Only in Bucks County: Summer Antique and Classic Car Shows

  The heat of summer seems far off, but pretty soon it will be ice cream season, concert season, and car show season. 

Bucks County has an amazing amount of meets, shows and cruise nights, and the first car show to pop up for the 2016 season in Bucks County is a big one; Bristol Borough's 38th Annual Antique Auto Show on Sunday May 1st, 2016. I've enjoyed car shows since I was a kid, and I'm particularly interested in the American cars of the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Those are the cars that I gravitate to at the local shows I've been to, although of course there are also plenty of antique autos, foreign cars and sports cars at these events. 

My favorite Bucks County car show is definitely the Newtown Business Association's Antique and Classic Car Show, which is scheduled for July 10th this year. You can't tell by my photos, but it is always extremely hot that day...

The Doylestown At Dusk Car Show is a really fun show that doesn't really begin til twilight.

 It is planned for July 16, 2016 from 5-10 pm. 

The very popular two-day New Hope Auto Show will take place on August 13th and 14th.

As I said, I'm a sucker for the big old American cars of the 60's and 70's. Nostalgia I guess. 

I love how the interiors are symbolic to the technology and design of an earlier time. 

Look at that price! 

Does anybody remember steering wheels like this?

At a small car show this Fall, I found my first car, a 1976 Pontiac Trans Am with a 400 horsepower engine. Definitely the favorite car I've owned!

The interior was almost identical to the one I owned, I still remember the feel of its small, thick steering wheel.

I love the chrome on these older cars!

And I love the fenders.

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Loving the lines. Look at those fenders!

If you can't wait for the summer shows for your fill of classic and antique autos, many of our towns have already kicked off their Cruise Nights in April. Here's a terrific list assembled by Movin' on Kruzers Car Club.

                          

 

Click here to see a gallery of my photos on Bucks Happening's website from the 2016 show!

1959 Mercury -  Can you imagine getting picked up for a first date in this?

"My grandmother was probably the first person who I thought was beautiful. 

She was incredibly stylish; she had big hair and big, big cars."

~ Tom Ford, American Fashion Designer

Only in Bucks County: Monster Pumpkin Madness

   For me, Fall means choosing a ten to fifteen pound pumpkin and setting it out by the front door-- perhaps with a few mum plants and a festive wreath. For others, Fall is harvest time for the giant pumpkins they have been growing since the first day of Spring. And I don't mean the occasional fifty-pounder that every kid wants to bring home from the local pumpkin patch... some of these puppies weigh close to 1,000 pounds!

Last weekend I attended Monster Pumpkin Madness at Delaware Valley University's farm market. The Market at Del Val is an official weigh station for the Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth, which promotes the hobby of growing giant pumpkins and recognizes growers for their achievement.

Competitors from all over the area brought their prize pumpkins to compete in a weigh-off, and in other categories. We got to see the giant pumpkins up close, and had the opportunity to chat with a few of the growers. 

 

 

 

 

 

The heaviest pumpkin I saw at the weigh in was 952 pounds. Each one had to be carefully forklifted  and placed on the oversized scale, which took time and effort. The Market's manager, Rob Arcidiaonco confirmed that the heaviest pumpkin, which was weighed after I left, weighed in excess of 1,500 pounds! I was also informed by David Fleming, co-owner of The Market at Del Val, that there were state records set that day as well, for New Jersey and Delaware. 

So... the largest grown pumpkin in each of those states was at this interesting event!

 

Here are some photos of Shane Miller's 805 lb pumpkin being moved then weighed,

 from start to finish:

 

 

 

Congratulations Shane!!

 

Giant pumpkin growing isn't just for farmers or experienced growers! These two grew a giant pumpkin too. Their 600 pounder will be donated to a farm near their New Jersey home to help feed the pigs.

Apparently, pigs LOVE pumpkin!

 

John Schevet's 818 pounder!

 

                             Congratulations John!

 

 

The Market at Del Val U offers Fall fun every weekend and of course we enjoyed that along with seeing all of the oversized pumpkins. The highlight of my day was wandering through the giant corn maze right next to the market! Others enjoyed wagon rides through the apple orchards and the animal education tent. It was an afternoon that I think any couple or family would enjoy. Click here for The Market's Fall Fun schedule for the remainder of the season.

  

 

The highly coveted first place trophy

 

"As a spiritual person, nature for me has always been a healing place."

~David Mixner