OWLS HEAD — Celebrate Father's Day at the Owls Head Transportation Museum on Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19, when the Museum will host the popular All-American Auto Meet. Gates open to the public at 9 a.m.; exhibitor gates open at 8 a.m.

All pre-1996 vehicles and all organized automobile clubs are welcome to exhibit. Exhibitors and one guest get in free. Clubs wishing to arrange parking are encouraged to call ahead.

Attendees at the event will be treated to a demonstration of the museum's World War I-era biplanes (weather permitting). Aircraft that may take to the skies include the Museum's 1923 Fokker C.IVa, 1930 Travel Air Speedwing, 1917 Checkerboard SPAD and more. The museum's open flightline provides an opportunity for visitors to see, hear and experience the planes close up and visit with the pilots. OHTM planes fly early, so try to get to the museum in the morning to see the airshow.

The museum will demonstrate a selection of vehicles from its world-class ground vehicle collection. The focus will remain on American cars, with demonstration of some of the rare, early pieces from the collection. Vehicles slated for demonstration may include a 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile, 1907 Cadillac Runabout, 1911 Cadillac Model 30, 1912 Woods Electric Brougham, 1908 Sears Motor Buggy and a 1933 Packard Convertible Sedan. Motorcycles from the museum’s collection, including a 1919 Harley-Davidson Model J, 1938 Indian Junior Scout, 1925 Harley-Davidson Model JD and 1932 Harley-Davidson Model V, will also be demonstrated (weather permitting). Free Model T rides will be offered throughout the weekend, and our popular pedal car Kids Corral will be open for the duration of the event.

On Saturday, June 18, Tom Cotter, well-known automotive personality, National Barn Find seeker, organizer of the National AC Cobra Tour, author of A Cobra In The Barn, Hagerty magazine contributor and television personality is slated to visit the Museum. Cotter will discuss American cars, interact with guests and present a talk on his recent trip down Route 66 looking for hidden — and forgotten — collector cars.

On Sunday, June 19, author David Hill will be presenting his book, Full Service, followed by a book signing.

Weather permitting, rides in the museum's 1941 Stearman biplane, a World War II primary trainer, will be available for purchase throughout the event weekend. Rides are $250 for 30 minutes and can accommodate a single passenger. A flight in this vintage biplane provides an unprecedented view of the coastline from the open cockpit of the aircraft.

The museum will also showcase several new exhibitions, installed over the winter: Women Who Dare: Pioneering Women of Transportation, The Bentley Boys and Coachbuilt.

Women Who Dare is an interactive exhibit featuring three female transportation pioneers who made history at the turn of the last century. The Bentley Boys showcases the famous group of 1920s playboy racers whose antics assisted in forming the direction of the iconic British automobile marque. Coachbuilt explores the era of coachbuilt — or custom bodied — automobiles, highlighting the transition from carriage building to the construction of automobile bodies that defined an era of luxury automobiles.

Event admission is $18 for adults. Children under 18, as well as retired and active duty military, are admitted free every day. Concessions from French & Brawn Catering and Marketplace will be available for purchase throughout the event. Gates open to visitors at 9 a.m. For more information about the event, call 594-4418 or visit owlshead.org. The Museum is located at 117 Museum St. in Owls Head, two miles south of Rockland on Route 73. Event sponsors include Rockland Ford, Channel 8 WMTW, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries and French & Brawn Catering and Marketplace.