40th Annual Convention

June 17-21, 2026    ~    Louisville, Kentucky

Hosted by Mark & Pat Kubancik and the DeSoto Owners Club of Maryland chapter of the NDC

Make your plans today to attend the largest annual gathering of DeSotos in the world! Our annual conventions are part car show, part sightseeing vacation, and part reunion with friends. Whether you want to come for just the show or for the whole event, all the details you'll need are below. Load the family up in the DeSoto, pack your best derby attire, and head to Louisville!

Hotel: The convention host hotel is the Holiday Inn Louisville East - Hurstbourne, located at 1325 S Hurstborne Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40222. The hotel is holding rooms in a single king bed or two queen bed configuration at a special reduced rate of $129/night plus tax and fees, with a hot buffet breakfast included. This rate is also good for up to two nights before and after the convention and the cancellation policy is 24 hours prior to the reservation (3 pm Eastern Time). Other hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool, a large on-site parking lot for trailers and show cars, and a free shuttle within 2 miles of the hotel. To reserve a room, call (502) 426-2600 and mention the National DeSoto Club or click this link to reserve online. Book your room early! The cut-off date for reservations with the group rate is May 13, 2026.

Events: There will be a welcome social on Wednesday evening to kickstart the week. On Thursday, there will be a driving tour through Kentucky Bourbon Country, which will include a ride at the Kentucky Railway Museum, tours and tastings at Log Still Distillery, and a BBQ lunch buffet. Thursday evening will be the membership and board meetings. Friday will be a bus tour to the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs for live racing with an indoor buffet lunch. Friday evening will be the ice cream social, model car contest, and parts swap meet. Saturday will be the traditional DeSoto show during the day with the awards banquet in the evening. A farewell breakfast on Sunday morning will conclude the festivities.

Costs/Sign-Up: For all costs and to sign up (you must be a dues-paying member of the club - if you wish to join, you can easily do so by clicking on the "Membership" tab at the top of the page), reference the registration form when it becomes available.

DeSoto Car Show: The car show will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, with a grass show field and indoor facilities available. More details to follow.

Note: Anyone looking to register and/or show a DeSoto MUST be a dues-paying member of the club due to insurance requirements. Sign-up for the car show will be available on-site. Spectating at the show is free and open to all.

NDC Chapter Events

Check below to see all the upcoming DeSoto related activities each chapter is hosting or participating in!

DeSoto Owners Club of Maryland

Serving Maryland and the surrounding area.  Chapter Contact:  Mike Bianco, President: mabianco54@yahoo.com

 General Inquiries:  DeSotoClubMD@gmail.com

6/14/2025 - Club Meeting, Workshop Day, and Ladies Luncheon

Club meeting, workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 9:30 am, and ladies' luncheon. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on and Cheryl if you'd like to attend the ladies' luncheon.

7/11/2025 - 7/13/2025 - Chryslers at Carlisle

Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The National Club and DeSoto Owner's Club of Maryland chapter will both be representing on the show field and in the special Chrysler 100 expo building with cars and booths. Stop by, say hi, and talk DeSotos! Be sure to select “DeSoto” for the class and “National DeSoto Club” for the club affiliation when registering. For more details on the Carlisle event, go to https://www.carlisleevents.com/events/events-detail/index?id=chrysler+nationals

7/19/2025 OR 8/2/2025 - Club Members' Lunch Outing

Save the date! Plans are in the works for a lunch outing with our fellow members. No workshops in July. Details to follow.

8/21/2025 - Workshop Day and (Maybe) Ladies' Luncheon

Workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 10:00 am, and possible ladies' luncheon. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on and Cheryl if you'd like to attend the ladies' luncheon.

9/25/2025 **NEW DATE** - Workshop Day

Workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 10 am. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on.

9/28/2025 **NEW DATE** - Annual Club Members' Picnic

Annual club members’ pot luck picnic at the Gallagher’s home in Bethesda, MD, 11:30 am - 4:00 pm. Hosted by Jack & Cher Gallagher. Club provides burgers, hot dogs, condiments, soda, and water; bring a side dish, dessert, appetizer, or salad to share. BYOB/BYOC (bring your own chair). For more details, please contact Jack Gallagher at g6001@aol.com.

10/16/2025 - Workshop Day and Ladies' Luncheon

Workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 10 am, and ladies' luncheon. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on and Cheryl if you'd like to attend the ladies' luncheon.

10/18/2025 - Rockville Antique & Classic Car Show

The DeSoto Owners Club of Maryland chapter has volunteered to be a co-sponsor to help and have cars on the show field at the Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm, Glenview Mansion at Rockville, Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, MD. Save the date!

11/13/2025 - Workshop Day

Workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 10 am. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on.

Date TBD - Annual Holiday Luncheon

Annual holiday luncheon. Details TBD.

The Buckeye DeSoto Club

Serving Ohio.  Chapter Contact:  President:  Bill Noble - nobledesoto@ameritech.net

6/25/2025 - 6/29/2025 - NDC Convention

The Buckeye Chapter is helping to host the National DeSoto Club annual convention in Akron, Ohio. For more details, see the top of this page.

7/26/2025 - AACA Grand Nationals

AACA Grand Nationals, National Museum of the USAF, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH (east of Dayton). The museum is free admission.

8/16/2025 - 25th Historic 3D Picnic

Historic 3D Picnic at Plzak Lake, 12:00 pm, 1600 Bell Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022. Register at jnosol@windstream.net

11/8/2025 - Fall Meeting

Annual Fall Meeting, 11:00 am, at the Der Dutchman Restaurant, 445 Jefferson Ave., Plain City, OH 43064

Colonial Chapter

Serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.  Chapter Contact:  Lanette Peiffer, President - lanettepeiffer@comcast.net

5/26/2025 - Quakertown Memorial Day Parade

Quakertown Memorial Day Parade, Quakertown, PA.

8/3/2025 - Das Awkscht Fescht

Das Awkscht Fescht Annual Car Show, Macungie Memorial Park, Macungie, PA. Visit www.awkscht.com for more details.

Carolina Chapter

Serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.  Chapter Contact:  Phil Rast, Organizer - cappyhouse@hotmail.com

4/3/2025 - 4/5/2025 - Charlotte AutoFair

Charlotte Motor Speedway, NC. The Carolina Chapter will have cars on display at the Charlotte AutoFair. Saturday is the best day to come for club attendance! For more information about the chapter, the event, or how to participate, contact Dean Mullinax at desotodean@gmail.com.

4/26/2025 - Annual Meals on Wheels Car Show & Fundraiser

Meals on Wheels Car Show & Cookout. Starting at 10:00 am, Hennie & Yvonne Jacobs will once again be hosting their annual Meals on Wheels car show and cookout fundraiser, Greenville, SC. If you’d like to attend, contact Hennie at (864) 360-3815 and RSVP.

TBD - Fall Meeting

Details TBD.

DeSoto Motor Cars of Illinois

Serving Illinois and the surrounding area.  Chapter Contact:  Betty Beabout, President - (217) 826-2819

7/26/2025 - Summer Meeting

11:00 am - 1:00 pm, Baby Bull's, 1025 W. Reynold's St., Pontiac, IL 61764. Off HWY 55 at HWY 116 exit #187 in Pontiac, IL. Will be on left about 1 mile. Meeting will be in the "bar" near the banquet rooms.

10/18/2025 - Fall/Christmas Meeting

11:00 am - 2:00 pm, Baby Bull's, 1025 W. Reynold's St., Pontiac, IL 61764. Off HWY 55 at HWY 116 exit #187 in Pontiac, IL. Will be on left about 1 mile. Meeting will be in the "bar" near the banquet rooms. There will be a $10 gift exchange: a girl gift for a girl and a boy gift for a boy. 

Great Lakes Chapter

Serving Michigan and the surrounding Great Lakes area.  Chapter Contact:  Glenn Colburn, President - gfcolburn@gmail.com

8/23/2025 - Orphan Show

Orphan Show, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Gilmore Museum (open 9:00 am - 6:00 pm), 6865 W. Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, MI 49060. Pre-registration is recommended and the NDC Great Lakes chapter is planning to have an area to park all DeSotos together. If you'd like to participate and park with the other DeSotos, please contact Glenn Colburn (see above) or Jaye Justice so they can plan space accordingly. For more details on the event, see the show flyer here.

9/27/2025 - Fall Picnic

Fall picnic at Cascade Park in Jackson, Michigan, 10-3.  A picnic shelter has been reserved. RSVP to Glenn to attend.