Owen Sound’s River District will once again be filled with the sights and sounds of classic, quirky, and collectible cars as the community welcomes back Cars & Coffee, the Concours d’Lemons, and Automotive Seminars on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
The day will begin with Cars & Coffee, running from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on 2nd Avenue East between 7th and 10th Streets East. The event features a diverse collection of vehicles 25 years and older, brought out by proud owners eager to showcase their prized automobiles. Visitors can admire the cars, enjoy a coffee, and share in the spirit of automotive enthusiasm. Among the featured vehicles will be the Owen Sound Fire Department #1, a 1923 American LaFrance fire engine that was the first motorized fire pumper in Owen Sound and Grey County. The historic vehicle was restored over 15 years by volunteers working with Grey Roots Museum.
Later in the morning, the Concours d’Lemons will roll onto 1st Avenue West between 8th and 9th Streets West. From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the event will celebrate the oddball, mundane, and truly wacky corners of automotive history. The Concours d’Lemons is presented in partnership with Hagerty and is part of the weekend-long Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which takes place the following day.
The Historic Roxy Theatre will also play host to two free Automotive Seminars starting at 1 p.m. The sessions include “From Grit to Gigabytes: The Early and Digital Eras of F1” and “Presenting the all-new Porsche Experience Centre Toronto.” While the seminars are free, registration is required due to limited seating.
To add to the fun, contests for business window displays and automotive people’s choice awards will be held throughout the day. Several River District stores will also offer sidewalk shopping, creating an opportunity to support local businesses while enjoying the events.
For those in Owen Sound on Friday, the Tour d’Elegance parade will give residents an early glimpse of the weekend’s cars. The parade will leave Cobble Beach and head south into the city, arriving on 2nd Avenue East at approximately 10:45 a.m. before continuing toward Springmount.
Mayor Ian Boddy said the weekend has become a highlight for the community. “We’re thrilled to once again be part of Canada’s Premier Motoring Festival! From the fun at the Concours d’Lemons and Cars & Coffee on the streets of Owen Sound and the stories shared at the Roxy Theatre on Saturday, and to the amazing creativity and character of automobiles at the Concours d’Elegance at Cobble Beach on Sunday, this weekend is always a highlight for every car enthusiast,” he said.
To accommodate the events, road closures will be in place on Saturday. 2nd Avenue East between 7th and 10th Streets East will be closed from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for Cars & Coffee, while 1st Avenue West between 8th and 9th Streets West will be closed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Concours d’Lemons. All through intersections will remain open, and businesses in the River District will continue to be accessible.