Royal Oak car show to return to Memorial Park during Dream Cruise

ROYAL OAK — The city of Royal Oak will be holding its 28th annual car show during the big weekend of the Woodward Dream Cruise.

The Woodward Dream Cruise Car Show will be held Aug. 18-19 at Memorial Park, located at 31050 Woodward Ave., just north of 13 Mile Road. More than 600 cars have registered and will be featured across the event, which will include a 5K run/walk.

“We also have a Chevy performance display, and they display a lot of their Corvettes and Camaros, and then we have a GM design car show as well that sits at Memorial Park, and it kind of encompasses (the event) with the city’s car show,” said John Fedele, the treasurer of the Woodward Dream Cruise Committee and Royal Oak’s superintendent of recreation.

The Performance Park Classic Car Show will occur both days, taking place from noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 18 and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 19. The Cruise in Shoes 5K run/walk will take place 8-9:30 a.m. Aug. 19 at Shrine High School, 3500 W. 13 Mile Road.

Fedele said his favorite part of holding the car show each year is bringing together many eras of classic vehicles in one place, along with their owners, who tell stories of their cars.

“You have the older generation, older population that talks to you about how they had this particular car when they were growing up as a kid and how they’re able to relive their childhood and were able to purchase the car again,” he said.

“The conversation with the story that everyone brings across all generations and the ownerships of classic cars, it’s something to look forward to. There’s some good stories where we all laugh and then there’s some real heartbreak stories, but nonetheless it’s the dialogue that sometimes you miss out on by not having these events,” he said.

Chuck Leighton, of Flushing, has participated in around 20 of the Royal Oak shows, but unfortunately he won’t make it to Memorial Park this year due to back surgery.

Leighton would normally bring his 1951 Ford Custom Victoria two-door hardtop that he’s owned since 2011 and has put 90,000 miles on. Though he’s sad about missing the event, Leighton said the car show is fun and features a good selection of vehicles.

“From Model Ts up into the ’80s customs, hot rods, one-offs, daily drivers, there’s a tremendous diversity of cars,” he said.

Registration to participate in the event, which costs $60, will end on Aug. 13. For more information, visit royaloakrec.com.