For more info, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 586-875-2581.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Trunk or Treat at the Gilmore
  • Event Date(s) Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Event Location Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners, MI
  • Event Description Kids can trick or treat this Halloween in a safe and fun environment! We'll combine cars with good old fashioned spooky fun. This event is FREE ($5 donation suggested) and will run like a typical Cruise-In. Trunk or treaters do NOT need to RSVP to the event and will enjoy donuts & cider and Halloween music.

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 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.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Annual Fall Open House
  • Event Date(s) Sunday, October 25, 2026 1 - 5 p.m.
  • Event Location Packard Proving Grounds, Shelby Twp., MI
  • Event Description This free community event celebrates the site's 99th birthday with a Cruise-In Car Show, Packard taxi rides, live music, food trucks, a bake sale, and more. The Open House is one of our most cherished traditions, bringing together families, car enthusiasts, and community members while supporting the ongoing preservation of this historic landmark.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Packard Proving Grounds Historical Speaker Series
  • Event Date(s) Sunday, October 25th, 2026 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Event Location Packard Proving Grounds, Shelby Township, MI
  • Event Description Pat Connell will hold a talk highlighting some of the stories from the largest collection of Packard photographs and archival documents. The Packard Motor Car Foundation’s archives house these and Mr. Connell is one of the driving forces behind the ongoing archival efforts and author of the Packard Pulse’s “Gems from the Vault” series.

Additional Info

  • Event Title A River of Knowledge: 2026 Speaker Series
  • Event Date(s) Sunday, October 25th, 2026 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Event Location Fair Lane Estate, Dearborn, MI
  • Event Description Karen Marzonie, the Senior Director of Gardens & Grounds at the Fair Lane Estate, will trace the history, restoration, and ongoing transformation of the estate’s historic landscape. During this presentation, Karen will highlight new efforts to enhance visitor accessibility and amenities, along with sharing a few restoration “growing pains” that will inspire you to stay resilient in your own gardening journeys. Reserve your seat today, as tickets won’t last long for this once-in-a-lifetime presentation.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Michigan Flight Museum: Historic Presentation Night
  • Event Date(s) Wednesday, November 4th, 2026 7:30 p.m.
  • Event Location Michigan Flight Museum, Ypsilanti, MI
  • Event Description Returning speaker Wendy Zielen explores Michigan’s important relationship with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the state’s vital role in World War II. Discover how FDR’s call for America to become the “Arsenal of Democracy” transformed Michigan into a wartime powerhouse, as Detroit’s factories shifted from automobiles to bombers, tanks, and aircraft engines. Learn about Roosevelt’s visits to Michigan factories, including Willow Run, and Eleanor Roosevelt’s support of the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots and Tuskegee Airmen.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Fuel for Thought Presentation
  • Event Date(s) Thursday, November 5th, 2026 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Event Location Stahls Motors & Music Experience, New Baltimore, MI
  • Event Description Join us for a special presentation exploring The History of Electric Cars from 1890 to 2026! Long before modern EVs took over the highways, early inventors created quiet, luxurious alternatives to steam and gasoline vehicles. Presented by car restorer Ken Litchfield, who brings over 45 years of hands-on automotive restoration expertise, this special edition of Fuel for Thought will trace the evolution of battery-powered transportation across the decades. Having personally worked on electric vehicles like a 1906 Columbia and a 1965 Corvair, Litchfield will also share practical insights into converting traditional cars to electric power today. This event is ideal for car restorers, EV enthusiasts, or anyone curious about the past, present, and future of automotive technology. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged, and space is limited to a maximum of 200 RSVPs with seating provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests without an RSVP are still welcome to attend and can take any remaining empty seats at 6:00 PM.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Special Presentation at Pontiac Transportation Museum
  • Event Date(s) Thursday, October 29th, 2026 7 p.m.
  • Event Location Pontiac Transportation Museum, Pontiac, MI
  • Event Description Join the Pontiac Transportation Museum for an entertaining presentation by Tim Dye on the 50th anniversary of Pontiac’s 1976 "U.S. Bicentennial Global Record Run" famously nicknamed "One Lap Around the World." Officially recognized as an U.S. Bicentennial Event and recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records, this ambitious promotional run served as a ultimate durability test for Pontiac's new 2.5L "Iron Duke" 4-cylinder and 5.0L V8 engines. Featuring veteran race car champions Johnnie Parsons and Paula Murphy driving a custom-painted 1977 Grand Prix and Sunbird, this unique journey overcame fatigue, intrigue, and challenge to etch its place in American automotive history.