Cruisin’ down memory lane

Petaluma takes a step back in time this weekend to honor George Lucas’ classic film “American Graffiti,” which celebrates a time when cruising downtown in your shiny ride was the thing to do on a Friday night. Cruisin’ the Boulevard’s 10th annual Salute to American Graffiti roars into town May 15-16 with family friendly fun including a dance, car shows and a downtown cruise.

Cruisin’ The Boulevard, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that produces the annual Salute to American Graffiti all-volunteer event that benefits community projects, schools and other community programs that focus on the arts, history, safety and welfare of Petaluma.

Salute to American Graffiti’s Cruise-In and Kickooff Social is from 4 to 8 p.m. May 15 in the Plaza North shopping Center on North McDowell Boulevard. The social and informal car show is free to the public and features reserved parking for 1975 and older American vehicles. Music from XERB Radio will broadcast oldies on 88.1 FM. Members of the American Graffiti Tribute Team will be on hand to talk about the film, along with stars from “American Graffiti” Candy Clark, Bo Hopkins and Lynne Stewart.

A presentation of the Henry Travers and Rich Poremba scholarships to local students begins at 6:30 p.m.

Salute to American Graffiti kicks into high gear Saturday, May 16 with a downtown classic car show, live music and XERB radio broadcasting tunes from the 50s and 60s on 88.1 FM beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Cub Scouts host a Pinewood Derby event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Theatre Square, located at C and Second Streets. Anyone interested is invited to build a pinewood derby car and race it against other cars for trophies. Visit redwoodbsa.org.

“American Graffiti” film stars Candy Clark, Bo Hopkins and Lynne Stewart will greet the public and sign photos from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and there will be an “American Graffiti” display on the corner of Western Avenue and Kentucky Street. A few of the cars from the movie will be on display. The downtown cruise is from 4 to 8 p.m. and will feature more than 400 classic cars roaring up and down Petaluma Boulevard. The suggested place to watch the cruise is along Petaluma Boulevard just south of B Street all the way down to the round-about before the Petaluma River bridge. For a full schedule of events, visit americangraffiti.net.