Fans of lowriders, vintage Chevrolets and classic Pontiacs will experience an extraordinary Saturday with car shows in Venice and Santa Monica.
On September 11th, the Venice Car Show takes place in Oakwood Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Santa Monica Show takes place on the pier from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Both shows celebrate Hispanic culture and contributions to the region, and are free family-friendly events designed to bring the community together. This year, the Venice Auto Show will raise funds for the Venice Traquero Monument, which was approved for placement on Windward Circle at an LA City Council meeting in May.
The memorial will honor Mexican and Mexican-American railroad workers known as “traqueros” who played key roles in building the Main Railroad Transportation System and the Pacific Electric Interurban System in Los Angeles.
“This is bigger than the railways, this is a piece of our Mexican-American history that has been erased. This is the light for the future that people will use to remember the past, ”said Jose Gonzalez, a native of Venice and member of the Traquero Memorial Committee.
The memorial is slated for completion in 2024 and was spearheaded by Laura Ceballos, a Venice native and activist. Ceballos’ parents immigrated to Venice from Jalisco and Nayarit in Mexico in the 1960s.
Ceballos is excited to make the memorial project a success and fund it through a lively event that celebrates the local Mexican-American heritage. The Venice Car Show features a range of activities including an Oaxaquena food truck, Mexican gifts, a raffle, a photo booth, and live performances by Danza Azteca Chichimeca and Donja Princesa Folklorico Group.
The show is hosted in partnership with the Westside Classics Car Club and the entry fee for the car is $ 25.
Over on Santa Monica Pier, the nonprofit Pico Youth and Family Center will be hosting a classic car show in celebration of Latino / Hispanic Heritage Month.
There are live performances by local bands and artists The Midnight Cruzzers and DJ Chel, as well as the Miss Chevy Pinup Contest. The car entrance fee is $ 30 and there is a requirement for cars built before 1975. Entrants will take part in a raffle and award ceremony.
City council agreed to allocate $ 5,000 to the pier show, and former councilor and pier business owner Greg Morena is contributing $ 1,000. The Pier Corporation has also agreed to waive the customary $ 15,000 rental fee for use of the pier parking lot.
“It’s a great way for these auto clubs to gather during Hispanic Heritage Month in September to show solidarity, talk to their friends and neighbors,” said Councilor Phil Brock. “This is an ideal way to promote a group meeting, to show their heritage, to show their pride, to show that they have a peaceful, loving presence.”
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