The North Modesto Kiwanis Club expects more than 1,200 classic vehicles – all vintage 1979 and older – for its 18th annual American Graffiti Car Show and Festival scheduled June 10-12 in Modesto. The Kiwanis Club’s charity event is the largest of many local activities scheduled during Graffiti month.

The weekend opens with a classic car parade Friday, June 10, that begins in downtown Modesto and extends out McHenry Avenue to Orangeburg Avenue. The parade start time this year has been moved up 30 minutes, to 6:30 p.m. McHenry Avenue will be closed to traffic starting at 3 p.m. and will reopen after crowds disperse, probably by 9:30 p.m. (Participation in the parade is only open to cars that are registered for the American Graffiti Car Show.) Businessman and car collector Don Monaco will be the parade grand marshal.

Entries as of Monday, May 23 included several dozen from the communities of Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon, gearing up to take part in the annual event.

The two-day show will be held at the Modesto Municipal Golf Course, 400 Tuolumne Boulevard. As well as showcasing hundreds of classic vehicles, the festival will feature a variety of local musicians performing hits from the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, games for children, a beer garden and a mix of food and other vendors.

To participate in the car parade, vehicles must be model year 1979 or older and owners must register for the car show. The entry fee is $40 per vehicle through May 29 and $50 after May 29. More information and registration forms are available at www.americangraffitifestival.com; www.northmodestokiwanis.org or by calling 1 (888) 746-9763.

Cars also may be registered between 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 10 at the Clarion Inn Conference Center, 1612 Sisk Road, and Saturday and Sunday mornings at the show. For those who registered in advance, packets can be picked up at the Clarion.

Spectator admission to the car show at Muni golf course is $10 per person, with children 12 and under admitted free if accompanying an adult. Only cash is accepted at the gates, although there will be ATMs inside the festival grounds. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 11 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 12.