FRANKENMUTH, Mich. – Frankenmuth is a little Bavarian-themed community in “The Thumb” area of Michigan with a national reputation as one of the most magical winter wonderland towns in the U.S. Most road-trip warriors familiar with driving in The Mitten State – or even billboard spotters who travel up and down the I-75 corridor – have likely either been to or have seen signs for Frankenmuth, which is home to Bronner’s, “The World’s Largest Christmas Store,” as well as the mega family-style restaurants Zehnder’s and Bavarian Inn, where you can get their “World-Famous Chicken Dinners.” But for enthusiasts, this tourist town is known for its yearly Frankenmuth Auto Fest, which happens the weekend following Labor Day.

Held on the grounds of Heritage Park, the annual Frankenmuth Auto Fest draws some 2,500 unique vehicles of all makes and models. If classics and pre-1987 are your thing, then you’ll want to head in on either Friday or Saturday. If you’re more into modern vehicles, the show field opens up to all vehicles from the 2024 model year or earlier on Sunday. If you can manage to pull yourself away from the big Saturday car show, Frankenmuth offers plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment for the whole family, with specialty stores, a local brewery and even a wine-tasting shop. Friday night there’s a Big Block Party from 5-10 p.m. on Main Street, and on Saturday night the event hosts a live band under the pavilion with dancing, food and beverages. (Frankenmuth is the home of rock band Greta Van Fleet.) On Sunday, the enthusiast-chosen people’s choice awards ceremony begins at 1 p.m., where some 60 German Steins are awarded as the “trophies” and car jackets are given to the top 25 vehicles.

As he does most every year, Bill Cook – our roving Ford Performance car-show photographer and a Ford marketing retiree – attended the show this past fall and sent us this note: “Wife Mary Lynn and I headed to the 40 Annual Frankenmuth Auto Fest. We arrived at 9:15 and it was 49 degrees -- by far the coolest start in the years that I’ve attended this great show. Fortunately, we had the layers needed. It never made it to 60, but the sun popped out at times. As always, a fabulous array of vehicles, brands and friendly enthusiasts. We walked over the Holz-Brucke Wooden Bridge (over the Cass River) and had lunch at the Bavarian Inn. After lunch, we enjoyed more vehicles before heading home around 4.”
Cook said Frankenmuth is one of his favorite shows, with participants coming from across the region – including Canada, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware, plus the Lower and Upper Peninsulas of Michigan. He also noted that the event has donated nearly $2 million to numerous charities over the years. He sent us pictures of all the notable Fords that he found on display there, and we chose some of our favorites to share with you in the gallery below:

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY BILL COOK