Last June, more than 150 cars filled Marktplatz for the 19th annual show, and the judging came down to the wire. A frame-off 1957 Chevy Bel Air took Best in Show, but the day belonged to the whole field, from a brass-era touring car to a wide-body modern build parked two spots down.
The top of the field
The Bel Air that won it all was a ground-up restoration finished over seven winters in a barn outside Stonewall. Its owner has shown at Car Fest for a decade, and this was the year it all came together. The chrome, the stance, and the engine bay were spotless.
People's Choice went to a patina'd 1965 Ford F-100 shop truck, proof that polish is not the only way to win hearts. The crowd voted with their feet, and that truck had a line in front of it all afternoon.
What carries into 2027
The 20th annual show is shaping up to be the biggest yet. If last year is any guide, register your car early, get there for load-in, and plan to stay through the awards. The trophies are real, and so is the bragging right that comes with them.