ORANGE COVE – After a successful first go, a growing community event will return to bring good vibes and sweet rides while supporting local youth programs.
On Sept. 26, the Orange Cove Community Center will be home to the Second Annual Dreams on Wheels Car Show. The all-day event will gather local hot rods, classics, motorcycles and more, with proceeds from the show going toward the Orange Cove Boys and Girls Club and the city’s parks and recreation department.
Alongside the goal of supporting local programs, event organizer Jesse Lopez said he hopes to create a new culture around local car events while putting Orange Cove on the map.
“I want people to get closer to the town and know more about what we have downtown,” said Lopez in an interview. “I want people to know that Orange Cove is a good town and that there’s good people out here,” he added.
The show is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the roll-in for car show entries running from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The vehicle entry fee will be $20 at the gate, but spectator admission is free.
During the event, attendees can check out a variety of food and retail vendors, and in the early afternoon they can enter raffle drawings for prizes donated by local sponsors. According to Lopez, raffle tickets prices will vary based on the value of each prize.
DJ Bubbles will be keeping the vibes up for most of the event, but attendees can also gather for a live music performance from the Orosi-based sierreño group, Los Elegidos del Central.
By the end of the day, some standout vehicles will be leaving the show with some new bragging rights. In addition to awards for the top 20 entries, a handful of gems will be awarded titles such as Best of Show Car, Best of Show Truck and Best of Show Motorcycle.
Lopez said that last year’s Dreams on Wheels show saw an estimated 120 cars, and he hopes to see an even bigger turnout this year. He added that last year’s show brought attendees from surrounding communities such as Reedley, Fowler, Kerman and Visalia, with some even coming from as far as Modesto and Los Angeles.
“It was a good event,” Lopez said. “Everybody liked it, we had a good vibe and the vibe was just beautiful.”
Last year’s inaugural car show also served as a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club, which Lopez said was inspired by the staff’s kindness toward his son in his childhood years. With the city bringing back its parks and rec department late last year, Lopez said he also wanted to give back to developing sports programs due to his years coaching youth teams in the past.
Reflecting on the success of last year’s event, and future events in the works under the Dreams on Wheels name, Lopez emphasized the value of support and sponsorships from local businesses.
“I appreciate everybody that helps me out, and that’s the way I’m gonna keep it because without them, I’m nobody,” Lopez said.
