Main Street Reunion Car Show is far and away oneof the most popular events in Napa. “The crowd that comes out to see the cars gets bigger every year, but it’s never too crowded,” said Mike Phillips, president of the Napa Valley Cruisers, the organization that co-hosts the event with the Downtown Napa Association. “The show covers eight blocks and four parking lots, which spreads things out nicely,” he added.
The car show features 400 pre-1976 cars, most of which are in pristine condition. The majority of the cars being shown belong to locals. “It’s kind of cool to see all these cars that are from here in Napa. When you get them altogether like that, it’s impressive,” said Phillips. As the show has grown in popularity, it has attracted more and more car owners, some from Southern California, Arizona and Nevada. “There are four weekends of back-to-back shows in California, and some folks take their cars to all of them. That means that many more great cars for us,” said Phillips.
This year marks the fourth that the weekend begins with a Friday night Show & Shine, this year to be held at the parking lot where the Cinedome used to be. “A Show & Shine event the night before the car show gives everybody another chance to see the cars in more of a party atmosphere,” said Tammy Robinette, vice-president of the Cruisers and co-chair of the car show. “People can check out all the great cars, enjoy something to eat and drink, plus listen to good music too. How great is that?” Show & Shine is limited to only 150 cars. Napa’s own “The Smart Fellers” will perform.
None of the organizers are quite sure when Main Street first started. “It was either ’97 or ‘98,” recalled Craig Smith of the Downtown Napa Association. “The Cruisers had been hosting a block-long event on a block on Main Street for a several years, with the help from volunteers from the Napa Fire Fighters museum, but there was only room for a couple dozen cars.” The Cruisers wanted the show to grow, but had trouble getting through the red tape to pull it off. They approached the Downtown Napa Association about partnering. “When they first approached our organization, they challenged me to help get it off the ground,” said Smith. “Later, I got teased for being in charge of securing the Three P’s: permits, police and porta-potties.”
After a six or seven year run (again, accounts vary) the Cruisers decided to take a year off, which turned into a six year break. It came back seven years ago, stronger than ever. “This is probably the thirteenth or fourteenth show, it’s just taken twenty years to get to that number,” said Smith.
Trophies are a part of every show. Two will be awarded at Show & Shine, and over forty will be given at Saturday’s Main Street Reunion. The cost to register a car for Main Street Reunion is $35, $40 after August 8th. Preregistration of $10 is required for Show & Shine. A portion of registration fees will be donated to the Vintage High marching band, to help pay for their London trip. Applications are available at DoNapa.com, or by calling 257-0322.
Sponsored by Blue Moon, Lagunitas, Sam Adams, Team Superstores, Bank of Napa, Napa Valley Marketplace, and KVON/KVYN. Without their generous support, the show would not be possible. Visit DoNapa.com for full details.
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Show & Shine Car Show Preview
August 19th - 5 to 8:30pm
Main Street Reunion Car Show
August 20th - 10am to 3pm