OWENSVILLE, Ohio — The Pumpkin Run Nationals, one of the Midwest’s largest gatherings of pre-1974 cars and trucks, returns to the Clermont County Fairgrounds Oct. 2-4 for its 50th annual run, according to the Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
More than 2,500 vintage vehicles are expected to fill the fairgrounds at 1000 Locust St. over the three-day weekend, alongside more than 200 craft vendors and 300 swap meet booths, according to event organizers.
The show traces its roots to 1973, when it was founded by the Fastiques Rod & Custom Club, organizers said. It has grown over five decades into a fixture of the fall car-show circuit, drawing collectors and spectators from across the region for a weekend that pairs a classic-car swap meet with contests, live entertainment and charity fundraising.
Spectator admission is $10 per person, with children 12 and younger admitted free, according to the event’s published rules. Owners hoping to show a vehicle must pre-register it; all cars and trucks entered in the show or swap meet must be model year 1974 or older and registered in the owner’s name.
The weekend’s schedule includes a costume contest and dance competition Friday night, a charity auction and vehicle awards ceremony Saturday, and church services and a Shriners parade to close out the show Sunday, organizers said. Saturday’s lineup also includes a bean dinner for registered participants, and Sunday morning opens with coffee and doughnuts on the grounds.
Organizers said Pumpkin Run Nationals has raised more than $1.7 million for charity over its history, including more than $2 million donated to Shriners Children’s over more than 25 years. The show has also supported the Earth Angel Foundation, the Dragonfly Foundation, the Honor Flight Network and St. Rita School for the Deaf, and this year’s event partners with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program, according to organizers.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Pumpkin Run Nationals.