Greenwood Car Show Never Fails

 

6/27/26 outside Herkimer Coffee, Greenwood neighborhood

A little drizzle never keeps sketchers down! It apparently does, however, keep attendance down at the Greenwood Car Show, because the first couple of hours I was there were the easiest to walk and sketch my way through the show as I have ever seen it. It wasn’t my wettest show, though – that would be 2014, when it poured for much of the day. Rain or shine, it’s still one of my favorite summer events, which I’ve been attending nearly annually since 2013.

As is my tradition, after walking the full length of the show and back (“a mile-and-a-half of classic rides” is the show’s slogan, but this year it was probably closer to a mile; the drizzle kept potential exhibiters away, too), I stopped for coffee and a scone at Herkimer Coffee. Despite the Juneuary chill, I was dressed in enough layers to sit outside. This is always a fond moment for me at the show: Sketching whatever car is on display right in front of Herkimer and usually catching a dog, too (top of post).

Fully tanked up an hour before the USk Seattle outing even began, I started sketching in earnest. With the drizzle letting up, many exhibitors were busily wiping down their babies.

Although the Greenwood Car Show doesn’t feature many Monster Trucks, the one I sketched (below) became a favored photo opp for young kids and their parents.

Most of a block was taken up by a fleet of mini cars like the 1960 Fiat Limousette I sketched (below). I was happy when a tall, large man stood next to it, giving me exactly what I needed to show scale.

As it got close to the throwdown time, I spotted a finned ’57 Chevy Bel Air convertible from a beloved automotive era. I had just enough time to make a portrait of it (below).

After the throwdown, I walked the length of the show once more, this time with my camera instead of my sketchbook. By then, I was ready to head home – but not before catching a busker (have I ever been able to walk past a busker without sketching them?).

Ahhh, Greenwood Car Show, you never fail to be a highlight of my summer!

Sunshine for our throwdown!