The first show
The Rotary Club of Glendale launched Cars for Cops & Kids at Verdugo Park with a handful of vehicles, a big vision, and a commitment to Glendale's youth. It was an immediate community hit.
About the Event
Cars, Cops, Kids & Community
A family-friendly car show that has brought Glendale together every June since 2017 — celebrating automotive culture, supporting youth, and proving that community spirit is always in style.
What Is Cars for Cops & Kids?
Glendale's premier community car show
Cars for Cops & Kids — officially the Cars for Cops & Kids Car Show — is a free, public event held at Verdugo Park in Glendale, California on the first Sunday of June each year. Hundreds of vehicles ranging from meticulously restored classics and fire-breathing muscle cars to exotic sports cars, lowriders, motorcycles, and first-responder vehicles fill the park in a celebration of automotive passion and community giving.
The show is free to attend for spectators of all ages. Registered vehicle owners compete for more than 40 trophies across multiple classes, judged by a panel of community judges. Beyond the cars, families enjoy food vendors, kids' activities including the Scouting America Pinewood Derby, police vehicle displays, and the always-popular Dad's Club beer garden.
Show day at Verdugo Park
Our Mission
More than a car show — a community investment
The mission of Cars for Cops & Kids is straightforward: bring people together around a shared love of cars and direct the proceeds toward programs that give Glendale's young people a better shot.
Every registration fee, every sponsorship dollar, and every vendor sale is channeled into Glendale Police Department youth programs and at-risk youth initiatives. Since 2017 the show has raised more than $450,000 — funds that pay for after-school activities, youth outreach, mentorship, and programs that keep kids safe and engaged. That number grows every June.
$450K+
Raised for Glendale youth since 2017
200+
Vehicles shown each year
40+
Trophies awarded annually
10
Years bringing Glendale together
Who It Benefits
Youth programs that make a real difference
The Glendale Police Department runs a range of youth-focused programs aimed at keeping kids in school, out of trouble, and connected to their community. These programs rely on charitable giving to fund activities, equipment, and staffing that fall outside traditional law-enforcement budgets.
Cars for Cops & Kids exists specifically to fill that gap. When you register your vehicle, attend the show, volunteer your Saturday, or sponsor an award, you are directly investing in Glendale's next generation. The impact is measurable and local — every dollar stays in Glendale.
The show also funds youth initiatives through its partner organizations, broadening the reach into at-risk communities where support matters most.
Kids and families at the show
Our History
From a great idea to a Glendale institution
Cars for Cops & Kids was born from a simple belief: that a community car show could do more than fill a parking lot — it could strengthen the bonds between neighbors, businesses, and local government.
Word gets out
Car clubs across Southern California start marking the first Sunday of June on their calendars. The Dad's Club of Verdugo Woodlands joins as a community partner, and the beer garden becomes a beloved tradition.
Back together
After a difficult stretch, the community reunited at Verdugo Park with renewed purpose and energy. The return underscored how much the show means to Glendale families.
$400,000 milestone
Cumulative giving crossed $400,000 for youth programs — a milestone that cemented the show's reputation as one of the most impactful community events in the San Fernando Valley.
Biggest year yet
The 9th Annual show welcomed nearly 200 vehicles, awarded more than 40 trophies, and raised over $50,000 in a single morning — the largest single-year total in the show's history.
The 10th Anniversary
The 10th Annual Cars for Cops & Kids returns to Verdugo Park on Sunday, June 6, 2027. Year ten is shaping up to be the biggest and most celebratory show in the event's history.
The Organizing Partners
Three organizations, one shared purpose
Cars for Cops & Kids is a community event, not a City of Glendale program. It is made possible through a close partnership among three Glendale organizations that each bring a distinct role.
Rotary Club of GlendaleFounding & Host Organization
Rotary Club of Glendale
Founding & Host Organization
The Rotary Club of Glendale founded Cars for Cops & Kids in 2017 and continues to host and organize the event each year. Rotary's commitment to community service and youth programs makes them the natural heartbeat of the show. They handle logistics, coordinate the show's award program, and keep the event free for the entire Glendale public.
Visit Rotary Club of Glendale →Dad's Club of Verdugo WoodlandsCommunity Partner
Dad's Club of Verdugo Woodlands
Community Partner
The Dad's Club brings energy and community spirit every June — including their beloved beer garden, which has become a beloved tradition for adult attendees. Their boots-on-the-ground volunteerism helps keep the show running smoothly from setup through teardown, and their neighborhood ties make this truly a Glendale community gathering.
Visit Dad's Club of Verdugo Woodlands →Glendale Police DepartmentBeneficiary & Community Partner
Glendale Police Department
Beneficiary & Community Partner
The Glendale Police Department is both a beneficiary and an active participant in the show. Officers bring patrol vehicles, specialty units, and K-9 teams for display, letting kids get up close with real first-responder equipment. Proceeds from the event fund GPD youth programs and at-risk youth initiatives — strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the families they serve.
Why It Matters
Three reasons the show exists
Community Bonds
A car show is a natural gathering point for people of all backgrounds. When neighbors stand side-by-side admiring a 1957 Bel Air or watching kids race Pinewood Derby cars, something real happens. The show has become one of Glendale's most reliable annual reasons to come together.
Automotive Culture
Cars have always been a lens through which people express creativity, craftsmanship, and passion. The show gives car enthusiasts a venue to showcase their work, connect with fellow owners, and compete for recognition across more than 40 trophy classes — from Best in Show to Kids' Choice.
Family & Kids First
The show is designed for the whole family. Kids get access to police vehicle displays, the Pinewood Derby, food vendors, and interactive activities. Families get a gorgeous morning outdoors at Verdugo Park in one of Southern California's most beautiful community settings.
Make It Happen
Sponsors and volunteers are the engine of this show
Every trophy awarded, every kids' activity station staffed, and every logistical detail handled on show day traces back to the generosity of local businesses and volunteers. Sponsors receive meaningful recognition — signage, website listings, and a warm introduction at the awards ceremony — while knowing their investment goes directly to Glendale youth. Volunteers keep the whole machine running, from gate check-in at dawn to cleanup in the afternoon.
Whether you write a check, show up in a polo and direct traffic, or both — you are part of what makes Cars for Cops & Kids one of Glendale's most beloved annual traditions.