Once a year, Auburn, Indiana turns into one of the biggest classic car destinations in the country. From Sept. 3-6, 2026, Auburn hosts the 70th annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival built entirely around the machines that once rolled off the town's assembly lines.
Not Your Typical Car Show
This isn’t your typical car show. Auburn’s ACD Fest literally celebrates its own history, where you’re not just looking at restored classics but standing in the town where many of them were created. From the 1900s through the 1930s, the Auburn Automobile Company built Auburn and Cord cars, while Duesenberg cars were produced in Indianapolis under E.L. Cord's automotive group. Duesenbergs became shorthand for luxury vehicles, with the phrase "it's a doozy" being traced back to them. When the company closed during the Great Depression, the town built its identity around its automobile legacy, restoring the original art deco showroom into what's now the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, and throwing a festival every Labor Day weekend since 1956.
What to Expect
The festival kicked off in late August with a cruise-in cookout, a 1960s-themed evening, and the Annual Garage Cruise, followed by the 51st Annual ACD Festival Hoosier Tour, a multi-day driving tour for owners of pre-war classics. But the heart of the weekend runs Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 3-6.
Thursday, Sept. 3
Ease in with a Kick-Off Luncheon and Celebration at noon, followed that evening by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Factory Meet and Greet and the Museum's benefit gala, "The '26 Royale." It's also the middle day of the 56th Annual Auburn Auction & Show, where a live auction puts real Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs, plus other collectible cars, up for bid.
Friday, Sept. 4
The day starts with a pancake and sausage breakfast and an ACD Club swap meet, then shifts into the Downtown Cruise-In.
Grab dinner and stick around for the Sundaes on Friday ice cream social, then settle in for the Cruise-In Concert, running 6-11 p.m. downtown.
If you want a taste of the era the festival celebrates, the evening's "Speakeasy 2026" event leans into 1920s style.
Saturday, Sept. 5
The day opens early with the ACD Festival Volksmarch 5K and 10K walks, followed by the Annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Car Show from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Parade of Classics rolls through downtown at 1 p.m.
Families should plan around the Kids' Zone (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), which this year includes a princess meet-and-greet with Anna, Elsa, and Moana, plus an afternoon meet-and-greet with racing driver Sarah Fisher. As evening arrives, the "Fast and Fabulous" display and concert take over (5–11 p.m.), and for those wanting a dressier night out, the Gatsby Gala Ball runs 7–11 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6
The weekend winds down with the ACD Festival Sunday Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a good way to hit up local vendors and enjoy a leisurely walk around town before calling it a weekend.
Tips If You Go
Auburn is a small town during a big event, so a little planning goes a long way:
- Arrive early for the Parade of Classics. Saturday at 1 p.m. is the festival's biggest draw, and good viewing spots along the downtown route fill up well before the parade starts.
- Park outside downtown and walk in if you can, especially Friday evening and all day Saturday. Street parking near the festival core disappears fast.
- Bring cash for swap meet vendors, the swap meet and car corral, and the Sunday Market. Not every vendor takes cards.
- Visit the museum. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is open year-round in its original art deco headquarters and is worth the visit even outside festival hours. It gives context for everything you'll see on the street.
How to Get There
Auburn sits just off I-69, about 20 minutes north of Fort Wayne, making it an easy day trip or weekend base for anyone in the region. The festival's hub is downtown near 1600 South Wayne Street.
Why You Should Go
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival isn't just for car people, though they'll certainly find plenty to love. It's a genuinely well-rounded small-town festival with auctions and swap meets for collectors, a parade and concerts for families, historic tours for enthusiasts, and a walkable downtown that makes it easy to catch a little of everything.
For the full event lineup, ticket details, and any last-minute schedule changes, check the official site at acdfestival.org.
