One of the more interesting and notable fundraisers taking place this Fall is the UPMC Susquehanna’s City Hospitals Auxiliary Autumn Fest and Car Show that is slated for Sunday, September 30 on the hospital grounds at 1100 Grampian Boulevard in Williamsport. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include hundreds of cars, special exhibits, food and fun for all ages.

The car show will take place in the hospital’s main parking lot. Vehicle registration will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All makes and models are welcome; registration is $10. Awards will be offered in many categories and will be announced at 3 p.m.

Returning for their second year, the Susquehannocks, the local chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), will host the “show within a show” in the Wenner Building parking lot. The Susquehannocks will offer special awards, and AACA members will present information on their organization, membership, and judging processes.

The Autumn Fest will feature craft vendors, a pumpkin patch with hayrides, and games of chance. A raffle will also take place with the winners announced at the conclusion of the day’s events.

“Years ago, the Divine Providence Hospital Auxiliary created the Autumn Fest as they transitioned from the Christmas Bazaar fundraising event to a family-oriented event in the fall,” Linda Cioffi, City Hospitals Auxiliary President, told Webb Weekly. “In the years since, the auxiliary has undergone changes, merging with the Williamsport Hospital Auxiliary to form the City Hospitals Auxiliary, and the event also evolved.”

She continued, “In 2012, at the suggestion of Robert Kane, Vice President and President of UPMC Susquehanna Divine Providence, a car show was added to the event, a new committee was formed, and the event took off. We’re blessed that it’s been such a success as a fundraiser and we couldn’t have done it on our own. The Autumn Fest and Car Show has grown exponentially since its inception. We have a small committee, many of whom have been with us since the beginning that works alongside our auxiliary members almost year-round to help make this event bigger and better every year. Our first year, we were happy to have 100 cars and a hand-full of vendors, food stands, and activities. Now, we expect over 500 cars and have over a dozen food stands and vendors, plus a full family-fun area with numerous activities for children. It’s really become a great fundraiser for our hospitals”.

“It’s great to see how much our community support has grown around this event. The proceeds are invested by the auxiliary right back into the health system, helping us to offer life-changing medicine and services right here close to where our patients live,” Robert Kane commented.

The car show may be the main attraction for a lot of visitors, but many also come to sample food from a number of food booths including items such as funnel cakes, hamburgers, and hot dogs, fresh cut fries, haluski, pierogies, pizza, hot sausage sandwiches courtesy of Horizon Federal Credit Union, ice cream and apple dumplings, and the delicious homemade pulled pork sandwiches. “We’ve even added turkey legs this year,” Cioffi added.

The event has something for everyone — hundreds of vehicles on display, food booths, craft and merchandise vendors, small games of chance, children’s games, a crafts and face painting corner, and a pumpkin patch with a hayride.

Proceeds from this year’s event benefit the Kathryn Candor Lundy Breast Health Center at UPMC Susquehanna Divine Providence. In previous years, proceeds have also gone to Heart and Vascular Services and many other patient services at UPMC Susquehanna.