Electric Vehicle Celebration Returns to Arts & Autos in Denton on Sept. 12
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Brian Wilson
NCTCOG
bwilson@nctcog.org
Molly Carter
Downtown Denton Foundation
molly@downtowndenton.org
Annual showcase allows community to learn about driving electric in a low-pressure environment
Sept. 9, 2026 (Arlington, Texas) – The past will intersect with the future Saturday, Sept. 12 on Denton’s historic town square. For a second year, electric vehicles will share the stage with classic cars at Arts & Autos, an annual festival that features vintage hot rods, art car creations, local music and more.
As part of the festivities, the Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition will co-host “Electric Avenue,” a showcase of cutting-edge alternative energy and zero-emission mobility. Serving as DFW’s signature National Drive Electric Month event, this interactive area offers a low-stress, hands-on opportunity for curious drivers to explore electric transportation. The number of registered electric vehicles in North Texas soared 38% between 2024 and 2025 and has now eclipsed 185,000.
The Downtown Denton Foundation is hosting the 27th annual Arts & Autos event, scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 12 on the downtown Denton Square (110 W. Hickory St.). To find Electric Avenue, head over to the corner of North Elm Street and West Oak Street. The festivities will be preceded by a kickoff reception from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11.
On Electric Avenue, attendees will have the opportunity to speak with EV owners in person, take a ride in an EV, play games and chat with exhibitors working on sustainable transportation efforts. A wide variety of EV makes and models will be present, including EVs from Ford, Chevrolet and Tesla. Interested in something larger for use at your business? A Hino L6e Box Truck and Tern Class 8 Semi will be there as well.
Arts & Autos is a free family-friendly event with plenty of activities for people of all ages. In addition to the car show, attendees on Saturday can enjoy a Chalk Fest Competition, local vendors, live music, a children’s market, Dogtopia Puppy Pit Stop in collaboration with Dog Days of Denton, and a community arts and crafts project. Additionally, the festival will feature a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the Downtown Denton Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the preservation of arts and culture in downtown Denton.
Friday’s kick-off reception will begin with a car cruise around the square at 5:30 p.m. Friday’s kick-off reception will begin with a car cruise around the square at 5:30 p.m. The Greater Denton Arts Council will then host a party at the Patterson Appleton Arts Center starting at
6 p.m. featuring live music.
The Denton Square area will be barricaded to create a safe, pedestrian-only zone during this event. Visit the Downtown Denton Foundation website (DowntownDenton.org/arts-and-autos) or Facebook page (Downtown Denton Foundation | Denton TX | Facebook) for more information.
The DFW Clean Cities Coalition, which is hosted at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), hosts an annual showcase in collaboration with National Drive Electric Month to provide opportunity for brand-neutral education and a hands-on experience with electric vehicles. For more information on this national event, which began in 2011 as National Plug In Day, visit National Drive Electric Month.
About the Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition:
Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities works to improve air quality by promoting clean, reliable, accessible and sustainable transportation technologies. DFW was one of the first regions to be designated as part of the Department of Energy Clean Cities and Communities Partnership in 1995.
About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered in the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth.
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