Temecula Rod Run
Photo: 1969 Caddy
For anyone who loves classic cars, the Temecula Rod Run is the highlight of the year. Each spring, historic Old Town fills with gleaming hot rods, customs and vintage classics, and the whole town turns out to admire them. For a business built around a 1969 Cadillac, it is the event we circle on the calendar.
What happens
The Rod Run unfolds over two days. On Friday evening, the Night Cruise brings classic cars rolling through Old Town, engines rumbling and chrome catching the streetlights. On Saturday, the Show & Shine lines Old Town’s streets with parked cars, their owners ready to talk about restorations, engines and history. It is a celebration of craftsmanship and nostalgia set against Old Town’s Western storefronts.
2027 dates
The City of Temecula’s official Rod Run page lists a Save the Date of Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, 2027. The Friday Night Cruise runs from 5 to 8 p.m., followed by Saturday’s Show & Shine in historic Old Town. Check the City’s website for the full schedule closer to the event.
Tips for visiting
- Arrive early — Old Town gets busy, and parking fills fast.
- Come both days: the Friday cruise and the Saturday show feel very different.
- Talk to owners — they love sharing their cars’ stories.
- Book dinner ahead; Old Town restaurants fill up on Rod Run weekend.
See a classic up close — or ride in one
Rod Run weekend is the perfect time to experience a classic car beyond looking at it. Our red 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible — with its long hood, chrome egg-crate grille and tail fins — is exactly the kind of car that draws a crowd in Old Town. Book a chauffeured ride for the weekend and arrive at Rod Run festivities in a classic of your own, or pair the show with an afternoon of wine tasting.
Who will love the Rod Run
Car enthusiasts, families, photographers and anyone with a soft spot for Americana will love the Temecula Rod Run. It is also a great weekend for a celebration — a birthday for a car-loving parent, an anniversary for a couple who met cruising, or a bachelor party with a vintage theme.
Because demand for classic cars spikes this weekend, book the '69 Cadillac well in advance on DriveShare if you want to ride in style during Rod Run.
Planning your visit
Temecula’s festivals and events draw big crowds, so plan early: buy tickets as soon as they go on sale, reserve dinner nearby and book hotels well in advance for major weekends. Check the organizer’s official website for the latest schedule, parking, shuttle and road-closure information, and arrive early to beat traffic. Dress in layers, since Temecula’s days can be warm and evenings cool, and bring water and sun protection for outdoor events. If you plan to taste wine, arrange a ride or designated driver — and because classic-car rentals book up quickly on event weekends, reserve the 1969 Cadillac on DriveShare as soon as your plans are set.
Best time to go
Events draw crowds and fill nearby hotels and restaurants, so book accommodation, dinners and transportation well in advance, and arrive early.
Make a day of it
A sample Temecula day built around Temecula Rod Run:
- Late morning — chauffeured pickup at your hotel and a slow cruise up Rancho California Road.
- Afternoon — two winery tastings with a lunch stop in wine country.
- Golden hour — drop-off on Old Town Front Street for photos with the car.
- Evening — Temecula Rod Run, then a ride back to your hotel with the top down.
Temecula Rod Run at a glance
| Category | Classic-car show & cruise |
|---|---|
| Address | Historic Old Town Temecula, CA 92590 |
| Area | Old Town Temecula |
| When | 2027 dates: Friday, April 30 (Night Cruise, 5–8 p.m.) and Saturday, May 1, 2027 (Show & Shine), per the City’s Save the Date |
| Organizer | City of Temecula |
| Good to know | Friday Night Cruise and Saturday Show & Shine in Old Town |
| Website | temeculaca.gov/991/Temecula-Rod-Run |
Getting to Temecula Rod Run in a 1969 Cadillac
Old Town Temecula is compact and walkable, but parking on Front Street fills quickly on weekends and during events. Arriving by chauffeured 1969 Cadillac solves that neatly: your driver drops you at the door, waits or circles back, and collects you when you are ready — and a red convertible on Front Street’s Western boardwalks makes for the most photographed arrival in town.
Chauffeured hire is $325 per hour with a three-hour minimum, booked and protected through DriveShare. Tell us where you want to go and we will build the route — Temecula Rod Run plus a winery or two, a sunset stop and a ride home.
Book the '69 Cadillac on DriveShare
More things to do nearby
- 1909 — restaurants
- Baily's Old Town Temecula — restaurants
- Luke's On Front — restaurants
- Gaucho Grill Argentine Steakhouse — restaurants
- E.A.T. Marketplace — restaurants
All things to do in Temecula → · Month-by-month events calendar → · Temecula wineries →
Frequently asked questions
Where is Temecula Rod Run?
Temecula Rod Run is at Historic Old Town Temecula, CA 92590, in Old Town Temecula.
When is Temecula Rod Run?
2027 dates: Friday, April 30 (Night Cruise, 5–8 p.m.) and Saturday, May 1, 2027 (Show & Shine), per the City’s Save the Date. Dates can change from year to year, so confirm on the official website before you plan travel.
What is Temecula Rod Run known for?
The Temecula Rod Run is known as the City of Temecula’s classic-car event in historic Old Town, with a Friday Night Cruise and a Saturday Show & Shine; the 2027 edition is April 30–May 1.
Can I arrive at Temecula Rod Run in a classic car?
Yes. 1969 Caddy offers a chauffeured red 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible from $325 per hour (three-hour minimum), booked on DriveShare. We plan the drop-off and pickup around Temecula Rod Run and can add nearby wineries to the same booking.
Arrive at Temecula Rod Run in style.
A chauffeured 1969 Cadillac convertible for your Temecula day — booked on DriveShare.