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

Want a vacation? Want to see some DeSotos and meet friendly folks on your vacation? 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. For special accommodations, contact convention chairman Mark Kubancik.

Wednesday, June 17th: Driving tour that includes Kismet Farm and Bulleit Distillery with lunch at Claudia Sanders Dinner House in between. In the evening, there will be a welcome social at the nearby regional AACA club house to officially kickstart the week.

Thursday, June 18th: 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 back at the hotel.

Friday, June 19th: Dress in your most dapper attire for 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, parts swap meet, and annual DeSoto Ladies' Pink Shirt event back at the hotel.

Saturday, June 20th: The car show will be held from 9-3 at the KYANA Region AACA Clubhouse, 3821 Hunsinger Lane, Louisville, KY 40220. The site has both a large grass field and asphalt parking lot. Food & restrooms are available on-site in an air-conditioned club house. In the evening will be the social and awards banquet back at the hotel. 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.

Sunday, June 21st: A farewell breakfast on Sunday morning will conclude the festivities.

For full convention details, including this year's t-shirt design, reference the preview article as-seen in the November-December issue of DeSoto Adventures magazine or click here: Convention Preview Article.

Costs/Sign-Up: For all costs and to sign up (you must be a dues-paying member of the club to participate - 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 by clicking here: 2026 Convention Registration Form.

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

1/17/2026 - Workshop Day

Workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 10:00 am. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on.

2/19/2026 - Workshop Day

Workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 10:00 am. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on.

3/19/2026 - Workshop Day

Workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 10:00 am. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on.

4/18/2026 - Workshop Day

Workshop day at Murray’s garage, Millersville, MD, 10:00 am. Contact Mike Bianco if you have a vehicle you want to work on.

4/25/2026 - Workshop Day

9th annual Spring Fling Car Show & Luncheon, co-sponsored by The Mid-Atlantic Plymouth Club, Casa Mia's, Parkton, MD, 9am-3pm.  Details being developed. SAVE THE DATE.

7/10/2026 - 7/12/2026 - Chryslers at Carlisle

Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 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

The Buckeye DeSoto Club

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

3/21/2026 - Millbury Classic Cars & Trucks Museum

Tour of the Millbury Classic Cars and Trucks Museum, 26929 Cummings Rd, east of Toledo and just south of the Toledo Executive Airport. This museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM. We will meet at 1 PM to give everyone a chance to get there that day and to have some lunch along the way. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and children, and free for children under age 5. This museum claims to have over 90 cars and trucks, including some movie cars. Please RSVP to Bill by 3/14.

5/2/2026 - Adena Mansion

Tour of the Adena Mansion, west of Chillicothe at 847 Adena Rd, 1:00 pm. Adults – $12, seniors – $11, children ages 6-12 – $6, children under age 6 – free. Tours of the Lucy Webb Hayes Heritage Center, the Ross County Historical Society, and/or other sites are additional possibilities.

8/1/2026 - Wings & Wheels Car Cruise-In & Airplane Fly-In

Wings and Wheels car cruise-in and airplane fly-in, Medina Municipal Airport, 10 am – 2 pm. $10/adult, children free. Airplane rides – price not listed.

11/14/2026 - der Dutchman Restaurant

Annual meeting, der Dutchman Restaurant, Plain City, OH, 11 am.

Colonial Chapter

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

Please check back for upcoming events.

Carolina Chapter

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

4/9/2026 - 4/11/2026 - 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.

DeSoto Motor Cars of Illinois

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

4/18/2026 - Spring 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.

7/18/2026 - 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.

10/17/2026 - 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

5/2/2026 - Spring Meeting

11:00 am, Ten Ten Buffet Grill & Sushi, 5282 Gull Rd, Kalamazoo, MI. Restaurant (269) 553-9980.

TBD - Fall Picnic

Cascade Park, Jackson, MI. More details to follow.