Two-year-old Nolan Sands was a happy boy on Sunday — as long as he kept moving.
After all, when there were just so many cool cars to see parked all over the place at Allegheny County’s Hartwood Acres Park, there wasn’t much time to stand still.
“He’s in his car phase,” said his father, Alex Sands, of Verona.
“He likes Matchboxes and the ‘Cars’ movies,” said his mother, Kelsey. “He’s just obsessed with cars now.”
The car cruise sponsored by the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix at Hartwood Acres in Hampton was the perfect place for them and many others to spend Father’s Day on Sunday — which was also the first day of summer.
It was the second of four car cruises in this summer’s series, which began May 17 at Settlers Cabin Park and will continue July 26 at Boyce Park and end Sept. 7 at Deer Lakes Park.
Making it even better for Father’s Day, the car cruise was followed by a “Dad Rock” concert with Yacht Rocket, a band celebrating the ’70s and ’80s yacht rock genre.
Jevin Fluegel, special events coordinator for Allegheny County, couldn’t say just how many vehicles turned out for Sunday’s cruise, which spread out across the park’s grass over the course of the afternoon as more and more vehicles pulled in.
There wasn’t a cruise on Father’s Day last year because Hartwood Acres was being used for parking for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
“This is one of the bigger car cruises,” Fluegel said. “There is a lot of vintage cars.”
Jeff Boleng, of Fox Chapel, was walking around in a homemade “#1 Dad” shirt featuring images of his three daughters, one of whom, Emilia, was with him along with his wife, Gina.
“I wear it once a year for half a day,” Jeff said.
Instead of gifts, they find things to do for Father’s Day. Car shows are good because Jeff is a self-described car nut and, as Gina said, there always is one on Father’s Day.
Gina indulges her husband’s car interest and he, in turn, does the same for her when it comes to gardening.
“I can appreciate them,” Gina said of the cars.
Dave and Monica Deily, of Economy, were taking in the car show with Monica’s father, Paul Roth, of West Deer, and their son, Kye. Monica said Hartwood Acres is a special place for them because she grew up nearby.
When life can be so hectic, it was a way for them to spend time together.
“This is a great idea for Father’s Day,” Paul said. “It can’t be beat.”
At 86, Roth said he’s grateful to have been alive long enough to see the advancements and changes in automotive engineering and design. Monica was admiring the classics, which she said were in beautiful shape. Kye was also taking them in, comparing the older cars to the newer ones.
“There’s a lot of soul to these cars,” Dave said.
Brandon Conner, a car mechanic from Penn Hills, was using the car cruise as a classroom for his son, Quinn, 10, pointing out details of the engines and how they work.
“He’s learning,” Conner said. ‘I want to show him.”
