About This Festival
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival is a car-centered celebration held annually in Auburn, Indiana, focusing on classic American luxury automobiles from the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg marques. The 2025 festival runs from August 28 to August 30, with activities spread throughout downtown Auburn and the community, highlighting the city's rich automotive heritage.
This festival is known as the "World's Greatest Classic Car Show and Festival." The vibe is vibrant and enthusiast-driven, combining automotive history with a community festival atmosphere. Numerous car enthusiasts and collectors gather to showcase their vehicles, enjoy entertainment, food, and social activities. Accessibility is ensured, making it welcoming for all visitors.
Key activities and events during the 2025 festival include:
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Downtown Cruise-In (August 30, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.): A highly anticipated event where hundreds of classic cars line the streets of downtown Auburn around the historic courthouse. Visitors can see a wide variety of automobiles, including hot rods, muscle cars, and imports, creating a lively and nostalgic atmosphere.
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Fast & Fabulous Car Show: A display of stunning classic cars, celebrating the engineering and design of these iconic brands.
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Classic Car Parade: A procession of vintage vehicles through the downtown streets, offering spectators a chance to see cars in motion.
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Concerts and live entertainment: Music and performances add to the festive mood throughout the weekend.
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Food and Beer Tent: Various food options and a beer tent provide refreshment, supporting the social and festive environment.
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Collector Car Auctions: Two renowned collector car auctions take place, attracting collectors and enthusiasts to bid on rare and valuable cars.
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Visits to Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum: Visitors can explore this museum dedicated to the marque's history and automobiles.
The festival also hosts pre-events such as the "3rd Thursday Cruise-In," occurring monthly from May through September in downtown Auburn, keeping the community engaged year-round.
Historically, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival has been held for nearly seven decades, celebrating the legacy of the Auburn Automobile Company and its impact on automobile design and culture. The festival is organized by a not-for-profit organization focused on promoting automobile heritage and supporting related museums in northeast Indiana. It is a major regional event with a strong tradition and enthusiastic participation.
The festival's schedule in 2025 essentially centers around the three days of main events (Aug 28-30), with the Downtown Cruise-In considered one of the flagship attractions on the last day, running from mid-morning to late afternoon. Various events like car shows, parades, and auctions are scattered throughout downtown Auburn and surrounding venues, including the DeKalb County Fairgrounds and local parks.
In summary, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival offers car lovers and the general public a rich experience of automotive history, community celebration, vibrant car displays, live entertainment, food, and auctions, all set within a historically significant and picturesque Indiana town.