American Graffiti Festival

June 13-14, 2026

Car Parade - Cruise Downtown and McHenry Avenue June 12, 2026, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

American Graffiti Car Show and Festival
Modesto Junior College West Campus
2201 Blue Gum Ave.
Modesto, CA 95351
$10, age 12 and under are free, americangraffitifestival.com

North Modesto Kiwanis produces this annual event featuring the classic car parade downtown. The car show and festival is Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. & Sunday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. over at Modesto Jr. College W. Campus. Check out the classic cars, stroll through hundreds food craft and specialty booths. Live music throughout the festival each day

American Graffiti Car Parade 6:30 p.m.
10th Street Plaza
Modesto, CA
Free to see cruise parade is limited to 1,000 classic vehicles pre-1980. After the cruise parade it's a party atmosphere. Register to be in the parade for $65 pre, $85 day of if space permits (approx. prices)

Romance, Racing and Rock n Roll. Where were you in '62? Grab your candied colored custom or your screaming machine and come to Modesto, CA for Graffiti Summer Graffiti Modesto
Our hometown hero George Lucas was born and raised in the City of Modesto, 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. Graffiti in Modesto 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. 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!

For years, Modesto has 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:
The Beach Boys
Little Richard
Frankie Avalon
Hank Ballard and the Midnighters
The Isley Brothers
Bobby Vee
The Diamonds
Frankie and The Fable Tones (including Frank from Vito and the Salutations)
Buddy Holly Winter Dance Party

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.