MACUNGIE, Pa. — The sights, sounds and nostalgia of American automotive culture filled Macungie Memorial Park Saturday as car enthusiasts and families gathered for the annual Wheels of Time Rod & Custom Jamboree.
First Source News attended the event Saturday, getting an up-close look at a sprawling collection of more than 1,500 hot rods, street rods, muscle cars, customs and classic vehicles.
Walking through the park was a trip through decades of automotive history. Rows of polished chrome, custom paint, powerful engines and carefully restored interiors gave visitors plenty to see, with vehicles ranging from traditional American classics to heavily customized builds.
The event is centered around rods and custom vehicles from 1996 and earlier, but the weekend offers much more than a traditional car show.
📸 View All Photos From Wheels of Time
First Source News was in Macungie Saturday capturing photos from throughout the Wheels of Time Rod & Custom Jamboree.
➡️ VIEW ALL PHOTOS HERE: https://jaywagnershoots.smugmug.com/CLASSIC-CARS-HOLLYWOOD-HISTORY-TAKE-OVER-MACUNGIE/Wheels-of-time-2026-macungie
Hollywood Cars Come to Macungie
One of the standout attractions this year brought a piece of Hollywood automotive history to the Lehigh Valley.
Vehicles associated with the Fast & Furious franchise and The Mummy were among the special displays, giving movie and car fans an opportunity to see recognizable vehicles up close.
Steve Darnell, known for Welder Up Garage and the television series Vegas Rat Rods, was also among this year’s special guests.
The weekend’s entertainment included the roar of high-powered engines during Bruce Larson’s Nitro Start-Up demonstrations, along with BMX stunt shows and live music.
More Than Just Cars
Throughout Memorial Park, visitors could browse a large automotive swap meet filled with parts, memorabilia and hard-to-find items. A car corral offered vehicles for sale, while craft vendors, food, games and other activities helped make the event an outing for the entire family.
Live entertainment throughout Saturday added to an atmosphere that felt as much like a community festival as a traditional car show.
For longtime automotive enthusiasts, Wheels of Time offered an opportunity to reconnect with vehicles from another era. For younger visitors, it provided a chance to get an up-close look at cars that are becoming increasingly rare on today’s roads.
A Lehigh Valley Tradition
The Wheels of Time Street Rod Association has roots dating back to 1977, when a group of Lehigh Valley automotive enthusiasts came together over their shared interest in street rodding.
Over the decades, the annual gathering has grown into one of the region’s signature automotive events, attracting vehicles and spectators to Macungie each year.
The jamboree also gives back to the community. Event proceeds help support charitable organizations, while Wheels of Time provides scholarships for students pursuing education in automotive mechanics, auto body and welding, along with tool scholarships for graduates entering the automotive workforce.
One More Day in Macungie
The Wheels of Time Rod & Custom Jamboree continues Sunday, Aug. 30, at Macungie Memorial Park.
Gates open at 7 a.m., giving visitors another opportunity to walk among more than 1,500 vehicles and experience one of the Lehigh Valley’s largest celebrations of classic and custom car culture.
For those who made their way through the park Saturday, the combination of roaring engines, polished classics, custom creations and pieces of Hollywood automotive history made for a day celebrating generations of car culture.
First Source News was on scene Saturday capturing photos and video from throughout the event.
