California may not have the market cornered in all things old cars and old highways, but at the very least we do love our classic cars and our classic road trips (like Route 66 and the 101). So if you’re in San Diego County on a Friday night in summer, you will definitely want to check out one of the state’s biggest weekly car shows—Cruisin’ Grand in Escondido, California!
What is Cruisin’ Grand?
Cruisin’ Grand is a weekly vintage auto show tradition in San Diego County that happens in the summer. Every Friday night from April to September, classic car enthusiasts bring their cars out to Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido to cruise around or park their cars along the road so that others can enjoy seeing them.
This tradition started 20+ years ago and has been running ever since, with approximately 5,000-10,000 visitors every Friday night! There are also usually 500+ cars to wander around and see. If you are a classic car enthusiast (or just someone looking for a fun San Diego tradition to participate in) then you will not want to miss attending Cruisin’ Grand for an evening.
What to Do at Cruisin’ Grand in Escondido
There are lots of fun things to do at Cruisin’ Grand in Escondido, but first and foremost…if you have a car from pre-1974, then you should consider bringing it out and cruising Grand Avenue at Cruisin’ Grand! The more cars the merrier. But if you, like me, don’t own such a gem then there’s still plenty to enjoy. Here are a few things you should do while you are here:
1. See the Classic Cars
As expected, classic cars of all types show up to this fun event. If you love classic cars and can name them all, then you will love Cruisin’ Grand. Or if you love shiny objects and pretty colors (like me) but can’t name a single car, you will still love Cruisin’ Grand.
You’ll see cars including American Hot Rods, Classics, and Antiques…some of which have been restored to make them nearly identical to their original condition, while others have been customized or painted in new ways.
But no matter what you’re looking for or what you end up seeing, this event is a fun community event…and seeing all the cars lining the streets makes you feel like you have traveled back in time!
2. Look Inside the Cars
A lot of the cars parked along the street leave their windows open so you can look inside. It is so cool to see all the leather upholstery, and the vibrant colors coating the seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and more! It’s fun to compare the old interiors to the interiors of our modern cars…and this is just another set of proof that you’ve traveled back in time at Cruisin’ Grand!
3. Take a Peek Inside the Engines
Another fun aspect of this San Diego car show is that many owners pop up their hoods so you can take a peek inside the engines. In case you haven’t already figured this out, I’m not much of a car person…but it is fascinating to see some of the different engine setups (as well as seeing how clean some of the engines are!)
One engine in particular that stood out when I was here was an engine that utilized a big glass bottle (reminiscent of moonshine). Definitely an interesting setup to see…and who knows what cool engines and cars will be there when you go to Cruisin’ Grand!
4. Talk with the Cars’ Owners
Many of the owners of these classic cars hang out by their cars and love to talk with the people who wander by. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to talk with these owners and get to know more about them and their cars.
I spoke with one owner who told me he had bought his car new all the way back in 1964. He still has it today and brings it out to Cruisin’ Grand for everyone to enjoy seeing!
Another reason to talk with the owners is to get the inside scoop on what goes into restoring these beauties. Of course, just looking at most of these cars will tell you they’re clearly expensive…but it may not fully sink in until an owner tells you he spent $14,000 just on the paint of his car! Talking with owners can be a fun way to learn more about their stories (and their cars’ stories) and can also be a fun way to have a secondhand anxiety attack every time someone walks close to their car’s $14,000 paint job.
5. Listen to the Bands
Every week there are three live bands that play at this event. You can find them on Juniper Street, Kalmia Street, and Maple Street. These are fun to stop and listen to or to dance and sing along to as you walk and see the different cars. These bands really brings a fun and festive mood to this event!
6. People/Dog Watch
As one of the biggest Escondido community events of the week during the summer, lots of different types of people (and dogs!) come out to enjoy an evening downtown. This makes Cruisin’ Grand the perfect place to people watch and dog watch!
7. Eat at Restaurants Downtown
There are lots of cute coffee shops and fun restaurants to eat at on Grand Avenue, so Cruisin’ Grand is a nice time to enjoy eating in Escondido with your friends or family. Be aware that some of the coffee shops close up around 8pm, and if you want to eat you may want to put your name in for a table towards the beginning of the night…because if you wait until closer to the end of the evening you may find you have to wait for 35-40 minutes to get a table.
Cruisin’ Grand Information and FAQs
If you are interested in going to this Escondido car show, you may have a few questions and things you want to know before you go. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions:
What Time Does Cruisin’ Grand Start?
Cruisin’ Grand officially runs from 5pm-9pm every Friday from April to September. However, you should be aware that many of the cars come for the start of the event and then begin to leave around 6:30pm-7pm…so if you want to see the most cars, then you should try to be there toward the beginning of the event rather than showing up later in the evening.
Where Can I Park?
The event space is on Grand Avenue (and the side streets) from Escondido Boulevard to Ivy Street. If you have a pre-1974 car, you can park on any road closure along this section except South Broadway (which is reserved for specific car clubs on specific nights).
If you have a modern car, then you will need to park outside of the road closure areas. There are a lot of street parking options but it is a good idea to get there early or around when it starts so you can find street parking more easily.
What Does it Cost?
Whether you want to simply attend or you want to bring your own pre-1974 car, this event is totally FREE!
Do I Need to Be a Car Enthusiast to Enjoy Cruisin’ Grand?
Cruisin’ Grand is for everyone—visitors and locals, families and individuals, car enthusiasts and shiny object enthusiasts. It’s a great time to meet up with friends or enjoy spending time walking along Grand Avenue by yourself or with family.
Whether you love, just like, or don’t really care about cars, you’ll enjoy spending a summer night out strolling along Grand at this classic car show in California. There are many fun things to do and you just may find yourself gaining a new appreciation for these classic old cars! Be sure to check out Cruisin’ Grand’s website if you have other questions or want to see what the featured club of the night is when you plan to attend.
Looking for more cool things to do in San Diego? Check out this San Diego bucket list!
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