Jamie Schworer shows off her late father's 1964 Silver Cloud III Rolls Royce at the 2011 Pumpkin Run Nationals. The car has transported several celebrities including Muhammad Ali, Cyndi Lauper, Dean Martin and more.

Jamie Schworer shows off her late father's 1964 Silver Cloud III Rolls Royce at the 2011 Pumpkin Run Nationals. The car has transported several celebrities including Muhammad Ali, Cyndi Lauper, Dean Martin and more.
By Art Hunter
Editor

The Clermont County Fairgrounds will be filled to capacity the weekend of Oct. 5 – 7 with classic automobile enthusiasts, their families, and their vintage cars and trucks for the region’s premier car show.

The Pumpkin Run Nationals, the largest car show in southwest Ohio, draws an average of 3,000 vintage automobiles from the local area, the region, and from as far away as Florida and Canada.

The Pumpkin Run Nationals is the signature event of the Fastiques Rod and Custom car club, based in Owensville. But while the Pumpkin Run Nationals is the region’s largest car show, it is also a family-friendly event, with something for every member of the family.

“It’s a lot more than a car show,” Fastiques president Dan Gavey said. “It’s pretty much entertaining for the whole family. We try to provide entertainment for everyone.”

Events include a model car contest for the kids, valve cover racing for kids and adults, and a pinewood derby.

There will be live music, a dance contest and social dances, and church services will be held Sunday morning.

There will be plenty of great food, from hot dogs and hamburgers to pulled pork and much more.

Proceeds from the Pumpkin Run are always donated to charity. Each year, the club donates $50,000 to Shriners Burns Hospital for Children and makes additional contributions to other charities, such as St. Rita’s School for the Deaf and the Clermont County Homeless Shelter.

In the 36 years that the event has been held, the club has donated approximately $750,000 to Shriner’s Burns Hospital alone.

On Friday, the show car gate opens at 6:30 a.m. and the show closes at midnight. Saturday, the show car gate opens at 8 a.m. Children’s games will be held at noon. The band Blue Stone Ivory will play from 7 – 11 p.m., and the show closes at midnight. On Sunday, the show car gate opens at 8 a.m. A model car contest will be held at 9 a.m., and valve cover races will be held at 10 a.m. Hot Wheel drag races will be held at 1 p.m., and trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m.

Admission to the Pumpkin Run Nationals is also family-friendly, with adult tickets only $5 and children under 12 free. A three-day pass is only $12.

For more information, visit www.pumpkinrunnationals.com.