MARLBOROUGH – At the front of City Hall, sharing space with a shiny black 1948 Cadillac, horns blared from a pair of mini-vehicles.
These small trucks, brought by the Aleppo Shriners, were among hundreds of vehicles making their way to Main Street for the annual car show on Sunday, June 18.
The trucks were not among the oldest there, but they were very popular with the younger set.
“Kids love to play with the horns,” said Al Baldwin of the Shriners.
The mini-trucks would normally be seen at parades, performing routines for the crowds. But on June 18, the Shriners were on the sidelines, watching the parade of spectators.
“I just love it,” said David Evans-Brown. “There’s a lot of people watching and vehicle watching.”
The Shriners also brought along a collection of even smaller cars – Matchbox and Hot Wheel types, arrayed in a car show all their own.
Nearby, Bob Archibald was watching as well. As chairman of the United Brethren Lodge of Freemasons’ car show, he and his committee made sure that participants were parked properly and ready to show.
“It’s been super,” he said. “The city and the police bend over backwards for us.”
Archibald has been chairman since the show’s inception in 2009 – except for two years, when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He heads a 38-member committee that oversees one of the largest events in the city.
By 9 a.m., hundreds of classic cars lined up along Main Street, and hundreds of visitors were already on hand to admire them. By 10 a.m., most of Main Street between South Bolton and Prospect streets were filled with nearly 400 classic vehicles.
Cars and trucks arrived in most shapes, sizes and colors, with model years ranging from the 1930s up to the cutoff of 1990.
Lamborghinis blended in with Fords, Chevys and Volkswagens, including a couple of Bugs and a van.
Some lucky vehicles went home with trophies.
The event featured several food trucks, both along Main Street and in one of the municipal parking lots, along with music from a DJ.
In addition to the city and police, the show also received support from local businesses and the chamber of commerce.
In addition to the funds raised from participants’ registration fees, the Masons also held a couple of raffles – one for $500 in car cleaning supplies, and another for one of three new cars.
Proceeds went to benefit six charities – Shriners’ Children’s Hospital; the Masons; the Wounded Warrior Project; the Boys and Girls Club of Metrowest; the Marlborough Food Pantry and Home Base Veteran and Family Care.
For information, visit https://www.marlborocarshow.com/home
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