Whether it’s on the shores of Lake Ontario, in the heart of a village or minutes away from the Erie Canal, Niagara County plays host to countless car enthusiasts and their rides.
Between May and September, collectors have ample opportunity to show off their rides old and new and can see what fellow enthusiasts have decided to take out for a spin.
For several local car enthusiasts, such as Lockport resident Albert McFadyen, he’ll take his 1936 Plymouth out to nearly every show and cruise Niagara County has to offer.
“The strange thing is, there’s always a car that shows up that you’ve never seen,” he said.
Some of those shows that McFadyen and several other enthusiast frequent are as follows:
Lockport
In downtown, the Lockport Monday Night Cruise Optimist Club will play host to a wide variety of classic rides at Ida Fritz Park weekly from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. running from May 6 until September 2.
Each week boasts a different theme of cars and music, ranging from “Hot Rod Night” to “Mopar & Motown Night.”
“We always say, ‘it’s family, fun and free,’” club president Pat Schrader said.
Right across from the Erie Canal, Marvin’s at Widewaters will be hosting weekly car shows with a rotating lineup of live music beginning June 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Every third Wednesday of the month, Heinrich Chevrolet on Transit Road will transform their used car lot into a full-fledgling car show from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
North Tonawanda
Corvettes, Mopars and more will be on hand at Pist ‘N Broke’s Cruisin’ the Wurlitzer events, which are held weekly on Monday’s from 5 to 9 p.m.
The group has held the cruises in front of the Wurlitzer building since 2019 after having previously held the event for several years on Webster Street.
“The Webster Street Classic Car Cruise seen the growth over the next few years. It was often said, ‘if you didn’t get to the cruise by 5 p.m., you weren’t getting in.’ This growth led Pist’n Broke Cruisers to look for another historic site in North Tonawanda,” the organization’s website reads.
Olcott
The Olcott Beach Car show is the longest running show on this list and perhaps the longest consecutively running in Niagara County, now in its 34th year.
This year’s annual show will take place Aug. 31 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Car registration takes place between 8 and 11:30 a.m. and is $20 per car with all proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House.
Organizer Joe Haniszewski said that an estimated 1,000 cars lined up at last year’s event, which drew in somewhere between 5,000-7,000 visitors to the hamlet coming from places as far away as Ohio, Pennsylvania and even across the Canadian border.
“There’s cars parked all along the road,” Haniszewski said. “People will even come just to enjoy it like it’s a big party. They come to see people, meet other car enthusiasts and have a good time.”
Can’t get enough of cars in Olcott?
The Olcott Beach Community Association hosts a Sunday Car Cruise on Main Street running weekly from May 26 through August 31. The first cruise of the season will take place from 1 to 4 p.m., while all others will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.
Wilson
In the village, Brownie’s Custard Stand and Wilson Farmer’s Market are joining forces to put on this year’s weekly car show at the eatery starting Tuesday May 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. and running through September.
Youngstown
This annual Beginning of Summer Street Dance and Car Cruise, hosted by the Youngstown Business and Professional Association, will host its 10th annual car cruise on June 20 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Sections of Main and Hinman Streets are closed down to display the classic cars that come cruising down to the village.
YBPA member Cheryl Butera said the event not only focuses on the cars, but also boasts a collection of vendors, food and kid’s activities.
“It gives a little bit of everything for folks who want to see what Youngstown has to offer,” Butera said.