start Your engines, graffiti summer is back

BY TODD AARONSON / Visit Modesto

Visit Modesto announced the return of Graffiti Summer after a long wait due to Covid-19 gathering restrictions. Graffiti Summer, traditionally held in June, celebrates the car culture and history that Modesto native George Lucas brought to life in his biopic “American Graffiti.” For over 20 years the City of Modesto has cleared the streets of downtown and paraded over 1,200 classic cars to tens of thousands of spectators to kick off weekend events for the American Graffiti Festival and Car Show presented by the Kiwanis Club of North Modesto.

This is the only official American Graffiti car show in the nation and the parade will take place Friday night, August 20th in downtown Modesto with new protocols for personal space in consideration of spectators.

2021’s celebration of Car Culture begins with the Graffiti Classic Car Show presented by the Modesto Area Street Rod Association (MASRA) on August 15th at McHenry Village. That night, the historic State Theatre will kick-off the week