‘Holley Ford Fest’ Brings Bigfoot, Endless Blue Oval Fun to Bowling Green

From O.G. Bigfoot to lots of racing and pro drifting, Sept. 26-29 show promises to be a can’t-miss Ford event.

There are plenty of excellent all-Ford shows out there in the world, from the Carlisle Ford Nationals to the F-100 Supernationals in Pigeon Forge. But now we’ve got yet another excuse to take a Blue Oval-themed vacation. On September 26-29, legendary performance parts maker Holley is throwing what promises to be an epic bash at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They’re calling it the Intergalactic Ford Fest, which is appropriate given the fact that it sure sounds out of this world.

Judging by the lineup Holley has in store for this inaugural festival, you’re going to need a few days to soak it all in. For starters, there’ll be Grand Champion and autocross competitions, along with pro-level and amateur drifting. There’s also a dyno challenge, an Australian style burnout contest, and UPR Products’ Show-N-Shine. Which is where you’ll find a whole bunch of Ford-powered rides. Not to mention more than handful of killer Blue Oval pickups, of course.

Pro Formula Drift drivers Vaughn Gittin, Jr. and Chelsea DeNofa will be onsite as well, along with other Ford powered drift cars. There, they’ll be showcasing their slideways skills inside the oval track. And if that isn’t enough tire smoke for you, insanely popular YouTuber Cleetus McFarland is bringing his GT500-powered Crown Victoria known as “Neighbor.” If you’re not familiar with McFarland’s antics, let’s just say that he has a reputation for melting tires and even setting his rear bumper on fire in the process.

And if you’re looking for something a little different than your average autocross, Holley is also hosting a 3S Challenge puts your ability to speed, stop, and steer to the test. Road Course warriors can try their luck at nearby NCM Motorsports Park, a killer 3.2-mile course modeled after some pretty famous circuits. And if going fast in a straight line is your thing, you won’t want to miss the NMRA World Finals. The biggest Ford drag racing event of the year features everything from Street Outlaw classes to stick shift and GT500-only races.

And those killer events aren’t even the best reasons to attend Holley’s Intergalactic Ford Fest, in our humble opinion. They’re also bringing Bob Chandler‘s original Bigfoot along for lucky fans to see up close. This is the monster truck that started it all, starring in multiple movies and spurning a wildly popular sport that’s thriving today, decades later.

Registration for the first-ever Ford Fest is already underway. So be sure and head over here to sign up for your preferred event, as well as score tickets. Because this is one all-Ford event that we’re betting you won’t want to miss!

Photos: Holley Performance

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.