Event Schedule & Information
Friday July 31st, 2026
“Ride to Real”
Pre-Show Meet & Greet and Dinner Cruise to “EL Camino Real #3”
What’s this about? It’s basically an Optional Pre-Show activity for Early Arrivals to the area for the Event to hang out and socialize before we get really busy on Saturday with the big show. It will also give us a great group dinner option for the evening that we can all cruise to and enjoy some great food and fellowship!
Arrive early for the Meet & Greet @ Southgate Crossing at your convenience and just hang out. A lot of us will be there in the early afternoon doing some early setup work for Saturday’s Show, but most show up around 4:00 pm.
Departure for the Cruise to dinner will be at approximately 6:00 pm EDT with arrival at the restaurant estimated at 6:30 pm.
We will go for a roughly 20-minute leisurely Cruise to a Group Dinner and Cruise-In at El Camino Real #3 Mexican Restaurant in Elkhart, IN. You can certainly meet us there if you are arriving later.
- Meet & Greet Attendance & Dinner Cruise are Weather-Dependent.
- Group Parking at El Camino Real is limited and reserved for El Camino’s only for this cruise in!
If you’re joining us, but not driving one, do NOT take up a reserved spot with your non-ELCO vehicle…you WILL be required to move it! - ***IMPORTANT: The cost of meal(s) at the restaurant are NOT complimentary! Attendees joining us at the restaurant are responsible for their own food and drink costs.***
The Dinner Cruise has been confirmed and scheduled with the restaurant. We ask that you RSVP while pre-registering and will also be asking participants on site before departure from Southgate so we can give them a rough idea of how many to expect.
Please Drive Respectfully and Responsibly!
Saturday August 1st, 2026
ELCOFest ’26
10 am to 5 pm EDT
Roll-In, Gate, & Check-In opens at 10 am.*
(*Please do not enter the Show Field prior to 10 am to give us plenty of time to get set up and ready to receive you.)
ALL Vehicles:
Entry to the property for will be through the Main Entrance Drive into SouthGate Crossing.
Please note that the FIRST (1) & SECOND (2) Turnouts are for SPECTATOR PARKING Only.
Parts Swap Vendors will enter the main parking lot off of the Main Entrance Drive at the FIRST Turnout (1) (SPECTATOR PARKING), enter through the Parts Swap Entry Point (5), and proceed along the South edge of the parking lot to the Parts Swap Area along the East End of the paved parking lot.
Driven Show Vehicles will enter the Roll-In Staging Area Entry Lane using the THIRD Turnout (3) just North of, and leading into the parking lots on the West end and backside of the building, and fill into the Roll-In Staging Lines as directed.
Trailered Show Vehicles will continue up the Main Entrance Drive to the FOURTH Turnout (4) (at the roundabout) and continue to the East half of the North Lot of the venue, on the backside of the building where they can be unloaded and tow vehicles parked.
Once unloaded and tow vehicles parked, Show Vehicles should join the Roll-In Staging Lines at the West end of the North parking lot.
All Show Vehicles will be funneled into the Main Roll-In Lane along the West end of the building for entry onto the Show Field and held at the Welcome Tent for entry at approximately 10 am.
Once released from the Welcome Tent entry point, vehicles will be briefly held for a quick “Roll-In Photo” before being ushered to Show Field parking.
The desired goal is to have Show Field parking organized by Generation /Year-Breaks as much as possible. It will be dependent upon participant turnout and will likely end up parking in the order of arrival, but will also be subject to last minute changes.
(Note that Vehicles will be positioned diagonally for display in order to provide “front 3/4 shot” exposure for better photographing, as well as with ample spacing around each vehicle and between rows for the possible setup of chairs and pop-up tents*. We will be ignoring the existing parking lot space markings, so follow staff instructions.)
(See Event Venue Facility Planning Photo Below:)
ALL Participants will be required to sign a Release of Liability Form upon entry for admission onto the event property.
Please follow Staff instructions for Roll-In Staging and Parking.
*IMPORTANT REMINDER: If you are bringing a Pop-Up Tent or similar device for shade, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to properly secure it and maintain it for wind resistance to prevent damage to anyone’s vehicle! This is an asphalt parking lot so staking is not available and weights must be used or it must be tied to your vehicle. There is also a possibility that your tent may not be able to be used safely and unable to be set up.
YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL DAMAGE YOUR TENT CAUSES SHOULD IT COME LOOSE!
Registration:
Pre-Registered: Once parked, bring a copy of your Registration Order Receipt (which will be emailed to you upon entry and order completion) to the appropriate “A-M” or “N-Z” “Pre-Registered” Lines at the Check-In Tent near the main building entrance to verify your pre-payment status, receive your credentials, and complete the registration process.
Onsite Registration: You may also register at the Onsite “Register Here” Line at the Check-In Tent. We prefer Cash payment.
Organized onsite entry cutoff will be at 11 am so our volunteer staff can move onto other tasks. However, if you do arrive after cutoff, please find a STAFF Member and let us know and we’ll get your registered. We don’t want you to leave your ELCO in the parking lot, especially if there’s room for it!
(We must have record of a paid entry fee in order for participants to receive event materials, to be eligible for Show & Shine awards, and to help fund having the show itself! Please don’t be one of “those” that sneak in without paying…not cool!)
Upon completion of Registration you will/should:
- Receive your “Goodie/Swag Bag”, Event Participant Decal, Dash Plaque*, and Door Prize Raffle (BLUE) Ticket.
- *Goodie Bags, Decals, & Plaques limited to first 100 Registered entries).
- A Vehicle Information (Dash) Card with assigned Participant Number for the Show Field.
- Please completely fill out your Dash Card and place it on the Driver’s side of your Dashboard as soon as you return to your vehicle.
- A Judging Score Sheet (IF you would like to be judged and eligible for awards):
- The Score Sheet should be placed on the Windshield under the Driver’s
- Wiper Blade (or on the Dash if there are weather/wind issues…somewhere easily reachable by the Officials*).
- *Note that due to staffing & time limitations, judges will NOT be asking for, or searching for your Score Sheet. If they cannot find it and your truck may not be judged if it is not accessible when they come around.
Parts Swap** entries will receive a Parts Swap Card for the Parts Swap area.
- Completely fill out the Parts Swap Card and place it on or near your parts in your designated space as soon as you return to your area.
- Suggested information to include on the card would be your mobile number to be contacted at if you happen to be elsewhere on the event grounds when a potential buyer stops by your spot.
- ** Small quantities of Used Parts Sales are permitted at the rear of your vehicle on the Show Field at no additional cost. Ask for a special (free) “Parts For Sale” sign at Check-In to let people know you have parts too.
- Please limit space to width of vehicle and maximum of 4 feet depth, but it is preferred that they either be displayed in the bed of your truck, or immediately behind it, as long as it doesn’t take up much space in the common areas between the rows (if available).
Prepare your vehicles and parts spaces for the show start time and ensure your Identification Cards are placed.
Show “Opens” at 11 am.
Opening announcements and music.
Additional Door Prize Raffle and 50/50 Drawing Ticket Sales begin and continue throughout the day with periodic Door Prize drawings.
“Show & Shine” class judging will begin at approximately 11:30 am and will be conducted by a small but competent and experienced volunteer judging staff of Event Official(s).
Please note that the vehicle and participant must be present on the Show Field Grounds through the end of the show to receive award(s). Awards will not be mailed/shipped or given to a proxy/stand-in.
Awards Presentation begins at approximately 4 pm.
50/50 Drawing will follow the Awards Presentation.
We ask that all Show & Shine Award Winners remain on site for a few minutes following the presentation in order to be photographed with their vehicles!
(If you win big and want your ELCO in event coverage or possibly on next year’s Event Graphics and Shirts…you need to stick around!)
Also please feel free to hang out around the event venue afterwards to continue to socialize and further connect! We may try to plan some “unofficial” post-event activities, so don’t take off unless you really have to!
Departures:
At the conclusion of the event, depart in an orderly manner and drive respectfully and responsibly.
And remember, you’re only about a half-mile from the County Sheriff’s main station and we’re sure they’ll be aware of our presence…
Sponsored By
Event Information Subject to Change without Notice
ELCOHaulicSS Anonymous is a Division of
