Car & Music Festival Returns to Motor City

By Staff Writer September 03, 2024

Hagerty is promoting the return of an expanded, festival experience at RADwood Detroit – the ultimate ‘80s and ‘90s car and music festival – set against the backdrop of the iconic city of Detroit on Sept.14 (11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) in Hart Plaza.

RADwood, an automotive lifestyle event celebrating the ‘80s and ‘90s, blends period correct dress with the automotive awesomeness of cars, trucks and bikes from 1980-1999. Attendees wear their best ‘80s and ‘90s clothing and bring fun gear including boomboxes, rollerblades and BMX bikes. Entertainment features live musical talent including DJs from the birthplace of techno music, paying homage to the iconic American cars and unforgettable tunes that defined the spirit of the era.

“RADwood is a celebration of the cars and culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s as well as the people who created and drove it,” said Art Cervantes, co-founder and CEO of RADwood.

A special selection of Mustangs from The Henry Ford museum will energize hundreds of iconic vehicles expected on the plaza while attendees enjoy ride-and-drive opportunities behind the wheel of ‘80s and ‘90s icons, including a Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R and Autozam AZ-1.

In partnership with Michigan Central, Newlab, and the City of Detroit, Hagerty introduces its all-new community event ‘Cars at the Station,’ the first public automotive event to take place at the new tech and culture hub on Sept. 13 (3-8 p.m.) at Michigan Central.

One of the highlights of this free, community-focused event is the live access attendees, content creators, enthusiasts and media will have to news and vehicle walkarounds from numerous automotive brands.

“Cars at The Station spotlights the Motor City’s innovative future, by leveraging Michigan Central’s excitement as a unique on-ramp that brings the greater community together around car culture,” said Cervantes. “This no-cost event reinforces Hagerty’s commitment to fueling car culture and reaching all Detroiters, welcoming those new to the hobby, as well as those gearheads who never miss a gathering.” 

Cars at the Station features three main areas including exhibits, new vehicle ride-and-drives, taste of Detroit food trucks and more. Details of each area include:

In addition to panel discussions and local musical acts, the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) Awards’ “Best of 2025” vehicles will be announced on the Michigan Central Station stage.

Newlab’s innovation hub in Detroit is located on the Michigan Central campus and is focused on accelerating the commercialization of critical technologies needed for our sustainable future. The Detroit hub has attracted over 100 startups pioneering technology in mobility, energy, and materials and has deployed several pilots to test that technology in the real-world.

Event attendees will have the opportunity to get an exclusive look inside this cutting-edge innovation hub and participate in an immersive activation and panel discussion, all focused on cultivating the next generation of diverse automotive leaders – an experience proudly presented by Foxxtecca.

Outside Newlab, guests can test-drive both the latest vehicles as well as a selection of classics from Hagerty’s Learning Garage.

In addition to more than 100 cars, trucks and motorcycles of all types, the Detroit Auto Show team will host a community centric event in Roosevelt Park to include local food trucks, music and other entertainment for families to enjoy.

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Last modified on Tuesday, 10 September 2024 10:31