The 24th Annual
The largest event in Graffiti summer – sponsored by the North Modesto Kiwanis Club as a fund-raiser for charitable organizations. The show draws 1,200 to 1,400 classic vehicles from around California and the Southwest and West Coast.
2023 – Car Show and Festival
June 10 Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
June 11 Sunday – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at the Modesto Junior College West Campus
Spectator admission
— $10 per person, Children 12 and under free —
2023 – Parade/Cruise
June 9 Friday – approx 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Downtown and McHenry Avenue, Modesto
The Parade
The Friday, June 9, 2023, evening car parade/cruise is open to classic vehicles entered in the weekend car show. It will travel through downtown Modesto and McHenry Avenue. A map of the route will be posted closer to the date.
Celebrities
Filmmaker George Lucas, who produced the movie “American Graffiti” and was a 1962 graduate of Downey High School in Modesto, was the parade grand marshal in 2013.
Actress Candy Clark, who played the part of Debbie Dunham in the original American Graffiti movie, is a repeat guest at the American Graffit Festival in Modesto, Ca.
Custom car builder Gene Winfield has returned to Modesto, his hometown for several years.
The 2022 show also featured noted car customer John D’Agostino who is in the Academy Awards of Automobile Excellence.
Men and women of North Modesto Kiwanis help at community events, such as Love Modesto and the Modesto City School Special Education Field Day.
Our biggest effort is sponsorship of the American Graffiti Festival & Car Show. Members devote thousands of hours to organizing the event, starting in fall for the event held the next June. All profits from the festival go back into the community.
NMK’s History
The North Modesto Kiwanis Club has been a driving force for good for the youth of the Modesto community for more than a half-century. Members meet Thursday mornings for fun, fellowship and to learn more about our community. Visitors are always welcome to club meetings. More info on our website.
Chartered in 1966 by 26 men led by Fran d’Artenay, an MJC history and philosophy professor, the club’s main goal was then – and now – to help make the community a better place for children to thrive. Our chapter shares this mission with our international organization, kiwanis.org
Today, more than 100 men and women from all walks of life and ages 20 to 90 blend their talents, experiences and backgrounds to ensure that we continue to serve children.
How do we meet that goal? By volunteering our time and by raising dollars for charitable organizations through a myriad of fundraisers throughout the years — from chicken barbeques to Breakfast with Santa to car shows.
Our first fundraiser – Chicken a Go Go –started in 1967 and had a successful run at Davis Park for 50 years. We sponsored a decade’s worth of Concours d’Elegance Car Shows before starting the American Graffiti Festival & Car Show 24 years ago. John Sanders led the show for almost two decades, handing off to another of our members, Brent Burnside. We rely on the help of dozens of community volunteers to help our members along the parade route and at the festival. Our event is now the linchpin of Modesto’s American Graffiti summer celebrations.
Money raised at this fundraiser goes back to the community in the form of college scholarships, donations to charitable organizations serving children and teens and a generous Christmas basket program to needy families. Link to content about who we help.
The North Modesto Kiwanis Club is proud of its accomplishments and looks forward to continuing to serve our children. For more info: North Modesto Kiwanis.
Who We Help
We help the following charitable organizations in the local community:
Boys & Girls Club
Cricket’s Hope
Modesto Gospel Mission
Salvation Army Red Shield Center
Redwood Family Center
Great Valley Museum
Opera Modesto Summer Institute for Teens
Society for DisAbilities
Miracle League
Stanislaus County Police Activities League
Graffiti USA Museum
In addition, we presented $20,000 in scholarships for Modesto students heading to two- or four-accredited colleges.
Each December we assemble a generous package of food, toys, books and art supplies for 60 families in need. Wrapping the toys and putting together the food boxes is both a social event and a community service for our members.
