The 27th annual Labor Day Car Show is slated for Monday, Sept. 7, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., in downtown Fairfax City. A wide array of cars, trucks and motorcycles will be on display along University Drive between Sager and Armstrong Streets, and in the adjacent parking lots.
It’s put on jointly by the City of Fairfax and the Clifton Lions Club, and it happens, rain or shine. The fun also includes food, live music and an awards ceremony, and all the proceeds go to charity.
Entry and parking are free, but tax-deductible donations are accepted and mainly benefit the Cloverleaf
Equine Center (formerly called the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program; see https://www.cloverleafequinecenter.org) and Inova Hospital System’s Life with Cancer www.lifewithcancer.org.
People who didn’t register their vehicles in advance may still do so the day of the event, starting at 6 a.m., at the table across the street from Fire Station 3 at 4081 University Drive. Look for the large banner.
The show features a large range of vehicles, including hot rods from the 1940s and ’50s, muscle cars like Mustangs, Corvettes and Ford GTs, and foreign cars such as Jaguars, Mercedes, Porsches and Bentleys. Trucks, antique cars from the 1920s and ’30s, plus classic, custom and brand-new cars will be on display, too, as will motorcycles.
There’ll be vendor booths and raffles, as well, plus music by the Eclectic Company band. And at 11:30 a.m. will be a special ceremony at the fire station, featuring Fairfax City’s American Legion Post 177 Color Guard, local dignitaries and the singing of the National Anthem.
Also in that area will be food and beverages for sale. Lions Club members will be grilling and selling hot dogs and hamburgers. The always popular Inside Scoop ice cream truck and Rita’s Italian Ice will offer refreshing treats, and Boy Scouts will be selling water. In addition, Kelly’s Oyster House, The Auld Shebeen, DeClieu Coffee & Sandwiches, and some other restaurants in Old Town Fairfax will be open.
Over the car show’s 26-year history, it’s raised more than $800,000 for charity. This year marks the 11th time it’s been held in Fairfax, and the organizers anticipate this year’s event will yield even more than last year’s $57,000. And all that money is given directly to the recipient charities, since this event has no administrative costs – everyone’s a volunteer.
Besides contributing to the two primary charities, car-show proceeds will also benefit American Legion Post 177, Main Street Child Development Center and Mended Little Hearts, which supports children with congenital heart defects. In addition, donations are usually given to the City of Fairfax fire and police departments, as well as to Fairfax City Schools for children in need.
Even the funds from the Clifton Lions Club food sales that day go to the many charities the club supports. Jars for cash donations will also be available at the registration table and at the Lions Club food tent.
Event Co-Chairmen are Lions Club Past President Bill Poole and former City Councilmember Jeff Greenfield, with help from Mitzi Taylor and Deanna Payne of the Fairfax City Parks and Rec Department, plus the entire Clifton Lions membership.
“We also stuffed 300 new backpacks with school supplies for Fairfax City Schools students whose parents were unable to provide them,” said Poole. “We then delivered them to the schools for distribution to these students.”
“I’ve heard more stories this year about families going into debt for school supplies,” added Greenfield. “So we’re happy to know that what we do helps kids in need in our City schools.” And that effort, as well as all the other programs funded in part by this Labor Day Car Show are made possible by the event’s sponsors, volunteers, participants and spectators.
“Over 11,000 people attended last year,” said Greenfield. “It’s now the largest charity show in the Washington Metropolitan area. So when it comes together that day, all the trials and tribulations leading up to it fade away. And the money we raise for the nonprofits helps them budget and plan for their programs during the year.”
More than 30 trophies will be awarded to the various vehicles, with most of the winners selected by the spectators viewing them. Participants will vote on the top cars, including Best of Show. There’ll also be Kids’, Ladies’ and People’s Choice trophies, one each for Best Motorcycle and Best Truck, and a Buddy Morrissette Memorial Trophy. Morrissette died in December 2016, but he helped put on this show for years.
All the voting will be done electronically. Every car will have a QR Code in its window, and people may just scan it on their phones to vote online for their favorites. The vehicle owners come from Maryland, North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and beyond to show their cars to an appreciative crowd.
“We had 424 vehicles on display last year, and we hope to get at least 15-25 more this year,” said Poole. “If we do get 450, that would be a really good return on our investment of all the hard work that goes into putting on this show.”
“Serving our community is the number-one motivation for me and for Jeff to keep doing this – and that holds true for the entire Lions Club membership,” continued Poole. “The club’s motto is ‘We Serve,’ and this car show is just one of the many projects we do that amplifies and reinforces our commitment to community service.”
He said his favorite thing about it is “the ‘mayhem’ of the day of the event – the roar of the engines and the smell of the fumes. I also like seeing everyone walking around, looking at all the vehicles and having a good time together – especially the moms, dads and kids who are there enjoying the festivities.”
As for Greenfield, he, too, loves “seeing how many families are there and hearing them talk about how grandpa used to have this particular car when he was young. That brings a smile to your face. You also see kids who’ve had Matchbox cars and then get to see the real versions of them here. This event also brings people together. No matter what differences people may have, during this stretch of time, they can just set them all aside and come have fun at a car show.”
The section of University Drive where the vehicles are displayed will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. But attendees will find lots of free parking available nearby, including in the City’s multi-level parking garage, also on University, across from the library. For further information about the event, go to www.labordaycarshow.org.
Those unable to attend the event but wishing to help by making a contribution may do so either via PayPal at https://www.labordaycarshow.org/make-a-donation or by sending a check, payable to the Clifton Lions Club, to: Clifton Lions Club, P.O. Box 41, Clifton, VA 20124.