The morning hours saw close-up gawking as more than 300 historic cars, trucks and even buses parked in all lanes along Hamilton’s main High Street and its side streets.
Martin Davis traveled from Columbus to visit family that had two cars in the parade.
He stood in the middle of High Street in front of the old Butler County Courthouse and marveled at a modern city filled with historic vehicles.
“This is huge and awesome,” Martin said. “I love how many cars there are … and how much you can see in one place. It’s amazing.”
At 1 p.m. Saturday, Hamilton police cruiser sirens blasted, marking the start of the parade, which traveled south to Fairfield — where a second staging at Ohio Route 4 and Symmes Road was set up — before the long line of old cars made their way back to Hamilton.
Judging took place when the cars returned to downtown Hamilton and 180 trophies were handed out.
It was a busy day for the city as the nearby Butler County Fair held the final day of its week-long series of events that attract thousands daily from all across the region.
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Pat Fenner, a past winner of the Classic Car judging, brought his 1932 Ford 18 Standard Coupe from his home in Wilmington, Ohio for the 20th year.
Riding with him was his wife, Candy, who described the event as “so much fun.”
“At the parade everybody waves at you and you get to wave back,” she said.
Pat Fenner hopped into the driver’s seat and looked around at the lines of parked antique automobiles taking up all lanes of High Street.
“This is great. (The city) rolls out the red carpet for us. The police take care of the traffic and we parade all the way to Fairfield and back and you feel like the king and queen,” he said.
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