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Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville, Georgia will host The Connection Car Show on September 12, 2026, a rain-or-shine event that stands as the museum's largest annual fundraiser. Proceeds support the growth of the permanent collection, rotating exhibitions, and the museum's educational programs. Organizers set aside 350 spots for show cars this year, and general registration sold out before the August 28 deadline, reflecting the growing pull of grassroots car culture events that also benefit museums, much like the collector activity Motorious has tracked at other institutions.
Registration for the show, which excludes motorcycles, opened to museum members on July 1 and to the general public on July 15. General admission attendees can register a vehicle for $30, which includes one ticket to the museum, while several membership tiers include complimentary or discounted registration. Sponsorship opportunities remain open through the museum's development office.
The weekend kicks off a day early with the museum's Annual Car Cruise on Friday, September 11. Up to 50 vehicles will depart Savoy Automobile Museum at 8:00 a.m. for a 98.5-mile drive through northwest Georgia, ending at the International Towing Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Cruise registration runs from $50 to $100 per person depending on membership level and includes breakfast, a guided tour, and a commemorative T-shirt.
On show day, the grounds open at 9:00 a.m. and all registered vehicles must be in place by 10:00 a.m. Judging and raffle sales continue until 2:00 p.m., with the show wrapping up at 3:00 p.m. alongside the awards ceremony, where the Savoy's Choice winner takes home a crystal trophy and 20 People's Choice winners receive insulated coolers. Spectator admission doubles as museum entry, covering five current exhibitions plus a 50/50 raffle, food trucks, and kids' activities including a model-car build hosted by the Atlanta Car Model Enthusiasts club.
Savoy joins a growing list of automobile museums leaning on car shows and cruises to fund their collections, a model also used by the Petersen Automotive Museum, the Audrain Automobile Museum, the National Automobile Museum, and the Saratoga Automobile Museum. It also adds to the momentum of Georgia's car culture, home to collectors and finds Motorious has covered from the Blue Ridge mountains to the legacy of noted Georgia collector George Bugg. Full ticketing and registration details are available on the Savoy Automobile Museum website.
