Every October, Lake Havasu City turns into one big car show. The classics take over the grass at Bridgewater Links on Friday and Saturday, but anyone who’s been to Run to the Sun knows the fun starts well before that. By the time the Show & Shine opens, the Relics & Rods crowd has already been checking in, catching up with old friends, and cruising around town for a couple of days.
The 48th Annual Run to the Sun runs October 21–25, 2026. Registration and a kickoff dinner on Wednesday, a poker run and the Main Street Gathering on Thursday, two full show days, awards Saturday afternoon, and pancakes Sunday morning before everybody hits the road. You don’t need to make every event to have a great time, but it pays to know what’s happening when.
This one has grown into one of the biggest classic car shows in the Southwest. Past years have pulled in more than 800 hot rods, customs, muscle cars, and restored classics from all over the country.
It all started with 28 cars
Relics & Rods has been around since 1975, and the first Run to the Sun rolled in back in 1978 under the name Camp-O-Rama, with just 28 cars. The name changed and the field got a whole lot bigger, but it’s still the same Lake Havasu club running the show.
It’s not only about the cars, either. The club says it has given more than $1.2 million over the years to local charities, organizations, and folks who needed a hand, with the money raised through its annual show. So when you pay at the gate, you’re helping out Lake Havasu too.
How the week plays out
Wednesday, October 21 – Roll in and check in. Registration runs 9 AM to 5 PM at the London Bridge Resort Convention Center, then everybody gathers for the kickoff dinner from 5 to 7 PM.
Thursday, October 22 – Hit the road. The driving poker run goes from 9 to 11 AM. That evening, the Main Street Gathering takes over McCulloch Boulevard from 5 to 8 PM, with cars lining up earlier in the afternoon. If you want to see the cars out on the street instead of parked on the grass, this is the night to do it.
Friday, October 23 – Show day one. The Show & Shine opens at Bridgewater Links Golf Course from 8 AM to 4 PM, with the car corral, swap meet, vendors, and food all on the grounds. Valve-cover races run from 11 AM to 1 PM, and the Beer Walk Poker Run goes from 1 to 3 PM. Drag cars will be on display, with cackle fests at 10 AM and 2 PM. Just know these are fire-ups, not actual drag racing on the golf course. Wrap up the night with Crosscutt Music at the convention center from 5 to 9 PM.
Saturday, October 24 – Show day two and awards. Another full Show & Shine from 8 AM to 4 PM, plus a kids zone, a fashion show, more valve-cover racing, and model boat races at the pond. Get your ballot in by 11 AM. Awards are at 4 PM on the Campbell Cove stage.
Sunday, October 25 – One last cup of coffee. Before heading home, stop by Foothills Bank on McCulloch Boulevard from 9 to 11 AM for farewell coffee and a pancake breakfast. Donations go to Scout Troop #55.
Old iron, later muscle, and plenty more
Run to the Sun is built around cars and trucks from 1977 and earlier. You’ll find originals and restorations, street rods, muscle cars, pickups, wagons, rat rods, and even unfinished projects, as long as they’re drivable. Got something newer? There are also classes for 1978-and-newer American factory muscle cars and Corvettes, so later-model muscle has a spot on the field too.
And there’s a lot going on beyond the show rows. Browse the car corral if you’re in the market for your next project, or dig through the swap meet for that part you’ve been hunting. Watch the valve-cover races, check out the rock crawlers and drag cars on display, or catch the model boat races on Saturday.
That’s what makes this show fun. Spend the morning checking out paint jobs and engine bays, then wander over to the swap meet or catch a race without ever leaving the grounds.
Tickets, parking, and showing your car
Coming to look? Spectator admission is $15 for one day or $20 for both Show & Shine days, and kids under 12 get in free. Parking is $3 behind the London Bridge Resort Convention Center, or you can grab a $10 reserved spot.
Bringing a car? Online and mail-in registration closed October 9, but you can still sign up in person. Walk-in registration is at the London Bridge Resort Convention Center Wednesday 9 AM to 5 PM, Thursday 8 AM to 5 PM, and Friday 8 AM to 4 PM. On Saturday, it moves to the Bridgewater Links Pro Shop from 8 to 11 AM. Late registration is $135 for your first vehicle and $70 for a second. Check the entry form to see what’s included.
The golf-course gate opens to registered cars at 7 AM on Friday and Saturday. Come in through Rotary Park on Smoketree Avenue. Only service animals are allowed, and outside alcohol isn’t permitted in the enclosed show area. Give the organizer’s full schedule and entry instructions a quick look before you head out.
Before you go
The Friday and Saturday show field is the main event, but don’t sleep on Thursday night’s Main Street Gathering or the smaller stuff scattered through the week. With five days of events, it’s worth keeping the schedule handy so you don’t miss the parts you care about most.
Check out the 48th Annual Run to the Sun listing on CarCruiseFinder for location, admission, and highlights. For the latest times, registration details, and any last-minute changes, go straight to the official Relics & Rods event page and the 2026 schedule.