Petaluma’s Salute to American Graffiti is an annual celebration of American Graffiti, classic American cars, cruising the “main drag”, rock ‘n roll music and the “happy days” of the ‘50s and early ‘60s. This multi-day community-wide celebration is most known for large car show and cruise.

Where were you in '62? Although portions of American Graffiti were produced in other Northern California locations, most of the memorable scenes in George Lucas’ timeless, coming-of-age movie were filmed right here in Petaluma in June and July, 1972.

3 Days of Events

Remember flat tops, dancin’ the bop, and Friday night sock hops? What about white bucks, blue suede shoes and bobby sox? Petticoats, peggin’ your jeans and root beer floats? Goin’ steady, American Bandstand and getting’ your kicks on route 66? Cruisin’ the main drag, and grabbing a coke and a 15 cent burger at Mel’s!

This is American Graffiti!!

Join us each year on the 3rd Saturday of May as Cruisin’ The Boulevard honors George Lucas’ timeless, coming-of-age film, American Graffiti, most of which was filmed here in Petaluma in the early summer of 1972. Grab your favorite squeeze, jump into your hot rod, candy-colored screamin’ machine or the family car for that matter, and cruise on back to the “happy days” of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Petaluma’s Salute to American Graffiti is a non-alcoholic community-wide celebration! It’s family fun for everyone…. from boys and girls to grandmas and grandpas! Proceeds fund our Petaluma Save-A-Life Project, Scholarships and other projects and programs that support arts, education, history, safety and welfare.

So, put on your poodle skirts, peggers, jeans, white sox and loafers, and come kick up your heels to our live rock ‘n roll bands! Grab a root beer float, see if you can still hula hoop and check out all of the cool American classNameic cars and trucks cruising the same streets where the movie was filmed over 50 years ago!

As the Wolfman would say….. Be there or be square baby!