Classic car enthusiasts from across the Pacific Northwest will roll into Philomath City Park on Saturday for the 29th annual Philomath Classic Car Show — a free event that organizers say continues to grow while adding new touches for 2026.
The show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11 and is free for spectators.
Organizer Greg Henderson said two new judged categories were added this year — Best GM Stock and Best Mopar — after the show’s existing categories couldn’t keep up with a surge of entries from a specific era.
“We had so many of those cars in that genre — like from ’67 to ’72 — didn’t cover it enough because there’s 15 cars in the show, so we added a couple,” Henderson said.
The show is also introducing a new award, the Ed Grinstead Memorial Trophy, named for a longtime fixture at the event who died earlier this year. Grinstead’s grandson, who works at Wilson’s NAPA Auto Parts, will select the winning vehicle. Beggs Tire & Wheel purchased the trophy for the new memorial award.
“He was always at the show, a Philomath guy, lived here forever,” Henderson said.
The show features food vendors for those who want to grab lunch or enjoy refreshments. Confirmed for participation this year are 3 Potato More, Fat Kitty Teriyaki, Kona Ice and Little Heifer Coffee.
Last year’s show drew 244 registered vehicles, about a dozen more than the year before, and Henderson said this year’s numbers are tracking up as well, though the bulk of entries typically come in during the final stretch before the show.
Same-day registration is also accepted the morning of the event, and Henderson said that’s when most entries are logged. Vehicle registration costs $25 per car.
Even last year’s total undersold turnout, Henderson said, since an estimated 30 additional vehicles pulled in and parked without registering for judging.
“I think people are still recovering from COVID and still wanting to come out and do things that they didn’t get to do for a couple of years,” Henderson said when asked about the numbers from year to year.
Henderson also pointed to competition from other summer car shows pulling from the same pool of owners.
“Throw a dart on the calendar in July and you can hit three car shows,” he said. “People do a rotation, and so every year it fluctuates somewhat because of that. But we have a lot of interest this year, a lot of phone calls.”
Henderson, 57, has organized the show for more than 13 years and said a younger generation is stepping into leadership roles. Sean Olsen and Justin Fuszek have joined as liaisons, and Henderson’s wife, Amber, has taken over as secretary after learning the role from longtime organizer Jane Callahan, who retired this year.
“Jane has done it for years, so Jane is leading Amber through it and teaching her how to do it,” Henderson said.
For his own part in the show, Henderson said he was thinking about bringing three vehicles — his Model T, Model A and a 1955 pickup.
The biggest addition this year isn’t a car at all — it’s a logo. Organizers created a permanent mark for the show that will appear on trophies, memorabilia and merchandise going forward.
“We wanted to come up with a permanent logo,” Henderson said. “We will reveal it at the show … we’re trying to make something that will carry through the ages.”
Roughly 40% of entered vehicles come from the Philomath area, Henderson said, with the remaining 60% traveling in from elsewhere — some from as far away as Idaho and Washington. A trophy is awarded each year to the entrant who traveled the farthest.
“That’s pretty impressive for the little Philomath car show,” Henderson said.
Henderson points to the show’s various sponsors, seen here on the event poster, for its continued success.
The show traces its roots to 1997 when it debuted as the Marys River Rod Run, meaning next year will mark three decades. Henderson said organizers haven’t finalized plans for the milestone.
“We’re going to do something,” he said. “We’ll get through this one, and we’ll figure something out to make it meaningful.”
Car owners can find registration forms and class designation details through the Philomath Classic Car Show website.
Been attending for several years with my karmann ghia. Very well ran a pleasure to participate. Nice place to be..