BELLEFONTE — If you weren’t downtown last summer, then you missed more than just a car show, you missed the heartbeat of Bellefonte on full display. And this year, it’s revving up again with all the horsepower, heart and hometown pride that’s made the Bellefonte Cruise a must-attend event for gearheads and families alike.
And if you’re not going to take my word for it, maybe you’ll believe a guy who’s seen thousands of shows in all 50 states, eight Canadian provinces and across Europe. He is none other than “My Classic Car” host and auto icon Dennis Gage.
“This is my 30th year of doing this show,” Gage said. “I go where the setting itself adds something. Bellefonte has that. It’s charming, historic, a little step back in time and you feel that as soon as you get there.”
Gage, whose unmistakable handlebar mustache and encyclopedic knowledge on cars have made him one of the most beloved faces in classic car TV, brought his show “My Classic Car” to last year’s Cruise. He wasn’t just impressed, he was inspired.
“I’ve shot everywhere, but Bellefonte was a great surprise,” he said. “It’s not just a car show, it’s a community gathering, a visual experience and a really good time. I liked the architecture, the river, the hills. Just a great vibe. I dug the whole thing.”
The 2025 edition of the Bellefonte Cruise, running Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14, will once again flood downtown Bellefonte with rows of classic cars, vintage motorcycles and head-turning oddities you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else. From ‘70s muscle to foreign imports, the show has something for everyone.
Gage agreed
“The cars are as unique as the people who bring them. That’s what makes it great. Whether it’s a brass-era runabout or a radical lowrider, I look for the offbeat, the unusual. You want to see something you’ve never seen before,” he remarked
The Cruise isn’t just about four wheels. This year’s event will include a massive motorcycle showcase featuring cruisers, sportbikes and everything in between. If you think chrome looks good under the sun, wait until it’s framed by a line of custom choppers growling down High Street.
The Cruise also delivers more than memories. It delivers economic impact. With thousands of attendees flooding the borough each year, restaurants, boutiques, hotels and food trucks all see a significant bump.
Even Gage noted the ripple effect.
“When I feature a town on the show, people plan their vacations around it. Once you’ve been here, you want to come back.”
There’s something poetic about a car show like this one. In a world moving faster every day, events like the Bellefonte Cruise slow things down. They bring generations together. They let people appreciate craftsmanship, personality, and the road that got us here.
And that’s exactly why Dennis Gage keeps doing what he does.
“I’ve said it before: we do the same thing every time and it’s always different,” Gage said. “That’s the magic.”
Bring the kids, your camera and your lawn chair. Bring your dad’s favorite memory or your daughter’s future dream car. Bellefonte Cruise isn’t just an event; it’s a celebration of everything that drives us.
And as Dennis Gage would say, “honor the ride.”
