By Kristin Rover
Sun staff
It may not have been the ideal weekend for Pumpkin Run Nationals in Owensville, but the annual car show still drew more than 2,500 entries and even more car enthusiasts out to the Clermont County Fairgrounds this year.
Tanya Beaumont, public relations manager for Fastiques Rod and Custom, the club that hosts the show, said this year compared to previous years.
“I am glad Sunday turned out the way it did as far as foot traffic,” Beaumont said. “I know we did really well on Sunday.”
Beaumont said they had 2,600 registered cars at the show.
The show requires cars to be from 1970 or older.
“I just love it,” Ken Papner, of Western Hills, said about Pumpkin Run. “I go to a lot of car shows. This is a good one because there are a lot of cars. Some you have never seen before.”
Ron Clark, of Withamsville, also enjoyed the variety of cars.
“The cars are beautiful,” Clark said. “Works of art.”
Mike Stacy, of Bethel, said he enjoys coming to the show because of the cars and also the people.
“You get to see people you haven’t seen for years,” Stacy said.
In addition to the cars displayed throughout the fairgrounds, there is a large swap meet and vendors selling a variety of products for car enthusiasts.
The event also includes dinner, live music, contests, awards, and more.
Fastiques Rod and Custom, a club based in the Cincinnati area, hosts Pumpkin Run Nationals each year and donates proceeds from the show to Shriner’s Burn Hospital for Children, as well as other local charities including Angel Foundation, and The Hillbilly Clan.
The club has donated more than $850,000 to Shriner’s to date.
“We want to be able to donate $50,000 each year,” Beaumont said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do that for the last several years.”
For more information about Pumpkin Run Nationals, visit www.pumpkinrunnationals.com.