Classic Cars, Road Closures Part of Busy Weekend Coming Up

A busy weekend in Petaluma focuses on transportation, with the added irony of several road closures and hundreds of bicyclists making it more difficult. It starts with the this afternoon, Friday, from 4 - 8 p.m. It's actually little more than a car show, but its inevitable popularity meands parking will be difficult to locate near E. Washington and N. McDowell this afternoon.

The main event, American Graffiti 2012 Classic Car Show and Cruise, will take place in Downtown Petaluma this coming Saturday, May 19. The celebration includes over 400 classic cars, live bands and vendors, and will occupy the  downtown area pretty much all day long. Vehicles start arriving at 8 a.m. or earlier, vendors open at 9 a.m., Pinewood Derby at 10, Street Dance at 2 p.m., American Graffiti Cruise starts at 4. For details click the link above.

Road closures begin at 7 a.m. and include:

• Petaluma Blvd North between Washington Street and C Street,
• Fourth/Kentucky Street between Washington Street and B Street,
• Western Avenue between Keller Street and Water Street,
• Water Street and B Street between Second and Fourth Street.

Public transit routes will be detoured to Keller Street and service will still be available at the Transit Mall. All businesses that are normally open on Saturday will be open during the event. 

Also on Saturday, the Petaluma Sunrise Rotary Foundation is hosting a fundraising . The riders will leave the area of Club One between 7 and 10 a.m. They will head south on North McDowell Blvd, turn west onto Corona and head out of town for one of three courses that take them through the hills and back roads of Southern Sonoma County.

Around noon, the riders will begin returning via Railroad Ave to Old Redwood Highway and back to Club One. Approximately 1,000 riders are expected to participate in this fund raiser. For more information go to www.backroadchallenge.com. 

On Sunday, if the retro-themed American Graffiti festivities haven't worn you down, check out the Lagunitas Beer Circus starting at 1 pm. "Witness death-defying aerialists acts, be amazed by human marvels, laugh at outrageous clowns, get thrilled by exotic burlesque dancers, and lots more to dazzle your mind." You get the idea. Tickets are $40 at Lagunitas Brewery Schwag Shop, online at www.Lagunitas.com or call 707.769.4495.

No road closures are planned for this event.