Highlights: 13th Annual Middletown, Va. Car, Truck and Tractor Show

By Dan McDermott | Photos and Videos by Dan McDermott except where otherwise noted
7:20 pm EDT August 30, 2023

MIDDLETOWN, Va.—The sun shone over Main Street Saturday, Aug. 19 on almost 300 vehicles, some over a century old–all looking their best.

It was the 13th Annual Middletown Car, Truck & Tractor Show sponsored by City National Bank.

The event has no greater proponent than the Mayor of Middletown, Charles H. Harbaugh, IV. He had two entries in the show today. One was a 1947 Farmall H Tractor originally purchased by his grandfather Charles Harbaugh, Jr.

“We raised $4,000 for the July 4th Celebration. We are very thankful for City National Bank and Thomas A. Lash, Esquire for sponsoring the event and so appreciative of our wonderful volunteers and all the participants,” Harbaugh said in a followup email.

The Mayor’s Choice was picked this year by 1982 NFL MVP and Super Bowl Champion of the Washington Redskins Mark Moseley. He chose James Dolly Jr.’s 1950 Chevy pickup truck that reminded him of his childhood on a Texas farm, according to Mayor Harbaugh.

Middletown’s car show is believed to be the largest in the region. Special license plates are sold from a tent on Main Street, local businesses stay open extended hours with some offering participants discounts. Blue Ridge Baking Company handed out free ginger cookies. (This writer can attest that they were delicious!) Wayside Inn offered a discount, The Daily Buzz Cafe gave out several freebies and there was a special at the Vault & Cellar, according to an advance release. A wide variety of uptempo music was everywhere.

A news release noted that the event features lots of door prizes and thousands of dollars in raffle and silent auction items. Awards are given to the top 25 cars from 1900-1980, the top 10 from 1980-Present, Best Tractor, Best European Car, and Mayor’s Choice.

Mayor Harbaugh offered special thanks to additional sponsors, Thomas Lash, Esquire, Commonwealth Rod & Customs, LLC and 105.5 WINC FM. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Middletown July 4th Celebration.

Visit Middletown on the web at https://www.middletownva.gov/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MiddletownVA.

dan@route11news.com