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Old Car Festival Returns to Greenfield Village with Antique Cars & Activities (Sept. 12-13, 2026)
The Old Car Festival is making its grand return to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, on Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Sunday, September 13, 2026. This two-day annual event features hundreds of vehicles from the 1890s through 1932, perfectly situated in a village meticulously designed for historical immersion.
For dedicated classic car collectors and motoring enthusiasts, the primary draw of this festival is the profound provenance, the period-correct presentation of each automobile, and the invaluable opportunity to closely examine surviving brass-era and pre-war machinery within a truly authentic setting. The venue itself, Greenfield Village, offers an unparalleled backdrop that elevates the experience, making every viewing a step back in time.
Most notably, this year’s festival also marks a significant milestone: the diamond anniversary celebration of America’s longest-running antique car show. Further details about the event can be found on the official event website: The Henry Ford.
Featured Cars
The 2026 event materials confirm that the Old Car Festival is built around hundreds of vehicles from the 1890s through 1932, showcasing a vast collection rather than a small field of headliners. Therefore, the appeal for car collectors lies in the impressive range, originality, and survivor quality of the vehicles on display.
The Old Car Festival features an early 1900s’ band, early 1920s’ food, and roasted peanut stand, freshly prepared grilled country cooking, and a 1900s’ themed fair with wooden carved games for the kids.
Five particularly relevant vehicle categories for collectors at this year’s festival include the Ford Model T, early brass-era cars, steam cars, electric cars, and pre-war classics through 1932. These categories form the core of the show, allowing auto fanatics to compare early engineering, period accessories, and restoration standards side by side.
For collectors seeking a detailed look at a cornerstone of the era, the Stutz example from The Henry Ford’s collection remains a valuable reference point. This particular car embodies the type of pre-war sporting machinery that driving enthusiasts actively track at this event.
Most notably, the 2026 festival also emphasizes hands-on mechanical interpretation, including a live Model T assembly demonstration and vehicle skill games. Both activities are especially beneficial for owners studying originality and mechanical layouts, providing practical insights for grease monkeys.
Other historically important marques associated with the festival’s 2026 context include Haynes-Apperson, Duesenberg, Marmon, and Studebaker. These brands are cited by The Henry Ford in connection with its Indiana automotive heritage feature for the year.
For collectors and motoring enthusiasts, this means the event transcends a mere parade of old cars; it becomes an immersive field study in early American motoring development.
Event Highlights
The Old Car Festival operates with a strong emphasis on motion rather than static displays. The main attraction is the Pass-in-Review parade, where antique vehicles move through Greenfield Village throughout the weekend.
The Old Car Festival Shows Off With Original Antique Car Demonstrations & Experiences, Antique Car Motoring Games From Car Owners, Gas Light Tours Where Everything Was Before Electricity, And Multiple Car Collectors Awards For Best Antique Car Presentations At The Car Show.
This dynamic presentation offers automobile connoisseurs a better understanding of authentic driving behavior, stance, exhaust note, and overall period correctness.
Saturday, September 12, 2026, serves as the late-day anchor, with the event remaining open until 9:00 p.m. The evening culminates with the Gaslight Parade of Cars, closing the day in a beautifully lantern-lit setting. Sunday, September 13, 2026, follows regular Greenfield Village hours and concludes with the much-anticipated awards presentation.
Special demonstrations continue to be a significant part of the program, including the live Ford Model T assembly, car games at Walnut Grove, and narrated talks on early automotive lighting. Additionally, there will be demonstrations of vehicle-side curtains.
For collectors, these specific details are what truly distinguish a general car show from a genuine historical event. The 2026 event also highlights the long-standing tradition of restored and unrestored vehicles vying for recognition.
Awards include the esteemed Popular Choice Award, the Curator’s Choice Award, and the prestigious Best-of-Show Award.
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Guest Hosts & Celebrities
The available 2026 event information does not specify a current Concours Chairman, honorary judges, or celebrity hosts for the Old Car Festival. Instead, the confirmed public-facing event details primarily focus on the cars, their owners, historians, and the interpretive programs directly linked to Greenfield Village.
Walk along Main Street filled with holiday items, food, and hot drinks. You can also ride an old Model T, carousel, or wagon pulled by horses. Step inside old houses to see how families have celebrated for years.
What is verified for 2026, however, is the presence of automotive historians, car owners, and experts who will help interpret the vehicles and their historical context. This approach keeps the tone grounded in authenticity rather than celebrity staging, which is precisely what many motoring enthusiasts desire from an antique car weekend.
The Venue
Greenfield Village is a living-history setting in Dearborn, specifically built to evoke early American life. This unique environment provides the Old Car Festival with a backdrop that modern show fields simply cannot replicate.
The 1907 Apperson “Big Dick” was built between 1907-1908. The Apperson Big Dick had 96 horsepower and cost about $15,000. Apperson put their race engine in a 50-hp Jackrabbit runabout to create the “Big Dick” The Big-Dick 96-hp racer held the record for the highest advertised horsepower vehicle in an American automobile until 1914.Image courtesy AACA Library
The village’s authentic brick streets, period structures, and detailed historical interpretation make it an ideal fit for brass-era, veteran, and pre-war cars. For collectors, this setting helps showcase authentic use, not just polished aesthetics, which is crucial when provenance and period detail are central to the experience.
Full Schedule & Ticket Pricing
- Old Car Festival — September 12-13, 2026 — Saturday open until 9:00 p.m.; Sunday regular Greenfield Village hours — Free for members or with Village admission — Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan
- General Admission — 2026 pricing published by The Henry Ford — Included with Village admission for non-members — Admission required for entry — Greenfield Village
- Member Admission — September 12-13, 2026 — Free general admission to Old Car Festival — Henry Ford members only — Greenfield Village
- Event Participation Check-In — Thursday, September 10, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.; Friday, September 11, 2026, 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 12, 2026, 7:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. — Packet pick-up and registration support — Participant registration area — The Henry Ford, Dearborn
- Gaslight Parade of Cars — Saturday, September 12, 2026 — Evening program — Included with event admission — Greenfield Village
- Awards Presentation — Sunday, September 13, 2026, approximately 4:30 p.m. — Popular Choice, Curator’s Choice, Best-of-Show — Included with event admission — Pass-in-Review stand
Schedule of Events by Day
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Saturday, September 12, 2026, begins with public admission at Greenfield Village and continues through a full day of car movement, owner conversations, skill games, and demonstrations. The day’s centerpiece is the Gaslight Parade of Cars in the evening, and the event stays open until 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Sunday, September 13, 2026, follows regular Greenfield Village hours and continues the parade-style atmosphere with historical vehicle displays, car talks, and movement through the village. The confirmed capstone is the awards presentation at approximately 4:30 p.m. at the Pass-in-Review stand.
Event Summary
Old Car Festival 2026 | Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan | Antique Car Show
