By Tommy Lee Byrd – Images by the Author
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is a tourist town, so even on a regular weekend it fills with excited families who spend their time and money at amusement parks, special attractions, and great restaurants. But on Rod Run weekend, it’s all about the cars, as nearly every parking lot throughout town will be packed with cool cars. Even though lots of people enjoy the streetside display of cars, and of course, the night life that comes with it, there is an entirely different atmosphere at the actual car show, which takes place at the LeConte Center, one street over from the main drag.
The official car show takes place Thursday through Saturday and features hundreds of cars, hundreds of parts vendors, and amazing celebrity appearances. Another attraction within the show is the ScottieDTV Dirty Dozen, a hand-selected group of cars and trucks that park front and center at the LeConte Center. Among the group this year was Stephen Braden’s incredible 1968 Camaro, which is a cross between show car, Pro Street monster, and drag car with its nitrous-fed big-block Chevy engine. Other highlights from the show included the debut of a slick 1962 Impala from Big Oak Garage, a bright red ’67 Camaro Motion tribute with tons of great Day Two components, and a collection of killer street/strip Chevys in the outdoor portion of the show.
Rod Run weekend hits its max density on Friday and Saturday, but the entire week is enjoyable from a car enthusiast’s perspective. Earlier in the week, you can skip the traffic issues, but the crowd is part of the experience you must see to believe. It’s an excellent event that brings out thousands of people every spring and fall. Your next chance to check out the Pigeon Forge Rod Run is the fall event, which takes place September 17-19.
For now, let’s take a look at the highlights from the Spring 2026 Rod Run.
