Summerfest Car Show 2026: Classic Rides on Historic Grounds

A free afternoon of classic cars, live music, and BBQ at Sharon Museum & Gardens

📍 Get Directions Official Event Page

Classic cars, hot rods, and community pride roll onto the historic grounds of Sharon Museum & Gardens for a free afternoon of live music, food trucks, raffles, and a good old-fashioned BBQ — with every $10 show-car donation going right back to preserving one of Ontario’s most beautiful heritage sites.

🚗 Classic cars & hot rods 🎶 Live music & performances 🍔 BBQ & food trucks 🎟 50/50 & prize raffles

💡 Presented in partnership with the Highway 11 Cruisers Car Club — a chance to admire a proper lineup of rides in a genuinely photogenic setting under the Sharon Temple.

Why Go What’s On For Show Cars The Setting Getting There Tips FAQ

✨ Why This Show Is Worth the Drive

Most car shows happen in parking lots and fairgrounds. Summerfest happens on the lawns of Sharon Museum & Gardens — the historic grounds of the Sharon Temple, a National Historic Site — with a nineteenth-century timber-frame temple looming behind rows of chrome, whitewalls, and freshly waxed hoods. The setting alone earns the drive from Newmarket, Aurora, Barrie, or the north end of the GTA.

The show has become a Sunday tradition run in partnership with the Highway 11 Cruisers, a serious local car club that turns out with a strong lineup of classic cars and hot rods. Admission is free for spectators, so you can wander the rows, chat with proud owners, and stay as long as you like without buying a ticket.

And unlike a lot of “free” events, the money genuinely goes to a good cause. Every $10 show-car donation supports Sharon Museum and Gardens — a small non-profit museum society preserving one of the most architecturally significant heritage sites in Ontario. It’s a lovely piece of alignment: classic cars raising money to protect a classic building.

🚗 What’s On the Day

Four hours (11 am to 3 pm) is just about right for a proper Sunday show — long enough to see everything, short enough that you’re not still there when the coffee wears off.

🔧 Bringing a Show Car

If you’re rolling in with a car of your own, the setup is refreshingly simple.

Donation: $10 per show car, cash on the day. Every dollar goes to Sharon Museum and Gardens.

Eligibility: Classic cars, hot rods, and community pride rides are all welcome — no strict categories.

Info from the club: For registration questions and additional details, the show’s presenting partner is the Highway 11 Cruisers Car Club.

🏛 A Word on the Setting

Sharon Museum and Gardens is built around the Sharon Temple — a striking three-storey timber-frame building constructed by master carpenters Ebenezer and John Doan between 1825 and 1832 for the Children of Peace, a Quaker offshoot led by David Willson. It was inspired by biblical descriptions of Solomon’s Temple, and today it’s one of the most unusual and beautiful heritage buildings in Ontario.

Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990, the property also includes David Willson’s Study, a nineteenth-century cookhouse, the Ebenezer Doan house, a drive shed, and thoughtfully kept gardens across the roughly 1.8-hectare site.

Bring a camera. Classic chrome against the white temple is a genuinely great shot.

🚗 Getting There

Sharon Museum & Gardens is at 18974 Leslie Street in the village of Sharon, in the Town of East Gwillimbury just north of Newmarket. It’s an easy Sunday drive from anywhere in York Region and a straightforward run up from the GTA.

From the GTA: Highway 404 north to the Green Lane exit, west to Leslie Street, and then north into Sharon — the museum is on your left.

By GO Transit: East Gwillimbury GO Station on the Barrie line is the closest station, with a short drive or rideshare over to Sharon.

Parking: On-site parking is limited given the number of show cars — plan to follow the on-day signage and volunteer directions.

💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

💵 Bring cash. The $10 show-car donation, BBQ, food trucks, and raffle tickets all run smoother with a bit of cash on hand.

☀️ Bring sun cover. Much of the show is out on open grounds — a hat and sunscreen are worth throwing in the car.

📷 Do a lap for photos. The temple backdrop is unique — walk once for the cars, once for the shots.

🕚 Come early if you’re showing. Doors open at 11 am for the public — arrive earlier if you’re placing a car, and get set up before the crowd rolls in.

🏛 Peek inside the temple. While you’re on-site, take a few minutes to look at the museum’s heritage buildings — the temple’s interior is worth every step.

Thanks to the Sponsors 🙏

Summerfest Car Show is made possible with support from sponsors Global Pet Foods and ATV Farms, along with everyone who brings a car, buys a raffle ticket, or stops by for a BBQ. Every dollar raised helps Sharon Museum and Gardens preserve local history and keep community events running.

❓ Common Questions