The weekly spectacle of a colorful gathering of vehicles driven by young people on Friday and Saturday nights, epitomized in the film American Graffiti, has been a time-honored ritual in cities and towns big and small across the country. In this film and others, the essence of teenage car culture is nostalgically celebrated. The memories of “seeing and being seen” at favorite hangouts with vehicles lovingly maintained to the extent that money and expertise allowed were core experiences for many people during their adolescent years. While it may be tempting to think that traditional cruising is now a planned event catering to an aging demographic, it appears that the old-style slow parade of mostly youth-owned vehicles is still alive and well in Monterey.

Before going further, two facts need to be stated. First, the title of this article is a convenient creation by the author. The “cruise” presented here is not an official Monterey Car Week event nor does it appear to be formally identified by this term. Second, this was an accidental discovery. CarShowSafari.com staff were pleasantly surprised by the scene while heading to one of Cannery Row’s excellent restaurants after attending the day’s slate of wonderful Car Week events.

In true cruising fashion, a wide range of vehicles were seen in motion on Cannery Row or displayed on this scenic thoroughfare. They included beautifully restored 1950s-60s classics, lowriders, tuners, pickup trucks, and newer European imports that were admired by an appreciative crowd whose phones stayed in hand with cameras purposely capturing the proceedings. Most importantly, the drivers were well-behaved as there was no apparent speeding, overly loud exhausts, or failures to yield to both cars and pedestrians, of which there were plenty of each.

Monterey Car Week attendees will not find this event listed in any guides to this period’s festivities, so this review offers the opportunity to be “in the know”. The recommendation is to park on streets above Lighthouse Avenue, walk a short block or two, and find a spot on Cannery Row to enjoy this dazzling procession of local mobile art.

– Andre Swygert, 2026