With June celebrated as ‘Graffiti Month’ around the region, the unofficial final event was hosted locally on Saturday, June 27.

The Cars at the Barn gathering, put on at Lorina’s Edible Garden on Enterprise Road in Escalon, was the idea of Dave Cajias, whose wife Lorina operates The Barn venue.

“There’s a lot of events out here and I always said ‘we should do a car show’ and you know what? We did,” Cajias shared, noting he wanted to dovetail on to the popular observance of American Graffiti-inspired car shows, cruises and the like that have become a June staple in and around the Modesto area for years.

“This is the fourth year running and we’ve had great participation, great community spirit, and everybody comes together at the end of car month, basically, and enjoys the car culture,” Cajias added. “I’m not affiliated with Graffiti but I like cars. If you have a nice one, bring it out, it’s a good time.”

The free event gives those displaying the cars and those just coming out to admire them a chance to visit, share some classic car restoration stories, and more. The bulk of the entries come from the Central Valley-Modesto area including some from members of a couple of car clubs, along with individuals entering their vehicles.

“It’s just a show and shine, to talk shop,” Cajias said, adding that his neighbor and friend Eli Lester has been very helpful with the event, displaying several of his vehicles.

Currently, Cajias doesn’t have a classic to display, but he is hoping that will change.

“I am a Porsche enthusiast without a Porsche,” he said, chuckling. “I used to own a Porsche, when I first met my wife, then we had children and I had to sell it to buy a Suburban.”

But with plenty of cars on display Saturday – many of them Porsches – Cajias was able to enjoy the car culture and said he looks forward to continue hosting Cars at the Barn, always planned for the last Saturday in June.