Annual celebration returns Sept. 10–12 with a new teen car-show class, a homebuilt airplane and longtime community favorites
Trains, Planes & Automobiles will celebrate its 20th anniversary this weekend with three days of transportation displays, tours and activities throughout Geneseo.
The annual event runs Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 10–12, bringing together aviation enthusiasts, railroad hobbyists, car collectors, and families. Most activities are free and open to the public.
Organizers are adding two attractions for the anniversary year.
For the first time, the Maple City Cruisers car show will include a class for vehicles shown by teenagers ages 16 to 18. The new category will give young owners an opportunity to display their cars and trucks alongside the hundreds of vehicles expected downtown Saturday.
The show is expected to attract more than 300 entries.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to see a newly completed homebuilt airplane. Organizers say it will be the largest homebuilt aircraft displayed at the event to date.
Although its name highlights three forms of transportation, putting TPA together requires participation from groups and businesses across the community.
The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce hosts the Maple City Cruisers, which organizes Saturday’s car show. Gen-Airpark hosts the Stearman Fly-In, the Erie RC Club brings model aircraft, and the Geneseo Model Railroaders operate their train displays.
The Iowa Interstate Railroad also participates by bringing a full-size railcar. Local organizations, including FFA and the Geneseo Women’s Club, serve food and drinks, while downtown businesses and restaurants prepare for the influx of visitors.
That collaboration has helped TPA grow into a community-wide event during its two-decade history.
The celebration begins Thursday with the Stearman Fly-In at Gen-Airpark, located along U.S. Route 6 east of Geneseo. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will give visitors a close look at historic Stearman biplanes.
Friday’s schedule includes operating model trains from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 154 E. Exchange St. Guided golf-cart tours of the Hennepin Canal will depart at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations and tickets are required for the 90-minute canal tours.
A TPA pre-party will begin at 5 p.m. Friday at Erdman Construction, 101 S. Chicago St.
For families deciding when to attend, organizers recommend making Saturday the centerpiece of their weekend.
The Maple City Cruisers car show will fill downtown Geneseo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Operating model trains will be displayed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while food trucks will serve visitors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A youth pedal-car parade will begin at 11 a.m., with participants gathering at The Cellar at 10:45 a.m.
One of the day’s signature moments will take place at noon. The National Anthem and a VFW 21-gun salute will be coordinated with an airplane flyover, creating a tribute organizers say visitors should plan their day around.
Afterward, families can have lunch at a food truck or local restaurant and spend the afternoon exploring the cars, trains, aircraft and other displays throughout downtown.
Trophy presentations and the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce’s 50/50 raffle drawing are scheduled for 2 p.m.
For dedicated car, train and aviation hobbyists, TPA offers an entire weekend devoted to their interests. For everyone else, organizers say Saturday provides an easy opportunity to enjoy food, explore downtown, and experience a collection of machines ranging from miniature model trains to full-size automobiles and aircraft.
After 20 years, that variety—and the community collaboration behind it—continues to define the event.
A complete schedule and information about canal-tour tickets are available through the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce.