Is There A Difference Between a Cruise-In and a Car Show?

Yes. A cruise-in usually does not award prizes and trophies whereas a car show usually does. I say “usually” because sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably. Categories for awards and trophies come in a wide variety, such as “Best Paint,” “Best 50’s Car,” “Best Unrestored Classic,” “People’s Choice,” “Pastor’s Choice,” “Best Muscle Car,” “Best Import,” etc. A cruise-in is usually a more casual affair. Cruise-ins and car shows often have several other features such as music (live or music CDs), door prizes, dash plaques, and food and drinks.

Cruise-ins generally do not charge a registration fee for car owner participants whereas car shows normally do in order to subsidize the cost of the awards and other expenses. Car show registration fees are typically $5 - $10 per car. Spectators are usually not charged a fee in either event.

I recommend cruise-ins (without awards), especially if this will be your first classic car event. Cruise-ins are more inclusive and simpler and cheaper to conduct without awards. A car show can keep some car owners home that have not yet (or just can’t) invest a lot of time and money into restoring their vehicle to show winning condition. I personally don’t mind admiring a rust bucket of a 1953 Buick Skylark that was just pulled out of a barn where it sat and deteriorated for 27 years and still smells like mouse urine inside. That is an extreme example but you get the idea. Cruise-ins can bring out more of the “daily driver” classics that are still intriguing despite their rust and imperfect interiors.

You can also do a hybrid event where car owners who want to compete for awards can pay a registration fee and get a numbered windshield placard for reference by the judges and park in a designated “show car” area. All others park in a different area for the cruise-in.

If you want to have a lot of family and kid oriented elements as well as the car-related elements, you may want to call your event a Classic Car Fest or something similar.

Another variation is a multi-day event. One format could be a cruise-in on a Friday night followed by a judged car show/car fest on Saturday. City downtown areas and parks often have these types of events.

Decide early what kind of event you want to have.