Orange Plaza Rotary Car Show
Sun / May 3 / 9 am - 3 pm
The Orange Plaza will rumble with engines, chrome and community spirit this spring as the Annual Orange Plaza Rotary Car Show celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The event began in the 1990s at Santiago Canyon College, and Rotarian Mike Sweeney, whose passion for classic cars helped shape its direction, was instrumental in bringing the show to the Orange Plaza soon after.
Historically, the show has been held the third Sunday in April. This year it will be part of “Celebrate Orange,” the first weekend in May, along with the May Parade and The Taste of Orange.
The show serves as the primary fundraiser for the 41-year-old Orange Plaza Rotary Club, part of Rotary International, a global philanthropic service organization.
“Funds go back into the community through our service projects,” says car show Chair Tracey Curtis. “The club mentors students at El Modena High School, with additional support to local fire and police explorers and Scouting America, Troop 241.”
Vehicles in the car show must be from the year 1975 or earlier. Car entries go on sale February 1 and are sold out in record time.
“Three years ago, when we came back from COVID, car entries sold out in seven minutes,” says Curtis. “That’s the record.”
The event runs from 8 am to 3 pm, rain or shine, with an opening ceremony at 9 am and awards presented at 2 pm. More than 400 classic cars will line the streets surrounding the Plaza. The day also features vendors, raffles, live entertainment and more than 30 awards.
Rex McMillan has been the show’s “pronouncer” for the past 20 years and shows a 1965 Buick Riviera. “I love the cars, but I love the people more” he says. “What’s beautiful about car culture is the open nature of it. Virtually everyone will talk with you. There are no barriers, and we are willing to help one another.”
The show has attracted specialty cars such as Amelia Earhart’s 1932 Hudson Essex Terra Plane, the Weinermobile, and the 1909 Buick Racer—one of Orange County’s first registered cars.
A featured classic this year is a fully restored 1945 Seagrave Fire Engine from Orange’s new Fire Museum.
A Rotarian since 2007, Curtis has chaired the event since 2022, when she succeeded her Rotarian father, Joe Colombo. While she acknowledges chairing the event is a lot of work, she does it for the people. “I love the smiles and the older generations bringing the younger generations and looking at history,” says Curtis, who shows a skyline blue-and-white 1974 K5 Blazer.
“My favorite part of the day is when I shake the hand of each owner as they drive their car out and thank them for coming. That is where my joy is.”
Select for more information about the Orange Plaza Rotary
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Select to view an archival Jul/Aug 2014 Car Show article.
