The Connection

It’s almost September, but summer is still in full swing in the City of Fairfax. And what better way to celebrate Labor Day than by seeing cool cars, enjoying live music and spending some time in the sunshine with family and friends?

The 25th annual Labor Day Car Show will be held there on Monday, Sept. 2, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. It happens, rain or shine, and is jointly sponsored by the City and the Clifton Lions Club. And all the proceeds go to local charities.

Cars, trucks and motorcycles will line University Drive between Armstrong Street and Sager Avenue and will also be displayed in the Truist Bank parking lot at 4020 University Drive. University Drive in that area will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m.-3 p.m.

The show features a wide 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, as well.

Event Co-Chairmen are Lions Club Past President Bill Poole and 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. Their committee works all year ‘round planning the show.

For Greenfield, it’s a childhood dream come to life. “I’ve always been a car guy – from when I had Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars as a kid – to later on when I learned they were replicas of real cars,” he said. So he’s pleased to help bring this car show to fruition each year because of his “continued passion for cars, combined with the chance to raise money for the charities helping people in the City and in the greater Fairfax area.”

The fun includes food, music by the Eclectic Company band, vendor booths and raffles, as well as attendees judging the vehicles in a variety of categories. Even more important, though, the car show raises money for several worthy causes. Entry and parking are free, but tax-deductible donations are accepted – with proceeds mainly benefiting 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 may register vehicles to participate at www.labordaycarshow.org or outside Fire Station 3 at 4081 University Drive, the day of the event, from 6 a.m.-noon. And Boy & Girl Scout Troop 893 from Centreville will hand out programs at the show’s Sager and University entrance and will also collect donations there for the Lions Club’s charities.

“It’s great, as the day goes on, to be able to see so many families with kids and strollers and, perhaps, even grandparents there,” said Greenfield. “You hear people saying, ‘I had this car when I was young,’ or ‘Your father had a car like this one.’ And just hearing those conversations and seeing families reconnecting over the cars makes me happy.”

Weather permitting, Greenfield anticipates at least 6,500 spectators at this year’s event to view the nearly 350 vehicles on display. The festivities also include a special 11:30 a.m. 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, hamburgers and Italian sausage. The always popular Inside Scoop ice cream truck and Rita’s Italian Ice will offer refreshing treats, and the 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 24-year history, it’s raised more than $700,000 for charity. This year marks the ninth time it’s been held in Fairfax, and the organizers anticipate this year’s event will yield another $50,000. And all of 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 A Place to Eat, which supports the food pantries at all four Fairfax City schools. Greenfield hopes, as well, to donate $1,500 each to the City of Fairfax fire and police departments. 

Even the funds from the Clifton Lions Club food sales that day go to the many charities the club supports. Volunteers will also collect donations at University Drive and Armstrong Street.

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 Mayor’s, 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. 

For the second year, all the voting will be done electronically. Every car will have a QR Code in its window, and people just have to 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. 

All in all, said Greenfield, “It’s an opportunity to see lots of cars – including some not made anymore. It’s also great to be out in the community, enjoying the day – and it’s all for a good cause.”

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. For further information, go to www.labordaycarshow.org.