Car Prep for Concours in the Hills, Fountain Hills
If your car is entered in Concours in the Hills, 11 Mile Detail Co can prepare it beforehand at its private North Phoenix studio. The show is a charity display on the grass of Fountain Park on Saturday, February 20, 2027. Book early if the car needs paint correction or ceramic coating, because one person performs every service and slots are limited. Work is by appointment, with drop-off and collection coordinated in advance.
Concours in the Hills
- Dates
- Saturday, February 20, 2027, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Venue
- Fountain Park, Fountain Hills, AZ
- Organizer
- Phoenix Children's Foundation
Phoenix Children's Foundation event page
11 Mile Detail Co is an independent detailer and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Phoenix Children's Foundation or Concours in the Hills. AB does not work at the venue. Preparation happens at the studio, or at a qualifying home address in an approved ZIP, before you go.
Who this is for
This page is for owners entering a car, race car, off-road or military vehicle, or motorcycle at Fountain Park, and for club members who want their cars ready before the February date. The organizer describes the show as a relaxed display rather than a formal white-glove concours, so the goal is a clean, cared-for car across a wide lawn.
- The organizer calls it the greatest car show on grass, and the 2026 edition raised $467,000 for Phoenix Children's according to its event page. Admission is free for spectators, so owners display to a large general crowd rather than a ticketed audience.
- In the 2026 schedule, Entrances 1, 2 and 5 opened to exhibitors at 7:00 a.m. and Entrances 3 and 4 at 8:00 a.m., and cars cannot leave the park before 3:00 p.m. A car sits parked on the grounds for the full show day.
- Categories listed by the organizer include European, Domestic, Asian, Race Cars, Off-road, Military, Motorbikes and Alternative Fuel, which puts very different vehicles on the same lawn.
Preparing for Concours in the Hills
When 2027 registration opens
Register the car on the organizer’s page (2026 registration ran September 1 to January 16), then request a studio appointment. Slots are limited, so book early.
November to early December 2026
Book paint inspection and any multi-day correction or ceramic coating. Cars in the Military and Off-road categories with original finishes are inspected first, so only defects that need correcting are touched.
January 2027
Schedule a Complete Detail or Paint Enhancement for cars that were corrected earlier or stored over the holidays. Leave a gap before the show so there is time to fix anything found on collection.
The week of February 15, 2027
Collect the car, keep it covered and indoors, and pack a soft towel, spray detailer and water bottle for the morning at the gate.
Saturday, February 20, 2027
Arrive at your assigned entrance, set up on the grass and stay until the 3:00 p.m. close. Use the early hours to wipe the car down before the crowd builds.
Studio drop-off
We coordinate studio drop-off and pickup with you and share the address before arrival. Please arrange a ride, as there is no waiting area.
The work that fits this event
- A car parked outdoors from the morning gate until 3:00 p.m. collects dust and moisture. A professionally installed ceramic coating, applied at the studio, makes wiping the car down easier and protects the finish through the winter and spring show run.
- Paint correction removes defects in the clear coat, such as swirls and water spotting. Cars entered in the Military and Off-road categories are inspected first, and original finishes are left alone unless a defect needs correcting.
- A Complete Detail covers the interior, engine bay, wheels and glass that spectators see up close at Fountain Park. Headlight Restoration fits cars with hazed lenses that would stand out beside clean paint in a free-admission crowd.
Paint Correction
Paint Enhancement improves gloss with very light correction. 1-Step, 2-Step and Show Correction treat heavier defects at each step up. AB assesses the finish in person before quoting. Enhancement and 1-Step are available mobile or at the studio. 2-Step and Show Correction need controlled conditions.
Ceramic Coating
Professional ceramic coating is done at our North Phoenix studio: paint preparation, coating application and a controlled cure. AB assesses your paint before quoting. Choose a 2-to-3-year coating or a 5-year coating; for a lighter, 1-year option that can be done at your home, see Express Ceramic.
Complete Detail
A Complete Detail covers the vehicle inside and out: washing, chemical and mechanical decontamination, engine bay, steam and extraction, and exterior protection. AB does the work personally, at your home as mobile detailing or at our North Phoenix studio.
Headlight Restoration
Headlight Restoration treats yellowing and haze on the outer lens through staged sanding and polishing, followed by UV-stable ceramic protection. AB performs the service mobile or at our North Phoenix studio for $99 per pair, after confirming that surface restoration suits the lens condition.
Other events on the calendar
Read before you book
- Buyer guideWhat detailing can and cannot fixDetailing can clean and improve light defects. It cannot repair deep scratches, failed clear coat, or body damage. Start here before you request a quote.
- Buyer guideCeramic coating in Phoenix heatCeramic coating helps against Phoenix UV, spotting, and wash wear. Shade, wash habits, and maintenance still decide how long it holds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Register on the organizer's page when 2027 registration opens, then book early for the February 20, 2027 show. Correction and coating can take multiple days, and one person performs all the work, so slots are limited.
It is optional. Cars stay on the grounds from the morning gate until the 3:00 p.m. close, and a coating helps with dust and wiping down over that stretch. AB installs ceramic coatings, normally at the studio. A Complete Detail alone is a sound choice for many cars.
Not automatically: correction addresses defects in the clear coat, and some patina is appropriate on original paint. The studio inspects first and recommends the least aggressive step, which matters for entries in the Military and Off-road categories.
In the 2026 schedule, Entrances 1, 2 and 5 opened at 7:00 a.m. and Entrances 3 and 4 at 8:00 a.m. Cars cannot leave before 3:00 p.m., so collect the car from the studio ahead of the weekend and plan for the whole day on the grounds.
Ask about prep for Concours in the Hills
AB works on one vehicle at a time, so appointments around the event fill early. Send the vehicle, its condition and the date you are working toward.