Car Show History

The Marlboro Main Street Car Show, now in its 14th year and considered one of the city’s major annual events, has quietly raised more than $300,000 for City and statewide charities. The United Brethren Lodge of Freemasons in Marlborough produces the show with generous support from area business sponsors and encouragement from the Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s Office, and Police Department. 

The diverse show, which welcomes classics, muscle, hot rods, exotics and antique vehicles, is one of the few Massachusetts shows that stages vehicles along a downtown Main Street. The brick and brownstone buildings, including City Hall, provide a unique, picturesque backdrop for the more than 250 vehicles that participate. 

The show is free to spectators, who number over 1,000 during the 5-hour span of the event. The charitable funds come from sponsors, mostly area businesses, many of whom have supported the show annually from the beginning. Car owners are also asked for a $20 contribution to the show’s charities, which have included:

• Shriners Hospitals for Children in Boston and Springfield, Mass.

• Marlborough Food Pantry

• Wounded Warrior Project

• Home Base Veteran and Family Care

• United Brethren Lodge Angel Fund provides assistance to students in need via Marlborough public school administrators

Sponsors appear in a full-color, printed program, and also have the option of presenting one of 15 trophies for such categories as best paint, engine, classic, and truck. Various volunteers serve as judges, and Marlborough’s mayor and the Chamber president also award trophies to their favorite entries.

The show has included unique touches over the years. Guest vocalists and a marching band have performed the National Anthem in front of City Hall. Special film cars have made appearances, including TV’s Batmobile and Herbie the Love Bug. Midget sprint race cars, dragsters, an antique fire engine, and armored military vehicles have been featured. Music is always provided by renowned New England car-show DJ Dr. Dom, who mixes in trivia stumpers between fun songs of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.

Originally conceived as a one-time event in celebration of the United Brethren Lodge’s 150th anniversary, the initial show was so popular with car owners, Marlborough citizens and civic leaders that it was quickly decided to make it annual. Always held the first Sunday of June, it is known among show-car enthusiasts as one of the first major events of the season. Each year the show has been chaired by Bob Archibald of United Brethren Lodge. The show‘s core committee is augmented by about 20 more volunteers the day of the show who do their best to make everything run smoothly along the mile-long stretch of Main Street.