Tehachapi’s favorite car show has a day all its own now and this year will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, in downtown Tehachapi.
The event was created by the Tehachapi Car Club in 1997. Over the years, the event changed hands and Race Communications organized it for a few years. In 2023, the chamber officially adopted the event.
This year’s event will feature more than 250 autos, vendors, entertainment and activities, including the famous roaring thunder of engines.
All the vehicles start their engines promptly at noon on the day of the car show. The deep vibrating roar of the engines echoes off the buildings and mountains, creating thunder.
Each class will have one winner and one award with additional awards including Best in Show, Mayor’s Choice, 1st Priority’s Choice, Police Chief Choice, Youngblood (for registrants between the ages of 16 anf 21), Best Interior, Best Engine Compartment, Best Staged, Best Paint, Farthest Traveled and Popular Vote. The awards ceremony will be at 1 p.m.
Registration is $35 per vehicle or motorcycle.
More information is online at thunderonthemountaincarshow.com.
Charity Run on Sept. 28
Four Seasons Blue Star Moms & Associates sponsors its 2nd Annual Charity Ride on Saturday, Sept. 28, with a route through Tehachapi’s countryside. Not limited to motorcycles, organizers say that all vehicles are welcome. Proceeds will go to help active duty military and veterans, as well as Gold Star families.
A $30 per rider/driver fee includes one poker hand, one rider patch and a barbecue lunch; a $25 per passenger fee (one per vehicle) includes one poker hand and one barbecue lunch. Start at Tehachapi Furniture, 20302 W. Valley Blvd., between and 10 a.m.; the ride is approximately two hours. For information, text 661-972-3136.
Coming up in October, mark your calendar for these fun events:
Brewfondo Graveler
The Tehachapi Mountain Trails Association focuses on creating and preserving non-motorized trails for mountain bikers and hikers in the greater Tehachapi area.
On Oct. 5, the organization’s 2024 Brewfondo Graveler will provide a fun activity and support American Legion Post 221 with the proceeds.
The Brewfondo Graveler is a gravel ride event that offers three ride distances with unforgettable views of the Tehachapi Mountains and valleys. The event culminates with a party on TK Pizza’s patio.
More information and registration link at tehachapitrails.com.
Oktoberfests
Two events celebrating Oktoberfest are planned in Stallion Springs on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The Stallion Springs Community Services District’s Oktoberfest is celebrating its 19th year. The event is a fundraiser for the district’s parks and recreation programs.
This year, the event will feature brats, beer, more than 40 vendors, live music and a huge kid zone. Cash-only to purchase beer but other vendors may accept cards for purchases.
The event will kick off at noon at 27850 Stallion Springs Drive, Tehachapi. The local CERT team will manage parking, and donations for parking will go toward emergency response items.
Just down the road, the Stallion Springs Oktoberfest and German Car Cruise-In will be held the same day, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Papa’s Place, 27821 Stallion Springs Drive, is headquarters for the cruise-in with German cars asked to meet at the former Kmart parking lot in Tehachapi at 10 a.m. Last year about 100 vehicles participated.
The events are not affiliated, but promoters of the cruise-in encouraged visitors to check out that event as well to support the Stallion Springs community.
Tehachapi Apple Festival
Set for Friday through Sunday, Oct. 11-13, the Tehachapi Apple Festival and related events will be at three locations.
Sponsored by the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, the traditional festival will be held in downtown Tehachapi on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12-13.
An apple pie eating contest will be held on Saturday, and an apple pie baking contest will be held on Sunday, both in Centennial Plaza. Other activities include modern apple bobbing on both days.
Live music, kids’ games, and other activities — including the Waste Management Kidzone (bounce houses) — will be on the lawn in front of the Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum lawn, which will keep everyone entertained.
Food and craft booths and — of course — apples will be available.
Entertainment during the festival will be both at Centennial Plaza on Green Street and the beer garden a block away on Robinson Street. Bands include Flashback, Lazy Dog Mountain Band, Journey in Time, Christian Parker, Alison Reynolds, Elvis and Others, Mean Gene Band, Aerial Garden, Just us 4 Singers and Jarrett Miner.
The popular “Apple Drop,” a fundraiser for the Tehachapi Lions Club and Rotary of Tehachapi, will take place on Sunday, on F Street in downtown Tehachapi. Club members will sell apples for $10 with a chance to win gift cards valued at $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place.
Clare Scotti, chamber executive director, said a new event this year will be the Miss Apple Festival pageant open to girls and women of all ages. It’s being organized by the Tehachapi Pageant.
More information about the Tehachapi Apple Festival is online at tehachapiapplefestival.com.
Carnival, concert and vintage trailers
Beginning Friday night and continuing through Sunday afternoon, a carnival will be held at the Tehachapi Rodeo Grounds and Event Center, a little over a mile away. Wristbands priced at $35 allow access to rides and are on sale at the chamber office, 209 E. Tehachapi Blvd.
New this year is a Friday night concert at the rodeo grounds. Scotti said the event, from 6 to 8 p.m., will feature line-dancing by Heart & Soul Line Dancing and a concert by Metalshop. Carnival wristband tickets will allow you into the concert or you can pay separately ($5 for kids, $10 for adults).
The vintage trailer show, introduced a few years back, has expanded to two days. It will be at the Tehachapi Rodeo Grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The event is free for the public.
Rodeo and ‘calf dressing’
The rodeo grounds will be busy on Saturday with the Apple Festival Rodeo and a four-man charity “calf dressing” competition.
The competition will involve teams of people who must catch a calf, dress it in oversized clothing and accessories, and get the calf to the finish line. The team that wins can designate a charity of their choice to receive $2,500. Entry fee is $200 per team.
Year-end awards for Tehachapi Junior Rodeo will be presented during the rodeo.
More information about the rodeo and where to buy tickets will be online at tehachapiprorodeo.com.
Quilt show
Another activity scheduled the same weekend as the Apple Festival is the Tehachapi Mountain Quilt Show, sponsored by the Tehachapi Mountain Quilters.
The theme for this year’s event is “Country Garden.” Frosti Acord is the featured artist. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13 and the show will be held at the Aspen Builders Inc. Activity Center, 410 W. D St.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6 to 16. Children under 6 are free.
Halloween activities
Halloween-themed activities are just starting to get on calendars, and a few changes are coming this year. The Tehachapi Terror Haunted House will be staged at Woodward West and the Ghoulden Hills Trick or Treat event is moving to Meadowbrook Park. In the city, Funky Junk by Go2Girlz has announced the return of the Downtown Tehachapi Treat Trail on Halloween. Check Tehachapi News closer to the holiday as more events may be added.
Concert — A don’t-miss event is TPOPS (Tehachapi Pops Orchestra) Halloween Spooktacular Concert set for 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27. Rehearsals are underway, and this year’s show will again be presented at the Tehachapi ADHC (Adult Day Healthcare Center), 123 W. F St. More details will be available closer to the concert date. For more information, call Mountain Music at 661-823-9994.
Haunted House — This isn’t just an ordinary haunted house, the Tehachapi Terror Haunted House gets bigger and better every year and this year will be accepting cash donations for Family Life Pregnancy Center of Tehachapi. General admission is free, but $10 VIP passes will allow you to skip the line. Staged this year at Woodward West, 28400 Stallion Springs Drive, Tehachapi, the event will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Halloween night, Oct. 31.
Ghoulden Hills Trick or Treat — This popular community event sponsored by Golden Hills Community Services District outgrew its former location in the CSD parking lot and is moving to Meadowbrook Park, 21750 Westwood Blvd., Tehachapi this year. The CSD has added parking to help accommodate the crowd. Sim Sanitation and the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District are sponsoring a movie in the park to be held as part of the event, and a pumpkin patch will also be available.
Maria’s Kitchen and the California Hot Dog Company will be on site, as well. Parents with children in Halloween costumes will be able to go booth-to-booth collecting candy and goodies and playing games. Organizations and businesses that want to participate are asked to register by Oct. 18. More information from Erin Mason at Golden Hills CSD, 822-3064.
Downtown Tehachapi Treat Trail — Last year close to 40 local businesses participated in this downtown event organized by Funky Junk by Go2Girlz. Businesses that want to participate can call or text 661-972-5064 or send email to [email protected]. Candy donations will be accepted at Funky Junk, 108 W. Tehachapi Blvd., or at the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, 209 E. Tehachapi Blvd. The event will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Halloween, Thursday, Oct. 31. All ages are welcome, as long as you are in costume. A map of participating locations will be published closer to the event.
— Claudia Elliott