SHOWING OFF YOUR Wheels

Regional Car Shows Showcase The Best Of Automobiles

BY KEVIN DRULEY PHOTOS COURTESY OF HILL TOP PHOTOGRAPHY & PATT BARRETT OF GENEVA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Whether they’re held weekly, monthly, or annually, car shows double as (engine) block parties.

“Visitors to our car show can expect lots of great classic cars, music, plenty of outdoor food vendors, restaurants, bars and activities for the kids,” says Laura Thomas of the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance, who organizes the Lemont Legends shows. A similar refrain revs each summer in multiple Neighborhood Tourist communities.

We offer a list on page 26, but some enthusiasts might not need it. Shuttling between shows, after all, can be as rhythmic as the purr of an old six-cylinder.

“Car show attendees like to go to every car show they can, right?” Thomas said. “So ours is on a Wednesday night. Lockport is on a Monday night. Downers [Grove] does theirs on a Friday night. So they can kind of hit each one on the area. And it’s free. The event is totally free. I mean, obviously, that’s a huge crowd-drawer. Come down. If you want, purchase some food, have a drink with friends. Walk around and look at some really great cars.”

Patt Barrett, co-organizer of the Geneva Concours D’Elegance, concurs. The event is set for August in the city’s downtown.

As with many events around the suburbs, the Concours is free, but donations to the LivingWell Cancer Research Center will be accepted as visitors enter.

It’s been nearly 20 years since Barrett and her husband, John, helped start the event. Through it all, the focus has remained steady yet wide-reaching.

“It’s something for everybody,” Patt Barrett said. “It’s a family event. We’re trying to draw the young and the old. So there’s cars for everyone. There’s cars that are the oldies but goodies, from the ‘20s and ‘30s. There’s racecars and a whole venue of other cars that are special classics” from car clubs.

Concours 2023 marks the first in two years. The 2022 event was canceled when Patt Barrett suffered a stroke about two weeks before the show.

Barrett credits the close-knit Concours community of directors and volunteers for its support in assuring her that measure was the right thing to do.

She says she’s “pretty much” back to full health, adding: “I was lucky. But as I’ve told everybody, I’m not out eating hot dogs and hamburgers and French fries anymore. And no running marathons.”

No problem there. Walking – if not sauntering – is the preferred method of getting around car shows, anyway.

CRUISIN’ INTO LOCKPORT

Mondays through Aug. 28

4-8 p.m.

Downtown Lockport, State Street between 9th and 11th streets www.cityoflockport.net

CRUISE THE MOOSE

Tuesdays through Sept. 26

5-8 p.m.

McHenry County Moose Lodge

3535 N. Richmond Rd., Johnburg

Search by “Cruise the Moose” on Facebook

LEMONT LEGENDS CRUISE NIGHTS

Wednesdays through Aug. 30 (except July 5)

6-9 p.m.

Downtown Lemont www.lemontlegends.com

MOOSE CRUISE NIGHTS

Fridays through Sept. 1 (except June 23)

4-8 p.m., 1030 Warren Ave., Downers Grove www.dgmoose.net/moose-cruise-night/

ACES CLASSIC CARS CRUISE NIGHTS

Fridays through Oct. 27

5-8 p.m.

502 Twin Rail Drive, Minooka www.acesclassiccars.com

LOMBARD CRUISE NIGHTS

Saturdays through Aug. 26

6-10 p.m.

Downtown Lombard www.villageoflombard.org

DIRBY BIRD CRUISE NIGHT

July 29

3-11 p.m.

124 South Maple St., Sycamore www.dekalbcountycvb.com

GENEVA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Aug. 27

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Third Street, Geneva www.genevaconcours.net

MORRIS CRUISE NIGHT

Second Saturday of the month, June-October

6-9 p.m.

Downtown Morris www.facebook.com/MorrisCruiseNight

ROAMER CRUISE NIGHT AND CAR SHOW

Sept. 2

City Park and downtown Streator

Car show (City Park): noon-3 p.m. at City Park

Cruise Night (downtown): 5p.m. – 10p.m. www.streator.org/events/roamer_cruise_night