Get Ready: Classic Cars Thanksgiving Parade in St. Michaels

St. Michaels is a village that prides itself on its history. It is the town that fooled the British, after all and its main street is lined with colonial and Victorian houses converted into retail shops.

So it is fitting that a town so aware and proud of its history is set to open a museum that honors the past, albeit a more recent past, in the form of the Classic Motor Museum.

Located on E. Marengo Street, the site is also home to one of the oldest structures in St. Michaels—The Pinkett House—which serves as the museum’s office and welcome center.

Visitors will soon be able to stroll through the newly Amish-built barn filled with 18 to 21 classic cars that will rotate, so the collection will be updated on a regular basis. “We are looking to have pre-WWII vehicles, some post WWII, with the last third comprising of specialty cars like corvettes, mustangs—cars from the 1960s,” explains Tad duPont, the current Museum Coordinator.

Many of the cars that will be on display at the Classic Motor Museum will be rolling down Talbot Street on November 19 starting at 10:30 AM for the third annual Thanksgiving Day parade. “It will be themed like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” duPont goes on to say. Spectators are invited to visit the museum—the endpoint of the parade—to get a closer look at some of the beautifully restored vehicles.

One notable car participating in the parade is a 1920 Buick. “It was one of the first cars to cross the newly opened Bay Bridge in 1952,” says DuPont. “We are excited about having this particular car because we can tie it into our educational programs.”

These education programs are another aspect of the museum’s mission. “The barn will have a library and an educational classroom,” he goes on to say. “We are looking to hone in on the history as well as the VOTEC concept of maintenance and repair.” Their hope is to pique the interest of the youth who visit, thinking that it might lead some of them to choose the art of classic car restoration as a vocation.

In addition to developing educational programs to benefit the community they are hoping to develop a fundraising arm akin to Christmas in St. Michaels. Once they are up and running they will operate as a non-profit. “After our operating expenses are covered we will donate a portion of our revenue to other non-profits in the area like CASA, the SMASH after school reading program, the food bank, and the community pool.” DuPont says.

For those interested in learning more about the Classic Motor Museum click here to visit their website. Once there you can learn more about membership opportunities as well as upcoming events.