By Eric Kuznar
The Festival of Machines, Sept. 17-18, at Conner Prairie will celebrate Indiana’s rich history of automobile production.
Chris Petrelli, director of programs and education at Conner Prairie, emphasized the contribution of vintage automobile collectors to the event.
“The point of the festival is to celebrate Indiana’s contributions to transportation, and also to celebrate those Hoosier collectors who are taking it upon themselves to preserve history,” Petrelli said. “It is individuals who have to take it upon themselves to keep history alive.”
The annual festival is entering its third year has had approximately 5,500 people attend each of the last two years, Petrelli said. The festival will feature a wide variety of vintage vehicles from aircraft to farming equipment.
“These are not cars that regularly are exhibited to the public,” Petrelli said. “So guests have unique access to them by coming to the Festival of Machines.”
Petrelli said that Indiana is uniquely qualified to hold an automobile festival.
“Back in the early part of the 20th century, Indianapolis was one of the hotbeds for design and manufacturing of automobiles,” he said. “Some of the finest automobiles ever made were made in Central Indiana.”
Indiana’s tradition of automotive production continues today. Indiana is No. 2 for automotive gross domestic product in the nation behind Michigan, according to Indiana’s Economic Development Corporation.
Petrelli said he hopes the festival will get a younger generation interested in vintage automobiles and machines.
“The collectors who take it upon themselves to preserve these cars are getting older,” he said. “ One of the reasons why we do this festival is to inspire the next generation of collectors to pick up the mantle.”
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free with paid admission to Conner Prairie.
