Something I’ve noticed over the years is that Mother’s Day tends to have a ton of great big events around it. Brunch is a huge way to celebrate, but I haven’t really seen that same equivalent for Father’s Day.
Here at J. Leigh Events, we love our dads (and our moms too, of course), and we’ve noticed dads tend to love old, classic cars. A few years ago I put these things together and planned a car show for the church I worked before J. Leigh Events for as their large Father’s Day event.
I know what you’re thinking: C’mon, Jennifer. There’s no way I can pull off a car show.
Yes, I promise you can! It’s surprisingly easier than you might expect, and even if it’s a small get together, it’s something a little extra you can do for your dad, grandpa or father figure on their special day.
Seriously, you don’t need hundreds of classic cars to make this a fun event. When I planned the car shows we’d typically only have 8-12 cars and motorcycles to show off, but still around 600 people would come. It was a blast.
Finding the cars is perhaps the most daunting part of the whole event, but it’s actually simple if you’re okay with asking for help. Reach out to different people in the car show community (Google is your BFF here) and ask them if they’re interested in participating. Also, print out flyers about the car show you are hosting, go to a car show and hand them out.
Try putting it out into your network, too. You never know who of your friends or your friends’ friends might have a classic car or motorcycle they’re just looking for excuses to show off. To help encourage people with nice cars and motorcycles to come out, we also had a small prize for the best car.
I think this is a great type of event if you’re going to do it for a wider group of dads versus just doing it for yours. Obviously, you can make it intimate and have just your family there, but why not open it up to your friends and extended family to make it a ton of fun for everyone? Chances are, inviting others will help you find more cars to participate as they ask their friends to show up with nice cars.
The more the merrier for this type of Father’s Day celebration. Even though I know nothing about cars, I love looking at classic ones. Really, who doesn’t? Personally, I’m a big fan of ‘66 Camaros, old school Cadillacs and the 1973 Porsche’s. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic Mustang.
The cars are absolutely gorgeous, and it’s fun to hear about the work that goes into maintaining them.
We also had a couple of recliners around the car show for dads with the youngest kids or most kids to sit down and relax. We served root beer and moon pies (one of the best combos ever). It was truly a blast for everyone.
If you’ve got the right kind of moxie to put into organizing this type of event and have others participate, it’s a great, unique way to celebrate your father figure!
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