2026 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival: Complete Event Guide to Classic Cars, Auctions, Parades & More in Auburn, Indiana

Every September, Auburn, Indiana becomes a destination for classic car enthusiasts, collectors, families, history lovers and visitors from around the world during the annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival.

The 2026 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival brings together an incredible lineup of events throughout Auburn and Northeast Indiana, celebrating the automotive history and heritage that helped put Auburn on the map. From classic car shows and the famous Downtown Cruise-In to automotive auctions, swap meets, museum events, tours, live music, family activities and the spectacular Parade of Classics, there is something happening throughout the festival for nearly every interest.

The 2026 festival runs through September 1–6, 2026, with several special pre-festival events beginning August 28.

Whether you’re traveling to Auburn specifically for the cars or looking for a fun weekend getaway in Northeast Indiana, this complete 2026 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival event guide can help you plan your visit.

What Is the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival?

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival is one of the Midwest’s premier celebrations of classic automobiles and automotive history. The festival honors the legacy of Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg, three iconic American automobile brands closely connected to Auburn, Indiana.

Each year, thousands of visitors come to Auburn to experience collector cars, historic automobiles, automotive memorabilia, auctions, parades, tours and community events.

Among the festival’s most popular attractions are the Downtown Auburn Cruise-In, Parade of Classics, Hoosier Tour, Fall Swap Meet and Car Corral, Auburn auctions, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum events and numerous community celebrations.

There are also plenty of activities for visitors who aren’t die-hard car enthusiasts, including food, live entertainment, children’s activities, shopping and special events throughout downtown Auburn.

2026 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival Schedule

The 2026 schedule includes events beginning Friday, August 28, and continuing through Sunday, September 6.

Pre-Festival Events

Friday, August 28

Gearing Up for Festival Cruise-In and Cookout
📅 August 28
⏰ 5–8 PM

Kick off festival season with the Gearing Up for Festival Cruise-In and Cookout.

Saturday, August 29

Cheers to the Festival: 1960s Style!
📅 August 29
⏰ 6–9 PM

Celebrate the upcoming festival with a 1960s-inspired evening.

Sunday, August 30

Annual Garage Cruise
📅 August 30
⏰ 10 AM–4 PM

Explore Auburn’s automotive culture during the Annual Garage Cruise.

Tuesday, September 1

ACD Festival Hoosier Tour Steam Train Experience

📅 September 1
⏰ 10 AM–12:30 PM
📸 Auto staging begins at 9 AM for photos

Experience a unique combination of classic automobiles and railroad history during the ACD Festival Hoosier Tour Steam Train Experience.

51st Annual ACD Festival Hoosier Tour

📅 September 1–3
🚗 Official departure: 8:30 AM on September 2

The annual Hoosier Tour gives participants an opportunity to take their historic automobiles on the road while exploring the surrounding region.

Wednesday, September 2

Fall Swap Meet and Car Corral — Vendor Setup

📅 September 2
⏰ 9 AM–5 PM

One of the festival’s must-see destinations for automotive collectors, restorers and enthusiasts.

The 56th Annual Auburn Auction & Show — Preview

📅 September 2
⏰ 9 AM–6 PM

Get an early look at the vehicles and collectibles featured in the 56th Annual Auburn Auction & Show.

Thursday, September 3

Thursday officially kicks the main festival weekend into high gear with auctions, museum activities, celebrations and special events.

The 56th Annual Auburn Auction & Show — Live Auction

📅 September 3–5
⏰ 9 AM–6 PM
🔨 Auction begins at 11 AM
⭐ Main event: September 5, beginning around 5 PM

The Auburn Auction is one of the major attractions of the festival, bringing collectors and automotive enthusiasts together for an exciting showcase of historic and collectible automobiles.

ACDA Museum Archives Open House

📍 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
1600 S. Wayne Street, Auburn, IN 46706

📅 September 3–6
⏰ Thursday: 9 AM–2 PM
⏰ Friday: 9 AM–4 PM
⏰ Saturday: 9 AM–4 PM
⏰ Sunday: By appointment

Explore the archives and learn more about the history surrounding Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg automobiles.

Kick-Off Luncheon and Celebration

📅 Thursday, September 3
⏰ 12 PM

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Factory Meet and Greet

📅 Thursday, September 3
⏰ Lodge opens at 2:30 PM
⏰ Outdoor event: 6–11 PM

The ’26 Royale

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum Annual Benefit & Celebration

📅 Thursday, September 3
⏰ 6–9 PM

Celebrate Auburn’s automotive heritage at this special annual museum event.

Fall Swap Meet and Car Corral

📅 September 3–5
⏰ 9 AM–5 PM

Browse automotive parts, memorabilia, collectibles and more during the festival’s Fall Swap Meet and Car Corral.

Friday, September 4

Friday is one of the biggest days of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, with classic cars filling downtown Auburn.

Pancake and Sausage Breakfast

📅 September 4
⏰ 7–10 AM

Start your festival day with a traditional pancake and sausage breakfast.

ACD Club Swap Meet

📅 September 4
⏰ 7 AM–12 PM

Find automotive parts, memorabilia, collectibles and items of interest to classic car enthusiasts.

Downtown Auburn Cruise-In

📅 Friday, September 4

🚗 Vehicle parking and registration begins at 10 AM.

Registration and vehicle access are available at the north gate at 4th and Main Street and the south gate at 11th and Main Street.

The Downtown Cruise-In is one of the signature experiences of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, bringing an incredible collection of classic, collector and specialty automobiles into downtown Auburn.

Auburn Auto Art Show — CANCELLED

📅 September 4
⏰ 12–6 PM

This event has been cancelled.

Speakeasy 2026

📅 September 4
⏰ Lodge opens at 2:30 PM
🍽️ Food served beginning at 5 PM

Sundaes on Friday Ice Cream Social

📅 September 4
⏰ 5–7 PM

Take a break from exploring the festival with an old-fashioned ice cream social.

Cruise-In Concert

📅 September 4
🎵 Live music: 6–11 PM

Enjoy live entertainment as the Downtown Cruise-In continues into the evening.

Ham Radio Special Event Station

📅 September 4–5
⏰ 9 AM–5 PM

Cruise-In Cuisine

📅 September 4–5
🍴 Begins at noon

Grab something to eat while enjoying the festival’s classic cars, entertainment and activities.

Official Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival Downtown Bar

📅 September 4–5
⏰ Opens at 5 PM on September 4
⏰ Opens at 9 AM on September 5

Saturday, September 5

Saturday is the centerpiece of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, featuring classic car shows, the Parade of Classics, family activities, special guests, live music and evening celebrations.

ACD Festival Volksmarch 5K & 10K Walks

📅 September 5
⏰ Start between 8–11 AM
🏁 Must finish by 2 PM

Take part in the ACD Festival Volksmarch 5K or 10K walk through Auburn.

Annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Car Show

📅 September 5
⏰ 7 AM–1 PM

See an impressive collection of Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg automobiles during the annual club car show.

Kids’ Zone

📅 September 5
⏰ 9 AM–2 PM

Families can enjoy kid-friendly activities during the festival’s Kids’ Zone.

Princess Meet & Greet

📅 September 5
⏰ 10–11 AM

Meet Anna, Elsa and Moana during this special family-friendly appearance.

Connecting Rods Lunch

📅 September 5
⏰ 11 AM

Pre-Parade Entertainment

📅 September 5
⏰ 11 AM

Get ready for one of the festival’s most anticipated traditions with entertainment before the Parade of Classics.

Parade of Classics

📅 Saturday, September 5
⏰ 1 PM

The Parade of Classics is one of the signature events of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival.

Classic and historic automobiles take to the streets of Auburn, creating an unforgettable spectacle for automotive enthusiasts and families alike.

If you’re visiting Auburn during festival weekend, the Parade of Classics is an event you won’t want to miss.

Meet & Greet with Sarah Fisher

📅 September 5
⏰ 2:30–4 PM

Meet racing personality Sarah Fisher during this special festival appearance.

Music by DJ Dylan Youmans

📅 September 5
⏰ 2–5 PM

Ticket to Ride

📅 September 5
⏰ 4–5 PM

Fast and Fabulous Powered by SweetCars

📅 September 5
🚗 Cars arrive downtown: 5–5:30 PM
🚗 Cars displayed: 5:30–7:30 PM

Experience a showcase of impressive performance and collector automobiles during Fast and Fabulous.

Fast and Fabulous Concert

📅 September 5
🎵 Live music: 6–11 PM

Continue the celebration into the evening with live music downtown.

The Gatsby Gala Ball

📅 September 5
⏰ 7–11 PM

Dress up and enjoy an elegant evening during the Gatsby Gala Ball.

Sunday, September 6

ACD Festival Sunday Market

📅 Sunday, September 6
⏰ 10 AM–2 PM

Wrap up the 2026 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival with the Sunday Market.

It’s a great opportunity to browse, shop and enjoy one final festival experience before the weekend comes to a close.

Plan Your Visit to Auburn, Indiana

With so many events taking place across several days, visitors can easily build an entire weekend—or longer—around the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival.

If you’re coming from outside the area, consider spending several days exploring Auburn and Northeast Indiana. In addition to the festival, the region offers museums, restaurants, shopping, historic attractions, outdoor recreation and other automotive destinations.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is an especially important stop for anyone interested in the history of Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg automobiles.

Why You Should Visit the 2026 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival

Whether you’re a lifelong classic car collector or simply looking for something fun to do in Northeast Indiana, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival offers an experience unlike most events in the Midwest.

Visitors can:

🚗 See hundreds of classic and collector automobiles
🏁 Watch the Parade of Classics
🔨 Attend major automotive auctions
🛠️ Shop the Fall Swap Meet and Car Corral
🏛️ Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
🚂 Experience the Hoosier Tour Steam Train Experience
🎵 Enjoy live music and entertainment
🍦 Attend family-friendly activities
👑 Meet Anna, Elsa and Moana
🏎️ Meet Sarah Fisher
🛍️ Shop the Sunday Market
🍔 Enjoy festival food and local cuisine
📸 Photograph incredible historic automobiles throughout Auburn

Experience One of America’s Great Automotive Festivals

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival is more than a classic car show. It is a celebration of American automotive history, Auburn’s heritage and the people who continue to preserve these legendary automobiles.

From the first pre-festival cruise-in on August 28 through the Sunday Market on September 6, the 2026 festival offers days of cars, history, entertainment, food, shopping and family fun.

If you’re planning to visit Auburn, Indiana, for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, start planning now and use this guide to build your festival itinerary.

Mark your calendar for September 1–6, 2026, and get ready to experience one of Indiana’s most celebrated classic car events.