Memorial weekend offers lots of car shows

Car shows are a great way to take advantage of our nice weather. So it's no surprise to see quite a few shows featuring classic cars and street rods scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, along with some free "cruise-ins" next week. Most shows offer extras like music and food. When the weather is colder or damp, fewer older vehicles turn out.

(NOTES: Spectators are admitted free unless indicated otherwise. Vintage cars visit Porky's on University Avenue in St. Paul on most nice days.)

Tonight

Prior Lake Roll-In, Main St., downtown (5-9 pm; 952-440-2277). This weekly event runs into October.

County Market lot, St. Francis (5 pm-dusk; 763-753-6116, www.sffriniterally.org). A weekly event that opens tonight and runs until the Friday after Labor Day.

Saturday

St. Paul Downtown Beat Classics Car Show, Kellogg Blvd. between Wabasha & Robert (5-10 pm; 651-224-4133, www.downtownbeatclassics.com). Downtown St. Paul gets into the car show scene with the first of six Saturday evening shows this summer for pre-1975 vehicles.

7th Annual TSI/Smith Nielsen Car Show, TSI Transmission Shop, Brooklyn Park (10 am–2 pm; 763-424-6630, speedymotorsports@comcast.net, www.gstarod-custom.com). Talk high-performance engines with the owner of the Power Factory.

Sir Henry's 7th Annual Car Show & Downhill Motorless Drag, school parking lot, Garden City (9 am–3 pm; snoopy@hickorytech.net, www.formerlycranes.com). The motorless drags start at 1:30.

Monday (Memorial Day observed)

34th Annual Greenberg Car Show & Swap Meet, Isanti County Fairgrounds, Cambridge (8 am–3 pm; spectators $4, under 12 free; 763-389-1823, 612-724-9268). The area's Hudson- Essex-Terraplane club sponsors trophies and dash plaques at this long-running show for cars of all kinds.

34th Annual Memorial Day Car Show, Blacksmith Lounge, Hugo (9 am–3 pm; show cars $10 with no pre-registration; 651-735-4656, rrshaw@comcast.net, www.northstarwheel.com). The local Studebaker club's annual trophy show also has dash plaques for 300 display cars, the number attending last year's event.

Top 50 Car Show, Jack & Jim's Restaurant, New Duelm (9 am–3 pm; spectator admission unknown; 320-968-9995).

A Day in the Park Car, Truck & Cycle Show, Lake Tomah, Wis. (9 am–4 pm; 608-343-4697, todds39@hotmail.com).

Tuesday

American Legion Post 334, Coon Rapids (5 pm-dusk; 763-421-6260).

El Tequila, Inver Grove Heights (5:30-8:30 pm; 651-455-1650).

Oak City, Brooklyn Center (7-9 pm; 763-531-0235, 612-529-4630).

Central Park, North Branch (6:30 pm departure for a short cruise to a restaurant; 651-674-0020, 651-283-3359).

Pizza Ranch, Waconia (6-9 pm; 952-442-9255, 952-448-4946).

Denny's Classic Diner, Rogers (5 pm-dusk; 763-428-1574).

Thursday