2014 Graffiti Nights

Each June Modesto, California hosts a weeklong Graffiti event. There are numerous free car shows held at various locations throughout the week, then the annual Official Kiwanis Classic Car Parade on Friday night. Saturday and Sunday the American Graffiti Car Show and Festival is held at Modesto Junior College’s West Campus. The following weekend is another car show Back to Graffiti at the Fruit Yard. It’s a great tradition that goes back as far as people can remember.

People who own beautifully restored classic American cars to those that have current works in progress all come out to flaunt their stuff.

We take an evening to gather with friends and family and sit on the side of the street and watch as dozens and dozens of American’s classic cars drive by, honking their horns, revving their engines and of course tossing out handfuls of candy for the kids.

There is a concert in the park that plays the greatest hit’s of the 50’s and 60’s.

We’ve been doing this for a few years last year. Last year we missed it and of course wouldn’t you know it George Lucas returned to town to join the parade!

Many may know where the origins of this great event comes from, many may not. I certainly didn’t when we first started coming to them. George Lucas a Modesto native co-wrote and directed the 1973 film American Graffiti based on his own teenage years in Modesto. This classic movie has one of the most successful sales histories of all time, making well over the original budget and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. It has since been considered a “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” and is preserved in the National Film Registry in the United States Library of Congress according to Wikipedia.

So many thanks to George Lucas for such a great movie and a great tradition.