The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style

It was two in the morning. Rick Myllenbeck was on the top step of the wine bar Sonoma Cellar, locking up after another long day, when he paused. It was not the silence that stopped him. Old Town had gone quiet before. Once the bars emptied and laughter faded, people would wander back home. It was the faint flickering lights of the King Street mile, the stillness of its trees, and the absence of people and cars that made him slow down. That’s when the idea hit him. “I wondered if we could bring a bunch of cars to this street and have a good festival.” 

You see, Rick has always considered himself a car guy first, long before his early career in the tech industry. From working at Apple and IBM to serving as a former vet and working at the Navy Reserve, Rick had many professions before becoming a restaurateur. But, like so many of us, he grew up with fond memories of being around cars. “I remember seeing a Porsche for the first time when I was like 5 years old…that’s all of us, we remember our 1st connection to cars and what that led to it becoming a passion.” 

There was something about viewing the stillness of Old Town in the early morning hours, the vastness of its glowing streetscape, that made him feel the possibilities for the area were endless. In a quiet moment, he began to imagine a festival that could bring people together. 

Over time, the idea lived in the back of his mind as “the car idea.” It was not until years later that he began researching how to create a bigger event, especially through the Ferrari Club of America. Growing up in California and working in the area, Rick learned about car shows in Old Pasadena and had a long conversation with a local organizer who taught him how to bring the idea to life. He ended up transforming the notes from that conversation into a business plan, which eventually became the foundation of the widely beloved Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, a car show on Alexandria’s King Street mile and one of the most prestigious car events on the East Coast. 

The event now showcases over 100 rare sports cars from around the world that find parking spots on King Street and around Market Square during the annual Old Town Festival of Speed & Style. It draws tens of thousands of spectators each spring to get an up-close look at vehicles from various time periods made by Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and Cobra. Under founder and chairman Rick Myllenbeck, the festival has grown into one of the most prestigious car events on the East Coast and a fundraiser for Alexandria charities. “I just love the idea that after the festival, a boy or a girl seeing a Ferrari for the 1st time up close. And you know the dinner conversation that night was like, I saw this beautiful red Ferrari! And it was amazing.” 

Originally limited to the 400th block around Market Square, the event now spans three blocks along the King Street mile and side streets. It draws visitors and locals alike to view powerful car engines up close, sit in luxury models, and meet car enthusiasts. “All these people came together and wanted to be involved. What’s remarkable is that it’s a really talented group of people from diverse backgrounds that come together for cars. Everybody was a common denominator. Cars are really, really good draw.” 

You don’t have to be a car aficionado to enjoy this day out. The festival features a fashion show with models dressed in automobile-inspired haute couture, as well as performances by local rock and jazz bands. Wander by the 600 block of King Street to Wicked Cool alley to see new car models, including Lamborghinis and high-performance cars from Japan like Nissan. Even the promotional material is beautiful. Tom Kuester, the artist behind the artwork, hand-draws the poster. Art lovers can enjoy his vibrant designs, which highlight classic vehicles and spotlight Alexandria locations.“Alexandria is just a unique location; it has a great look, great businesses, and we just bring people in to have the opportunity to experience that, along with something pretty special. It is magical. It really is.” 

The organization also hosts the stylish “High-Octane Ball” with dinner, craft cocktails, and live entertainment. Behind both events is an entire team that works to set them up, with most of the core team involved since their debut in 2019. “And we’re all still together, despite the challenges we’ve had to overcome.” Together, they run Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, a charitable nonprofit. “Why are you doing this? That’s always the 1st line from any organization. Our answer is that we want to share our passion for cars with the community. That’s it.” 

Rick notes that there’s something for everyone to enjoy. “If you haven’t seen a fast, exotic, wicked-cool car like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, or Cobra up close and in person, this is the event for you!”  

Attend this year’s Old Town Festival of Speed & Style on Sunday, May 17. Find event details here.