You can almost smell the exhaust.
Hear the sound of a perfectly tuned engine as it revs up first thing in the morning.
Feel the grip of the tires as they hug a sun-soaked mountain road.
It’s that time of year once again as the Highlands Motoring Festival gets set to kick off its 2024 festivities. The four-day tour de force of automotive excellence begins today and runs through Sunday at locations all around Highlands.
What started as an idea between a few automotive enthusiasts has grown into one of, if not the premiere, car-focused event in the region.
The festival will begin with “One lap of the Mountains” driving tours today. Friday will feature more planned route driving tours in the morning, followed by the annual “Main Street Parade” of classic cars at 6 p.m. Grab a chair and pick out a spot on Main between 1st and 5th Streets to get a great view of some one-of-a-kind collector cars. The theme for the 2024 festival is “Pre-WWII Classics” and there is certain to be several vehicles making a once in a lifetime stop in Highlands.
The coup de gras of the event is Saturday when the public will get a chance to see all of the cars and meet many of their owners during the “Cars in the Park” showcase from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
The Car in the Park showcase is free to the public, but donations to the charities the Motoring Festival supports are encouraged. All proceeds of the various festival events go to the festival’s charity partners, the Literacy and Learning Center, REACH of Macon County, and the Community Care Clinic of Highlands and Cashiers.
The Motoring Festival wraps up on Sunday with the “High Octane” gathering at Founders Park. High Octane is a more casual car show with no judging or prizes.
Since its inception, the Highlands Motoring Festival has become one of the summer’s premiere events in town. Let’s get out and show our support for some worthy nonprofits while taking in the sights and sounds of some of the finest vehicles in the world.