By Paula Pyzik Scott

The 57th annual Bluffton Festival of Wheels presented by the Bluffton Lions Club will take place on Friday, July 13 with parts of downtown Bluffton closed to traffic beginning at 1:00 p.m. (rain or shine). The show ends with a cruise down S. Main St. at 8:00 p.m. See the attached poster and details below for the full schedule of events.

Registration for Antique Cars, Classic Cars, Trucks, Tractors, Fire Engines and Motorcycles begins at 1:00 p.m. Dash plaques will be provided to the first 280 registered; the fee is $12.00.

The event will include a DJ, food trucks and 50/50 Raffle.

Organizer Dan Groman explains that Bluffton’s car show tradition began in 1957 when it was originated by the Bluffton Businessmen’s Association. In those days, originality and perfection were key to participation, with upwards of 400 cars on display.

Over the years, the car show’s size and location have varied. For a couple of years, a planes, trains and automobiles show was held at the Bluffton Airport. John’s Body Shop also hosted the car show for a while. At one point the show attracted fewer than 100 cars. 

Groman explains that car enthusiast interests and the Festival of Wheels emphasis has changed. Owners will now put air conditioning and a modern stereo in a car that would have never featured these comforts. You will find authentic vintage perfection right next to an entry with exuberant, one-of-a -kind modifications.

Festival of Wheels entry numbers are coming up every year. Groman notes that in 2024, there were 280 vehicles including cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors. 

This year there will be plenty of room for vehicles with downtown Main St. and portions of Church, Elm and Vine streets devoted to entry parking.

Groman will bring several vehicles to the show: a 1935 Chevy Phaeton–one of five in the United States and a former border patrol car in Texas, a 1954 Chevy that has been in show since 1976, a 1954 Chevy 2 ton cab over engine fire truck that comes from the Lima Sohio refinery and a 1966 pontiac lemans convertible. 

Sponsors are another reason the Festival of Wheels continues to thrive. Groman emphasizes that they are very beneficial–and you can still make contributions.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Main Street opens for parking at 1:00 p.m.

Registration 1:00-5:00p.m.

Judging of cars begins at 5:00 p.m.

Top 25 plus Special Trophies awarded at 7:30 p.m.

Cruise down South Main Street begins at 8:00 p.m.

All vehicles must be parallel parked after 8:00 p.m.

2025 Major Sponsors