Classic Car Festival

Graffiti Summer

Modesto is the birthplace of George Lucas and the inspiration for his popular film American Graffiti. Throughout the month of June you will find everything from street fairs to classic car parades, concerts, and showings of American Graffiti as we celebrate Graffiti Summer. So pull out those Poodle Skirts and hoola hoops and join us for the festivities!

We invite you to relive The Graffiti Years –
when America was growing up!
Come to Graffiti Summer
for our Classic Car and Oldies Festival
in Modesto and Stanislaus County!

Our hometown hero George Lucas was born and raised in the City of Modesto, Stanislaus County, graduating from Thomas Downey High School in 1962. Only a little more than a decade later, he co-wrote and directed one of the top-100 movies of all time.

American Graffiti was released in 1973 with a great nostalgic look back at cars, music and teenage years, portraying an age of innocence in 1962 when the “fabulous fifties” were turning into the “turbulent sixties.” All the scenes in his great movie either happened here in Modesto or were inspired by events in our city. Mel’s Drive-In (in San Francisco) was just a stand-in for the real deals in Modesto, Burge’s on 9th Street and Al’s Drive-In on McHenry Avenue.

Both are gone now, but the memories live on, and Modesto continues to recreate its past glory as the classic car and cruisin’ center of the California Central Valley!

PAST EVENTS

For years, Modesto and Stanislaus County have recognized and celebrated the era that George Lucas immortalized. For most of a decade, the celebration was limited to one or two major events:

“Back to Graffiti” began as a two-day car show and entertainment venue at the Fruit Yard, a great restaurant and produce market just outside Modesto!
The Kiwanis American Graffiti Classic Car Show, which since 1999 has included a huge static car show, and since 2002, a downtown parade of at least 500 classic cars!

These are just some of renowned Rock’n’Roll Artists who have appeared at Graffiti Summer:

Little Richard
Hank Ballard and the Midnighters
The Isley Brothers
Bobby Vee
Tommy Roe
The Diamonds
Frankie and The Fable Tones (including Frank from Vito and the Salutations)
Brenton Wood
The Big Bopper, Jr.
Roddy Jackson
Simply So
And more to come!

Things to do in Modesto

Website: Graffiti Summer

More Things to Do in Sacramento …
Sacramento Kings Tickets Arco Arena
Best Sushi Sacramento
Run to Feed the Hungry
Tickets Dancing With the Stars Tour Sacramento

June 3 Graffiti Night with the Modesto Nuts
My Favorite Car Vintage Car Show. www.modestonuts.com

June 10 Back to Graffiti at the Fruit Yard
Car Show and Live Concerts by The Platters, The Drifters, El Chicano w/Jorge Santana and The Marvelettes. www.backtograffiti.com or www.thefruityard.com

June 11 Central Valley Doo-Wop Society Annual Revue
The Central Valley Doo-Wop Society’s 4th Annual Revue featuring Frank Fox of Vito and the Salutations. Other performers include Frankie and the Fabletones, The Sensations, Cherry Fizz and a surprise star from the East Coast! The show starts at 3:30pm at Club Max in the DoubleTree Hotel. For mor information call 209.521.8772 or email.

June 11 Modesto Area Street Rod Association
Classic Car Show at MJC West Campus, Carpenter & Blue Gum, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

June 12-16 Mid Valley Chevy Club
A different event every night from 5:00pm - 9:00pm. Event Location varies each night:
June 12: City Tire Sales; 6/13: Tradeway Transmission; 6/14: Flix Bar & Grill; 6/15: Mike’s Roadhouse;
June 16: Red Lion Hotel

June 13 Ceres Concert in the Park
Johnny & the Rockets to perform, Car Show, Farmers Market

June 16 Poker Run at the Red Lion
Classic Cars, Fun Run, Music and Entertainment.

June 16-18 North Kiwanis American Graffiti Festival
700 Classic Cars, Hot Rods, Custom, Vintage Car Show, Vendors, Parade. www.northmodestokiwanis.org

June 17 Graffiti Rock n’ Roll on the Rails
Rock and Roll to live music from the 50’s and 60’s on this fun Party Train!
www.sierrarailroad.com

June 24 “American Graffiti” at the Ceres Drive-In
Come watch the movie that started it all.

June 24-25 1st Annual Riverbank Graffiti Summer Party
Come out to the Galaxy Theater in Riverbank Saturday, June 24th for a car show and Sunday, June 25th for a Car Show, Live entertainment and a showing of the movie classic “Rebel Without a Cause”

Download Calendar (pdf, 1.12Mb)

And all-year long, remember these oldies-related events:

Every Friday and Saturday night, when weather permits, visit the 1950s-era A&W Root Beer Drive-In at 14th and G Streets for classic cars and entertainment. It has hardly changed since the olden days, and waitresses still deliver burgers, shakes and floats on roller skates!

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