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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 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 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 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) May 3, 2025 8 - 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. Hear the roar of engines and see the shine of chrome as customs & hot rods line the Arena, making it the ultimate gearhead hangout. At 10 a.m. in the Event Center, Indianapolis 500 historian Ted Woerner presents on the topic "When Hot Rodders Invaded Indy." Admission is $20 per vehicle.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Presentation on Electric Vehicles
  • Event Date(s) Wednesday, May 7, 2025 7 - 8 p.m.
  • Event Location Lyon Township Public Library, South Lyon
  • Event Description Join Russell Doré for a presentation on electric vehicles. Their past, present, and future will be highlighted, including why electric vehicles were so popular in the past, how the internal combustion engine vehicles began to outpace them, and what the future might hold. The impact that the Detroit area has had on these vehicles and how it will continue to impact the future of the electric vehicle will also be discussed.

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 Hoods Up!
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, May 3, 2025 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Event Location R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, Lansing, MI
  • Event Description If you have ever wanted to see under the hood of any of the vehicles in the collection, you can see under the hood of all the vehicles. From the 5 hp 1901 Curved Dash Olds to a 455-cu engine found in the 1969 Hurst/Olds. Docents of the museum will be on hand to give you all the information about the vehicles you could want. Regular admission prices apply.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Car Show and SWAP Meet
  • Event Date(s) Saturday, June 14, 2025 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Event Location Auto-Owners Insurance National Headquarters, Lansing, MI
  • Event Description The R.E. Olds Chapter of the Oldsmobile Club of America hosts its 31st anniversary homecoming event in Lansing. The featured car this year will be the Oldsmobile Starfire. Special recognition gifts will be presented to the first 500 show cars and 100 vendors.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Phase Two Grand Opening Celebration
  • Event Date(s) Saturday May 17, 2025 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Event Location Pontiac Transportation Museum, Pontiac, MI
  • Event Description See the new Phase II of the Pontiac Transportation Museum for the first time! The day starts at 9 a.m. with PTM's first-ever Car Cafe, featuring coffee, cider, donuts and car talk before the Museum opens at 10. At noon, opening ceremonies for Phase II commence, followed by food trucks from 1-5 p.m., live music and special guests.’s 60th Birthday! There will be behind the scenes tours and see all your favorite cars inside and out. There will be music and special guests featured throughout the day with a special live band performance. There will be food trucks and local fare featured throughout the event and Fun for everyone.

Additional Info

  • Event Title Gilmore Car Museum Lecture Series
  • Event Date(s) Sunday, May 4, 2025 2 - 3:30 p.m.
  • Event Location Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners, MI
  • Event Description The Gilmore Car Museum continues its lecture series with a presentation about the fourth edition of the book about the history of the Gilmore Car Museum, "Miles from the Ordinary," by author David O'Lyon. Gilmore’s Lecture Series programs are free to museum members or included in Sunday admission to the Museum.