Highland Park's Most Popular Event to be Held At Its Most Popular High School

1947 Chevy Fleetline poses in front of the Highland Park Car Show Mural on Figueroa.

For the first time in its 25 year history, the popular Highland Park Car Show will not be held in the heart of Highland Park on Figueroa Street. Instead, it will take place on the baseball field of Franklin High School this coming Sunday, June 28.

It would seem the same fate that threatens Silver Lake’s Sunset Junction Street Festival, has befallen this annual (albeit smaller and less controversial) event as well: a lack of local support and endorsement from city hall. Turns out, closing a major thoroughfare in a business district costs a lot in city services, and in local sales revenues.

It will be a much smaller show than Highland Park has been used to, occupying a small field rather than the half mile of Figueroa it has had in the past. It will also now have a $5 admission charge to attend. (Proceeds going to the Franklin ASB.) Unfortunately, with Franklin being located in the middle of a residential neighborhood, I expect the traffic to be horrendous. (Traffic at a car show? Now that’s ironic.)

So the nail salons, the restaurants and movie theater will be open this coming Sunday without having their usual customers blocked out, and the city won’t have to spend the non-existent funds to facilitate this special event. Not that I will miss the tradition of being rousted from bed at 6AM on Sunday morning by revving engines, thumping bass, and antique sirens. Yet, I will miss seeing this most popular Highland Park tradition on historic Route 66, in the heart of Highland Park where it made its home for so many years.

HT to The Boulevard Sentinel