The Des Moines Concours d’Elegance & Car Art Show Three Day Event At The Downtown Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park (September 8, 2024)
September 8 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Free
The Des Moines Concours d’Elegance™ is a car classic show that takes place on September 8th at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines. The main event features a judged Concours car show and a celebration of fine art and car design history, evolution, and innovation.
The three-day event starts with an Inaugural Des Moines Concours Charity Gala on Friday, Sept. 6th, then a four-hour 16th Annual Heartlands Driving Tour through the back roads of Iowa on Saturday, and ends with a 150-classic car Concours judging and award ceremony on Sunday. (See Full Schedule Below)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Date: September 18, 2024
- Type of Event: Concours Car Show
- Location: Pappajohn Sculpture Park 1330 Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50309
- Admission: Free for all ages
- Official Website: Des Moines Concours
- Stay Connected: Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
- Charity Partner: Children’s Cancer Connection
- Proudly Sponsored By: Iowa Automobile Heritage Foundation
Downtown Des Moines Concours d’Elegance Kicks Off With Over 150 Classic Award Winning Collectible Cars and 31 works of art by 25 of the world’s most celebrated sculptors.
The Concours d’Elegance Car Show features over 150 of the highest-quality vintage cars of all eras. The cars are supplied by car collectors from across the country.
The cars are divided into classes, judged, and then presented with awards for the finale. This year, the Concours will include an eclectic class category including early 20’s convertible cars, atomic age collectibles, space age collectibles, and Austin and Austin 7 Centenary Dates 1922–1938.
In addition to the cars, the event will feature nationally recognized car art and sculptures that will be on display throughout Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The car art exhibit will feature over 31 original works of art designed by 25 of the world’s most celebrated sculptors.
The Des Moines Concours three-day event takes place on Sunday, September 8, from 10:00–4:00 in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The event is free for everyone, and kids, pictures, dogs, and cats are all allowed.
2024 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance Car Show Schedule
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2024 EVENTS
Inaugural Des Moines Concours Charity Gala
(Friday, September 6th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm)
Location: Stine Barn, located at 4000 Turnberry Drive, West Des Moines AI 50265
Join the opening event Charity Gala at the fabulous Stine Barn for food and drinks on September 6th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Come enjoy the Extraordinary Food and Unforgettable Experiences catered by Cyd’s Catering. Cyd’s will be serving a full dinner as well as beer, wine, and drinks.
You will also enjoy the experiences of national author and speaker Tom Cotter from the TV show Barn Find Hunter. The event costs $275 that is donated to the Children’s Cancer Connection, which is 501(c)3 tax deductible.
You will also be able to enjoy feature car Myron Stine’s rare 2024 Lamborghini Countach (only 1 of 112 built ) officially a 1985 “Downdraft” Lamborghini Countach. Also, see Curt Leaverton’s Porsche Carrara GT and 1937 Alfa 6C.
The event is hosted by the Iowa Automotive Heritage Foundation with proceeds from the event benefiting the Children’s Cancer Connection.
🎫 TICKETS: Per Person: $275
• Couples: $500
• Table of Eight: $1,800 (or $225 each for 8 or more) (BUY TICKETS HERE)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2024 EVENTS
17th Annual Heartlands Driving Tour
(Saturday, September 7th – Registration is 7:30 am – 8:00 am )
Location: Triumph Park located at 700 Douglas Parkway in Waukee, West Des Moines AI 50265
Come enjoy a four-hour driving tour through the historic backroads, towns, and countryside of old Iowa with other car enthusiasts. You will experience a military tribute and guest visits to private car collections along the way.
The Tour drive through the towns of Stuart, Dexter, and Greenfield. Attractions in Greenfield include a bank robbed by Bonnie and Clyde, the original Freedom Rock®, and the Foster collection.
The tour starts at 8:00 at Triumph Park at 700 Douglas Parkway in Waukeee and ends at Raccoon River Park with a BBQ lunch.
he Heartlands Driving Tour costs $40 per person and all proceeds go donated to the charity Children’s Cancer Connection. (Register Here)
🎫 TICKETS: $40 for each car (driver and passengers) and Includes lunch.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2024 EVENTS
Des Moines Concours d’Elegance & Car Show
(Sunday, September 8 – From 10:00 am – 4:00 pm )
Location: Pappjohn Sculpture Garden in Des Moines (Grand and Locust between 12th and 16th Streets). Moines AI 50265
Started only seven years ago, the Des Moines Concours has become a significant staple in the Exclusive Car Concours Circuit. This year,
The Des Moines Concours will host only the highest-quality original antique, vintage, classic, exotic, and special-interest collectible cars and motorcycles. Over 150 collector cars will be on display at the park, and awards will be presented at 2:30 directly after the judges tally the votes.
This year, the cars will be judged on authenticity, condition, rarity, design, engineering, innovative features, and historical merit. These cars are all 100% original, highly valued cars from personal car collections. There will be no replicas, reproductions, or modified vehicles on display.
Photos from a walk around the 2022 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance. Hundreds of classic automobiles are on display around the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines.
Beyond the cars, the Concours will showcase exhibits of fine car art, the evolution of vehicle design, and the significance of innovations over the past century. These innovations include significant contributions from talented car designers and mechanical engineers who helped shape automotive history.
The Concours and exhibits are free and open to the public at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The event will feature over 150 classic collector cars at the park. The Concours cars will be judged based on vehicle authenticity, condition, rarity, design, engineering, innovative features, and historical merit. Awards will be presented at 2:30 p.m., directly after the judges tally the votes.
Food, drinks, and memorabilia will be available at the show from private vendors. There is ample parking on the streets surrounding the park
Time Schedule for the “Concours d’Elegance & Car Show “
• 10:00 a.m. Car Show Opens
• 2:45 p.m. Star Car Presentations
• 3;00 p.m. Grand Awards Presentation: Join us at 8th and Grand for the presentation of Class Winners and Best of Show.
• 4;00 p.m. Roar at 4: Listen as cars fire up their engines to leave the snowfield. Have your camera ready!
Car Classes for the 2024 Des Moines Concours are:
- Antiques – Vehicles produced from the beginning of motor vehicles through 1927
- Early Collectibles– A broad range of cars and trucks produced between 1928 and 1942
- Atomic Age Collectibles– Vehicles with post-war styling built between 1946 and 1957
- Space Age Collectibles– Tailfins, chrome, and sleek body lines, produced from 1958 to 1969
- Preservation– Unaltered survivors produced before 1974
- Classics– Luxury, limited production automobiles produced from 1915 to 1948
- Exotics– Speed, rarity, and provocative designs make these cars an attraction to everyone
- American Muscle – High-performance, rear-wheel drive, mid and full-size models up to 1973
- Motorcycles– Mechanical icons that influenced cultures with their design and engineering
- Station Wagons – American station wagons up to 1984
- Porsche 911 – 60th Anniversary – A history for street and the track
- Volkswagen – 1949-1981 Volkswagens in America
- (Source: https://desmoinesconcours.com/exhibiting/)
VIDEO: Des Moines Concours d’Elegance – A Premier Exhibition
