Old Town smelled like hot asphalt and popcorn again. The 2026 Temecula Rod Run ran Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, drawing classic hot rods and — as Visit Temecula Valley put it — tens of thousands of visitors for one of the longest-running car shows in the West.
How the weekend ran
- Friday Night Cruise, 5:00–8:00 p.m., along Old Town Front Street
- Saturday Show & Shine, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., with vehicles parked for viewing from arch to arch
- City and tourism coverage expected more than 500 classics and projects on display
- Spectator admission was free; Patch noted Friday cruise registration sold out for participants while the street remained open to onlookers
Road closures on Front Street and finger roads were posted by the city for setup and show hours. Free public parking pointed to the Old Town garage on Mercedes and lots at 1st & Front and Santiago & Ynez.
Sponsors named by the city included So Cal Rods and Customs, England Family Mortuary, Rightway Site Services, Us Versus Them, Meza Automotive Paint, and Rancho Water.
2027: Dates are TBA — watch TemeculaCA.gov and Visit Temecula Valley.
Sources: Visit Temecula Valley; Patch preview; Patch weekend guide