Your Guide to Minnesota Car Shows, Roll-Ins & Cruises
Your Guide to Minnesota Car Shows, Roll-Ins & Cruises
By Lisa Havelka
The sparkle of the chrome bumper, the rumble of the souped-up motor, custom steel wheels, pinstripes and fender skirts find their way to car shows, roll-ins and cruises across Minnesota.
Here are just a few you can catch this summer, no matter what part of the state you’re in.
See more than 11,000 classics and restored vehicles during Back to the 50s Weekend in St. Paul
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Cruise the Great River Road Scenic Byway to Hastings for the Historic Hastings Car Show. Head down to historic 2nd Street in downtown Hastings the 3rd Sunday of every month May through September from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for classic cars, piped in music and great food.
The Minnesota Street Rod Association (MSRA) brings the annual Back to the 50s Weekend to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds the third weekend in June. An estimated 70,000 car enthusiasts flock to St. Paul to see the more than 12,000 street rods, customs, classics and restored vehicles (1964 and older) during this three-day event. The weekend is filled with tons of automobiles, a swap meet, craft fair, food vendors, auto exhibits, live music from the 1950s, and more.
The Cars & Caves car shows are held from April to September, occurring on the last Saturday of every month. The proprietors of the Chanhassen AutoPlex graciously extend an invitation to attendees by opening their garage doors for the Cars & Caves Car Show. Cars & Caves showcases a variety of vehicles including collector cars, muscle cars, antique vehicles, street rods, exotic cars, and vintage motorcycles.
Classic Cars on Main Street, New Ulm
Southern Minnesota
Every Tuesday night from mid-May to late September, the Henderson Classic Car Roll-In draws more than 150 classic cars and motorcycles to this charming downtown. Businesses, food vendors, the Henderson Farmers Market, Sibley County Historical Society and Joseph R. Brown Minnesota River Center are always open and ready to serve the more than 500 visitors at this popular event.
Head to Albert Lea for the Eddie Cochran Car Show & Music Festival in June, a celebration of the hometown hero best known for his hit “Summertime Blues.” The annual event includes live music on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings, leading up to the car show on Saturday in the historic downtown area. Attendees can enjoy live music, food vendors, dash plaques, and trophies. The Freeborn County Historical Museum hosts an Eddie Cochran exhibit year-round.
Antique cars participate in the New London to New Brighton Antique Car Run
Central Minnesota
Enjoy the showcase of great American automobiles from the 1920s, '30s and '40s at the St. Cloud “Pantowners" Antique Auto Club’s Annual Car Show & Swap Meet, the third Sunday in August. The show hosts more than 1,000 classic and restored cars, trucks, motorcycles and snowmobiles. Stroll through the automotive history displays, including antique pedal cars and bicycles, model-car contest and arts-and-crafts marketplace. Look for a deal at the swap meet or in the “Cars-4-Sale Corral.” Take a cruise Saturday evening during the fun-run for classic cars and motorcycles.
The New London to New Brighton Antique Car Run is an American version of the prestigious London to Brighton Commemorative Run. Held the second Saturday in August, the run starts in New London, winding 120 miles through the countryside and ending in New Brighton. It kicks off with a parade down Main Street in New London on Friday evening. Only vehicles from 1908 or earlier, or any 1- or 2-cylinder vehicles up to 1915, are eligible to participate, adding turn-of-the-century charm to this unique event.
Northeast Minnesota
Eight blocks of classic cars and Harley motorcycles line Superior Street in downtown Duluth during the annual Kolar Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac Classic Car Show in July. Part of Duluth’s Sidewalk Days Festival, the event features great shopping, mouthwatering food, toe-tapping music and fun for the kids in the heart of the city.
The Weekend of Wheels is held the last full weekend in July at the Itasca County Fairgrounds and the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids. The Northern Minnesota Car Show & Swap Meet is Friday, Saturday and Sunday and includes more than 200 classic cars, over 200 vendor booths, a swap meet, entertainment and concessions. Admission is free to both shows and free shuttles between the IRA Civic Center and the Itasca County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Admire classic cars at a Minnesota car show, roll-in or cruise
Northwest Minnesota
Cruise the mile-long beach along the famous West Lake Drive in Detroit Lakes this summer. More than 200 cars gather the second Wednesday of the month, June through September, for the Detroit Lakes Cruise DL Nights. Stop by one of the lakeside restaurants for a bite to eat and enjoy the view of the classic cars parked beachside.
Started as a gathering of “rodders” to spend the weekend together talking about, looking at and driving classic cars, the Annual Northern Knights Run to the Rapids Street Rod Show is now open to all attendees. Held the second weekend in August in Park Rapids, the Street Rod Show features a Friday night barbeque and live rock ‘n’ roll music. On Saturday, the party begins with the Show N' Shine on Main Street. The trophy presentation is at noon, with root beer floats at the C’Mon Inn in the evening.
Lisa Havelka is the southern regional coordinator for Explore Minnesota. Born and raised in southern Minnesota, Lisa loves antiquing, visiting Minnesota wineries, riding motorcycles, and catching live shows at Minnesota’s many music venues.