‘We love it’: Massive car show underway in Moncton

The 26th edition of the Atlantic Nationals car show included a massive show and shine in Moncton on Friday, July 17, 2026. (Derek Haggett/CTV Atlantic)

The 26th edition of the Atlantic Nationals car show continued Saturday with its signature event.

Thousands of antique vehicle owners have driven their prized possessions to Moncton’s Centennial Park for a massive show and shine.

Last summer, event chair Bill Doherty told CTV News the Atlantic Nationals is the “biggest car show in Canada” and the largest tourism draw for a single event in New Brunswick.

On Friday, Moncton went back in time with hundreds of vehicles parked downtown for a giant cruise-in and street party.

“We love it,” said Gerry Roberts who drove his 1940 Mercury from Georgetown, Ont., to Moncton.

It’s an expensive hobby and passion with owners spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to purchase, restore and maintain the classic cars, but it’s all worth it to Roberts.

“Some people like to golf, some people like baseball, we like to play with cars. It’s tinkering, coming to the shows, meeting people,” said Roberts. “It’s like a family.”

Tina McCooey brought her 1948 International from Grand Falls, N.B., to Moncton’s Main Street.

“We do it because we love the history. We love the people. We love the environment that it brings. We just love everything about old vehicles,” she said.

McCooey said her passion for antique cars is a lifelong thing.

“When you’re young, you start and you just keep on going and you just keep adding and adding and before you know it you’ve got thousands and thousands up into a vehicle that you find precious and you don’t want to sell, but someone comes along that loves it just as much as you do and then you say, ‘You know what, it’s time for a new adventure,’ and you start all over again,” said McCooey.

Saturday’s main event at Centennial Park will take place until 5 p.m.

More to come…

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