Every fall, car enthusiasts from across the Northeast – and increasingly, across the country – make their way to Scarsdale Village, New York for one of the region’s most celebrated automotive events. If you’re planning your first visit to the Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance, board member and Scarsdale resident Alex Forschner has a simple message: come early, stay late, and talk to everyone.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Scarsdale is one of the most accessible concours venues on the East Coast.
By Train: Take Metro-North’s Harlem Line from Grand Central Terminal directly to Scarsdale Station. The show is a short walk away- making this one of the only major car shows in the region where you can leave your own car at home.
By Car from New York City: Take the Hutchinson River Parkway north to Weaver Street (Exit 21). Turn right off the exit, then right again onto Weaver. Follow Weaver to the five-cornered intersection, bear left onto Heathcote Road, then continue straight across White Plains Post Road onto Crane Road. Turn left into Scarsdale Village on East Parkway.
From Connecticut: Take the Merritt Parkway to I-287 West, then pick up the Hutchinson River Parkway and follow the directions above.
As a board member and Scarsdale native, Alex Forschner has spent years watching visitors experience the Concours for the first time. Here’s his advice:
Arrive at opening. The show opens at 10:00 AM. Morning light is ideal for photography, the crowds are manageable, and the owners are relaxed and eager to talk about their cars.
Give yourself two to three hours. The field covers a meaningful stretch of the village. Rushing through it means missing the details – and at a concours, the details are everything.
Talk to the owners. This isn’t a velvet-rope event. The people who brought these cars are proud of them and love sharing the stories behind them. A 10-minute conversation with a collector can be more educational than any book.
Don’t skip the exotics. The Concours draws serious machinery. Past shows have featured rare Italian coachbuilt cars, one-of-a-kind customs, and factory-original examples that rarely leave private collections.
Bring cash for the vendors. Local artisans, food vendors, and automotive-themed merchants round out the day. It’s part car show, part community fair.
For Forschner, every Concours is a reminder of why car culture matters. “These cars connect us to history, to craftsmanship, to a time when what was under the hood and over the wheels was the result of genuine artistry,” he says. “When you see a crowd gather around a 1930s Packard or a vintage Ferrari and you watch people of all ages light up – that’s the whole thing right there.”
The Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance is free to attend (donations welcome and appreciated). All proceeds support local and national charities. Come for the cars, stay for the community.
Plan your visit at scarsdaleconcours.org
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