Car enthusiasts from across Southern California will come together for the 27th Cool Cruise Car Show in Old Town La Verne on Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and attendees will be able to walk through rows of buffed up vintage vehicles while enjoying live music and an array of other fun experiences. This year’s show will be one of the biggest to date, featuring up to 800 restored cars of which 40 will be awarded Best in Show.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this event back to the city of La Verne, which is a community I have known and loved for many years,” said event organizer Craig Hoelzel of Flying Deuces. “In addition to being a great time, the Cool Cruise Car Show also provides opportunities to give back and contribute to the community.”

To that end, the proceeds of the Cool Cruise Car Show raffle will be donated to the La Verne K9 Police Foundation which support the La Verne Police Department by obtaining and training police dogs to assist with keeping the La Verne community safe. The grand prize raffle item is a Snap-on Hot Dog Roller, valued at $700, that has the outer appearance of a Snap-on toolbox. Other prizes include gift cards and unique items of varying value. Additionally, since food bank donations often decrease during the summer months, attendees are encouraged to bring dry and canned foods to donate to the O.C. Food Bank’s booth.

Also joining the show from Orange County will be the Orange County Mustang Club, which will be setting up a dedicated space featuring up to 70 Ford and Mustang vehicles in the University of La Verne’s parking lot off of 3rd Street and D Street right behind Mainiero Square. With the stage so close, attendees are sure to rock out to the tunes of The Answer to Classic Rock, who are returning to perform for their 20th year at the show, while strolling down rows of beautiful classic cars, trucks and unique vehicles.

As The Answer performs everything from Sinatra to Santana throughout the day, the Western Antique Power Associates will have displays throughout the show that feature working old engines, vintage tractors and antique machinery. These educational experiences are sure to delight and amaze guests as they are transported to a completely different era and way of living.

The Cool Cruise Car Show will also feature a number of merchandise vendors, from clothing to e-bikes, for those who enjoy shopping, and the event’s central location places it in the middle of some of La Verne’s best eats with many restaurants a stone’s throw away from all the vintage car action. There will also be a COVID-19 vaccination booth outside of the La Verne Fire Station along 3rd Street so individuals can get vaccinated quickly and conveniently.

This event was originally started by LD Johnson while working for the La Verne Public Works Department, where he served for 33 years before retiring. Johnson was inspired by his own love for vintage cars and, based on his experience at other car shows throughout Southern California, thought it would be a great way to bring awareness to and support La Verne’s downtown area, local merchants and community as a whole.

“I started out as just the chef that was bringing all these important ‘ingredients’ of the car show community together to make the event truly shine, and was fortunate enough to build some long-lasting friendships in the process,” said Johnson. “But that’s what makes the Cool Cruise Car Show truly unique—La Verne’s small-town charm, beautiful venue, and casual and intimate atmosphere mixed with participation from significant industry experts.”