Downtown Cadillac Kicks Off “Car Show Summer” with Four Major Car Events West Michigan Tourist Association (2024)

Events includeBack to the Bricks®14th Annual Promo Tour, Bandit Run, Cadillac Freedom Festival andModel T Ford Club International67th Annual Tour

Leaning into the city’s name for Michigan explorer and Detroit founderAntoine de la Mothe Cadillac who ultimately inspired the car brand name, Cadillac is kicking off a season of four back-to-back car events this summer. They will showcase everything from classic cars, to 1970sTrans Ams, toModel Ts – and one comes to Michigan for the first time.

“This is going to be an especially exciting summer in Cadillac for car buffs as we welcome hundreds of car owners and their vehicles at four events in and around Cadillac,” saidCadillac Area Visitors Bureau (CAVB)Executive Director Kathy Morin. “If you’re at all interested in car culture and unique vehicles from either a collector or fan perspective, plan to visit Cadillac during one of these special events – one of which is coming to Michigan for the first time. And lodging is filling up fast, so book your accommodations as soon as possible!”

The Cadillac Area CVB will host the following automotive-related events in the region:

• Back to the Bricks® 14th Annual Promo Tour,June 8-9, Wexford County backroads plus car show 2-6 p.m. June 9 on Mitchell Street. Hundreds of classic car owners will stay in Cadillac June 8 and 9 as part of a six-day driving tour June 7-12 departing Flint June 7 and traveling exclusively via backroads to Michigan’s most picturesque cities. Cadillac is the second of four destinations (other stops include Jackson, Clare and Port Huron), and drivers arrive June 8 via M66 North. They will participate in a car show open to the public on Mitchell Street June 9, 2 to 6 p.m. Full event details atbacktothebricks.org/promotour; local details atcadillacmichigan.com/bttb

• NEW TO MICHIGAN–Bandit Run,June 10, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.,Cadillac Commons.Approximately 100 classic Trans Ams will roll into Cadillac for lunch Monday, June 10 at Cadillac Commons catered by After 26 Depot as part of the five-day Bandit Run June 9-13 through Michigan (with overnights in Holland, Mackinaw City and Pontiac). Coming to Michigan for the first time, this annual car event started in 2007, the 30th anniversary of the 1977 movie “Smokey and the Bandit” where Burt Reynolds drove a modified Trans Am. An added bonus – many of the classic vehicle owners participating in the Back to the Bricks Promo Tour (see above) plan to stay through lunch June 10 to see the Trans Ams, creating even more car viewing opportunities in downtown Cadillac.thebanditrun.com

• Cadillac Freedom Festival Car Show,July 6,11 a.m.- 4 p.m., downtown Cadillac along Mitchell Street. This annual festival July 4-8 features a parade, familyactivities, music, carnival and fireworks as well as this car show July 6 showcasing classic vehicles taking over main street (last year’s event drew over 100 vehicles). The second annual car show includes awards for various vehicle categories, Hot Wheels racing, door prizes, 50/50 raffle and live DJ. The full Freedom Festival schedule, including a first-time aerial drone show July 5 with100 drones to light up the night sky over Lake Cadillac, is atcadillacfreedomfestival.com.

• NEW TO CADILLAC–Model T Ford Club International67th Annual Tour,July 15-19, downtown Cadillac plus area excursions. Founded in 1952, the nonprofitModel T Ford Club International (MTFCI), withsupport from the Western Michigan MTFCI Chapter and Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau, will bring approximately 250 Model Ts to the Cadillac area where Model T owners will tour within a one-hour radius of Cadillac all week. Stops include a drive around Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell Sunday, July 14 and a car show and vintage fashion show Monday, July 15 at the Cadillac Commons that is open to the public. On Friday, July 19, the Model Ts will caravan to Reed City and the Old Rugged Cross Museum and ultimately cap off the 67th Annual Tour with a closing dinner and awards at Wexford County Fairgrounds.cadillacmichigan.com/modelt

“What drew us to the Cadillac area for our tour was the combination of the inland lakes and rolling countryside, making it perfect for Model T driving,” said Gord Koll, president of the Western Michigan Chapter of the Model T Ford Club International (host chapter) and director of the 2024 MTFCI Annual Tour. “That’s how we came up with the Tour logo ‘Great Lakes – Great Times.’ ”