Hear 'em, see 'em: The 700 cars and trucks of the Return to Renton Car Show Sunday

Renton Reporter staff writer

With room for nearly 700 cars, this year’s 19th Annual Return to Renton Cruise-In Benefit Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show is poised to be the biggest yet.

Previous Return to Renton's have featured a maximum of 400 cars.

If all the available spots are filled this year, the show will be one of the largest in Western Washington.

This year’s Return to Renton is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at the Piazza in downtown Renton.

The show centers at the the Piazza, at South Third Street and Burnett Avenue South. This is the second year the show is downtown.

The show got its start in 1990 at Holiday Inn. A variety of venues have since played host, including Carco Park, Renton High School and Renton Memorial Stadium.

An Arts Unlimited art show, featuring more than 20 artists, will also run during the car show, along with a children’s activity booth, vendor booths, a DJ and giveaways and raffles.

A parade of 1909 Model-T Fords are also expected to drive through the show, during the final leg of their nearly 3,900 mile cross-country Centennial Run.

Vehicle categories at this year’s Return to Renton include Lotsa Muscle, Phantastic Paint, Groovie Graphics, Cool Chrome, Luvable License Plate, and, of course, Best of Show, Participants Choice and the Founders’ Award.

All of the money raised from Return to Renton goes to the Renton Police Department’s Youth Education Fund, which pays for a variety of youth programs.

Return to Renton was founded in 1990 by local classic car enthusiasts Ben and Nancy Remak.

Return to Renton is now sponsored by the Renton Chamber of Commerce and Piazza Renton and also supported by many local businesses, organizations and residents.

Find out more about the Return to Renton car show or register a car for the show. Cars can be registered before the show or at the show. Registration is $20 per car. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the show. The show runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., when the trophy presentation and cruise-in starts. Judging begins at 11:30 a.m.