Car shows, car rallies, car cruise nights – they’re popular all around the country, and there’s no shortage of events around the South Valley from springtime through fall.
What’s the attraction? The love of cars.
“It is fun going out seeing other people cars and talking to people about cars,” said Matt Case, a Visalia car enthusiast.
Matt and his family own and show a 1968 Chevy Camaro and a 1928 Ford Model A. He enjoys showing, he said, because he gets to spend time with his dad, family and friends.
“It is fun going out and seeing other people cars and talking to people about cars,” Case said.
Case and his wife, Danielle, and/or his family or hers, attend some 10 to 15 car shows per year. They have been to shows all around the South Valley and he, his wife, and father-in-law have attended the Pismo Beach Car Show for the past seven years.
Case works in the printing industry, and has printed flyers, tee-shirts, plaques and awards for various car shows.
The Cases purchased their Camaro five years ago, and take pride in keeping it up.
“We are always doing something to the car and display,” he said.
To see the Case cars and a wide-variety of other cars, please find a list of upcoming car shows and cruise nights in the area:
Saturday, May 13: 2-8pm – 8th Annual Rez Made Super Show at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino – One registration per vehicle. Each registration comes with two event bands. Questions about Registration, call Marcos Ochoa at (559) 381-8132. For tickets to attend the event visit tachipaclace.com
Saturday, May 13 and every second Saturday evening through Oct.: 5-8pm – Small Town Cruizers Car Club Cruise Night at the Tulare Outlet Center. Come out for a night of fun, showing & socializing with other car buffs.
Friday, May 19: A&W Cruise Night, Exeter
Saturday, May 20: 8am – 4pm – 49th Annual Vintage Hanford Motorcycle Rally – antique & classic motorcycle show, vintage parts exchange & sales corral, hourly raffle, more than 150 vendors, food & fun for the whole family. At the Kings County Fairgrounds. Admission $10/per person, children 12 and under, free – must be accompanied by an adult at all times. For more information, visit classiccycleevents.com.
Saturday, May 20: 8am – 5pm – Downtown Visalia Car Show – Visalia Breakfast Lions & Groppetti Automotive – Online pre-registration will end May 15th. Please note that day of show registration will be open from 7:00 am to 9:30 am at the show.
Saturday, May 20 and every third Saturday evening through October: 5pm – A&W Cruise Night – Downtown Visalia.
Saturday, May 27 & the last Saturday of each month through October: 5-8pm – KARR Cruise Night, hosted by Der Wienerschnitzel, located at 807 W Lacey Blvd, Hanford. Although these cruise events are primarily for classic cars & hot rods, the event is OPEN to all vintage and special interest vehicles, regardless of year. This includes, but not limited to all Corvettes, the new retro Challengers, Mustangs, Camaros, and SSR pickups. The cruise events are always a lot fun, with a 90/10 cash raffle, special meal deals, trivia, and a never-ending collection of 50’s & 60’s music to set the tone for the festivities.
Saturday, June 3: Annual Dinuba Cars in the Park Show, Rose Ann Vuich Park, 855 E El Monte Way Car Show registration: 7-10am; Car Show: 10am – 2pm, Lions Club Pancake Breakfast served 7-10am awards 6:30pm, free concert begins at 8pm.
Saturday, June 10: 11am – 4pm Annual Knights of Columbus Downtown Porterville Car Show – roll in 7am. Main Street from Morton to Olive Ave. Trophy awards, food, music and family fun! For more information, visit www.parishpridecarshows.com
Friday, June 30: Hanford Big Boy Cruise-In
Saturday, July 15: Woodlake Car Show, for more information, call (559) 564-3359.
Saturday, July 29: 8-11am – Cars and Coffee by Buckman-Mitchell Financial and Insurance Services, 500 N. Santa Fe, Visalia. No entry fee. Bring an unwrapped toy or Toys for Tots and be entered into a raffle. For more information, call (559) 635-3520.
Saturday, Aug. 19: Mothers United Against Gang Violence Car Show in Porterville. For more information, call (559) 350-5030.
Saturday, Aug. 26: Happy Hearts Car Show at Ed Dena’s in Dinuba.
Saturday, Sept. 2: Central Valley Vietnam Veterans Car Show in Tulare. For more information, call (559) 784-8561.
Saturday, Sept. 16: SPDES Club Car Show in Tipton. For more information, call (559) 978-0688.
Saturday, Sept. 23: Calvary Chapel Car Show & Parts Swap Meet. For more information, call (559) 687-0220.
Saturday, Oct. 7: 5pm – A&W Cruise Night, 2611 S. Mooney Blvd. Visalia – Middle School Band Night & Cruise Night. For more information, call (559) 733-4445.
Saturday, Oct. 7: Farmersville Fall Festival Car Show
Saturday, Oct. 7: Lindsay Lows, Rats and Rods. For more information, call (559) 560-6213.
Saturday, Oct. 14: Exeter Fall Festival Car & Bike Show
Saturday, Oct. 28: Westgate Garden Car Center Car Show, Visalia. For more information, call (559) 977-6812.
Saturday, Nov. 25: 5th Annual Toys for Tots Cruise-In – Hanford
Thank you to local A&W Restaurants for helping provide information for this calendar.