“Where do you take an American car in eastern Germany if you do not want to drive home after one day?”
US cars on the apron.
To Gera, 11 to 13 June 2027. Fifth edition, a full weekend for the first time, with camping right next to your own car on the airfield.
The short answer
- The US-Car Festival Gera runs from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 June 2027 at the Gera-Leumnitz airfield in Thuringia.
- It is the fifth edition and the first to span a whole weekend; the organiser is the US Car Drivers Gera club.
- Anyone arriving in their own American car does not need to register and may park next to a tent, caravan or motorhome.
Germany has plenty of US car meets that last a day: drive over, pop the hood, trophy or no trophy, home by evening. The US-Car Festival Gera turns it into a full weekend for the first time in 2027 - on an airfield where you can sleep next to your own car.
Dates and programme
Friday 11 to Sunday 13 June 2027, Gera-Leumnitz airfield. It is the fifth edition and the first over three days.
The split is simple: by day the site belongs to the cars and to families, in the evening live bands play the main stage. Food trucks, catering and American food alongside.
There are two awards. A jury and public vote by phone decides the "Best voted Car" trophy, and a decibel measurement settles the "Loudest Car" trophy. On an airfield, the latter is the more honest discipline.
Registration and camping
If you come in your own American car you do not need to register. Only groups arriving with several US cars are asked to get in touch beforehand.
The car may stand next to a tent, caravan or motorhome; in rain, a few metres further onto the asphalt. Signs on site direct US cars one way and visitors without one the other. The club publishes exact directions on its site before the festival.
Camping is where Gera parts company with most one-day meets: your own car stands next to your tent, not in a visitor car park.
Where this came from
The festival did not come out of an agency, it came out of a club, and the numbers show it.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2023 | First meet, over 200 cars, more than 1,500 visitors |
| 2024 | More cars, a fuller site, regional broadcaster MDR films a TV piece |
| 2025 | 2,140 tickets sold, over 3,000 visitors, more than 400 US cars in a single day |
| 2026 | Fourth edition, around 3,300 visitors, some 400 vehicles, a visit from the mayor |
| 2027 | Fifth edition, a whole weekend for the first time |
From 1,500 to 3,300 visitors in four years, with no advertising budget. The club describes itself as people from Gera and the surrounding area who drive muscle cars, pick-ups, classics and new American models, work on them and go touring together - and it says explicitly that anyone without an American car is welcome too.
Under the motto "We drive to help" the club collects donations at every meet for regional charity projects, most recently for Streetwork Gera.
What to bring
| What | Why |
|---|---|
| Tent or caravan | Three days, and camping is part of the concept |
| Pegs for grass and asphalt | In rain you move onto the hard standing |
| Sun protection | An apron means no trees |
| Cloth and polish | The vote happens by phone, on whatever is standing there |
| Ear protection | See decibel measurement |
Where it sits
Gera is in Thuringia, which puts it within reach of the whole eastern half of Germany. The alternatives each do something else. The Street Mag Show in Hannover is the country's largest US car and bike show, but it is a show in a city, not a camping weekend. The Dragday Magdeburg is quarter-mile racing, not a display. Race 61 in Finowfurt admits only vehicles up to model year 1976, which makes it a different event for a different car.
Drive a 2019 RAM and Finowfurt is the wrong address. Gera is the right one.
FAQ
When is the US-Car Festival Gera in 2027? From Friday 11 to Sunday 13 June 2027 at the Gera-Leumnitz airfield.
Do I have to register my car? No. With your own American car no registration is needed. Only groups with several US cars are asked to contact the club beforehand.
Can you camp on site? Yes. Your own car may stand next to a tent, caravan or motorhome, and in rain a few metres further onto the asphalt.
Who organises the festival? The US Car Drivers Gera club, based in and around Gera. At every meet it collects donations for regional charity projects.
How big is the meet? In 2026 it drew around 3,300 visitors and some 400 vehicles. In 2025 more than 400 US cars turned up in a single day.
Can I come without an American car? Yes. Signs on site direct visitors without one, and the club states explicitly that people without an American car are welcome.