For one day each May, downtown Riverside transforms into the city everyone remembers—or wishes they could remember. Chrome gleams under California sunshine, engines rumble with the promise of open roads, and suddenly the streets feel exactly like they’re supposed to feel.
The Show and Go Car Show, now in its 26th year, taps into something deeper than automotive appreciation. It’s a collective act of memory-making, where classic cars become time machines carrying us back to an idealized version of our shared past. Whether you grew up here or just arrived, the event appeals to that universal longing for when things felt simpler, more beautiful, more connected.
California is car culture, and many of us mark the chapters of our lives by what we were driving. The Model T that carried our grandparents through downtown’s early days. The Mustang that defined teenage summers. The carefully restored Camaro that represents decades of weekend devotion. At Show and Go, these mechanical memories cruise the same streets where Riverside’s story began, long before the automobile arrived to reshape everything.
The partnership between Riverside East Rotary Club and the Old Farts Racing Team reflects the event’s inclusive spirit. You don’t need to own a classic car to belong here—you just need to appreciate the artistry of chrome and steel, the symphony of perfectly tuned engines, and the simple pleasure of people gathering to celebrate something beautiful together.
Downtown Riverside predates the automobile but became emblematic of car culture as one of California’s first commuter communities. Show and Go honors both histories, creating a temporary overlay where past and present merge. The cruise route winds through streets that have witnessed a century of change, but for these few hours, time seems negotiable.
This isn’t just a car show. It’s downtown Riverside at it’s best, reminding everyone why they fell in love with this place, and proving that sometimes the most powerful engine is nostalgia itself.
Show and Go returns to the Downtown Riverside May 2, 2026. For more info visit: showandgo.org
This content is courtesy of Riversider Magazine. Words: Ken Crawford, Photos: Zach Cordner and Julian Jolliffe
