America’s love affair with all things automotive finds its full expression with Highlands Motoring Festival, set for June 12-15.
Voted Best Concours by Classic Motorsports Magazine in 2019, it’s one of the South’s most esteemed automotive events.
The festivities kick off on Thursday and continue with full throttle excitement until Sunday. Highlights of the weekend are four exhilarating driving tours, designated as technical rallies designed to give drivers a chance to experience the mountains, and the Friday evening’s Main Street Parade, which historically includes 100 mostly antique and show cars.
Packed into the weekend fundraising event to benefit Literacy and Learning Center of Highlands, REACH of Macon County, and the Community Care Clinic of Highlands and Cashiers is everything from a car show to motoring opportunities to silent and live auctions.
The event attracts local residents and visitors alike; in fact, the Motoring Festival is on the radar of automobile aficionados from throughout the United States and even from other countries.
Participants will find One Lap of the Mountains Driving Events – an exhilerating tour of the winding, scenic roads of Western North Carolina mountains. There’ll be two tour groups daily, with a longer, more spirited drive on Thursday and the shorter, more casual paced drive on Friday.
The centerpiece event of the festival is Saturday’s concours level judged showing of invited classics – Classics in the Park Invitational. The 2025 featured theme is “The Cars of Enzo Ferrari.” This event is free for both spectators and participants, but donations are appreciated.
During Saturday evening’s Motoring Gala, ticket holders can dine with old and new friends at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club. They’ll be treated to tales of classic automobiles from the festival’s Grand Marshall, Corky Coker. The evening will also include silent and live auctions.
Here’s the complete weekend schedule:
Thursday, June 12
“One Lap of the Mountains Grande Driving Tour; 8:15 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Friday, June 13
One Lap of the Mountains Speciale Driving Tour; 8:15 A.M. to 4:15 P.M.
Main Street Parade of Classic Cars; 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Saturday, June 14
Classics in the Park Judged Car Show in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park;
9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Motoring Gala at Wildcat Cliffs
Country Club; 6:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Sunday, June 15, 2025
High Octane Social and Car Gathering in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park;
8:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
For full details, visit HighlandsMotoringFestival.com.
Favorites Count: 0