Seeing as we’re smack in the middle of car show season, we’ve decided to compile a chronological list of some of the best and most unique places for rodders of all ages and interests to ply their craft around the country. This by no means is an exhaustive list, but rather a little bit of everything to start with for those looking to cruise.

Grand National Roadster Show – Pomona, CA

Since its inception in 1950, the Grand National Roadster Show has showcased some of the finest roadsters ever assembled. Held in late January and known as “The Grand Daddy of Them All,” this event at the Fairplex in Pomona isthe largest indoor car show in the world. Celebrity appearances, a drive-in show, and retro music add to the ambiance. Prestigious awards handed out include America’s Most Beautiful Roadster and America’s Best Competition Car, while the Build-A-Rod program lets onlookers view a custom machine built piece by piece on stage.

Rat Rod Rumble – Seymour, TN

Presented by the Bullet Boys Car Club and held at 411 Dragway in Seymour, TN, this is an event that would make “Big Daddy” Ed Roth himself proud. In late April the Rat Rod Rumble showcases pre ’64 homebuilt cars and bikes. No need to be cherry here. The best of kustom kulture is on display too, as the event features not only the world’s finest rat rods, but also rockabilly music, drag racing and even honest-to-goodness flagger girls.

Back To The 50s – St. Paul, MN

In addition to 10,000 lakes, in June each year Minnesota is the temporary home of almost 12,000 street rods, customs and classics. In fact, in 2011, 11,800 cars were already registered by Friday afternoon for the event’s 38^th installment. Open to pre-’64 vehicles and held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, the Back to the 50s event literally has a little bit of everything. In addition to the customary show, vendors and entertainment, the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s Back to the 50s event also includes a Mecum Auto Auction, model car contest and a kids’ tractor pull among dozens of other events and attractions.

Leadsled Spectacular Custom Car Show – Salina, KS

For those rodders in the heartland, the Kustom Kemps of America’s Leadsled Spectacular Custom Car Show has been a late July destination for over 30 years. In 2010 the show was relocated for the first time from the edge-of-town Thomas Park to the more spacious Oakdale Park. The oldest “traditional” kustom car and truck show in the nation, it is open to vehicles other than leadsleds; in fact all pre-’69 traditional hotrodding cars and trucks are welcome, but there are always plenty of Mercs and Caddies on display.

Street Rod Nationals – Louisville, KY

This is the one you’ve got to see. Hosted by the National Street Rod Association, the Street Rod Nationals is the largest street rod event in the nation. The event is open to pre-’49 autos and is held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville at the beginning of August. Upwards of 11,000 street rods have registered for the event in the past, making the Bluegrass State the Mecca for the religion of street rodding.

Goodguys Nationals – Columbus, OH

Held in the middle of July each summer, this show in Buckeye country attracts upwards of 7,000 Hot Rods, Customs, Classics, Muscle Cars, Street Machines and Trucks from 1972 and earlier. Friday Night Drags offer participants a chance to flex their car’s muscle, as does Autocross throughout the weekend. Meanwhile if you’re in the market for something new, a car corral and 400+ manufacturer displays give buyers plenty of options.

Syracuse Nationals – Syracuse, NY

In upstate New York and the rest of the northeast, there are about four months out the year that rodders can bring the cars out of the garage without the threat of snow. Luckily, July is one of those months. This event, sanctioned by the Right Coast Association and held at the New York State Fairgrounds, draws about 7,300 cars, 82,000 people and 350 vendors from the U.S. and its Canadian neighbors to the north.

Blue Suede Cruise – Summit Motorsports Park Norwalk, OH

Taking place at the Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH, each August, and open to pre-1972 vehicles, the Blue Suede Cruise is celebrating its tenth year in 2011. Put on by the good guys at Goodguys, the Blue Suede Cruise is designed to feel like a cruise from the 50s. Vintage drag racing, a Car Corral, Atomic Age Midway and even a Women’sWorld make this show the league leader in both car show variety and nostalgia.

Woodward Dream Cruise – Oakland County, MI

While not a car show in the classic sense, the Woodward Dream Cruise gives car enthusiasts the opportunity to motor down the streets of Michigan on the third Saturday in August. The event takes place primarily on Woodward Avenue, America’s first highway, and goes from Pontiac through Ferndale in Oakland County to the state fairgrounds inside the Detroit city limits. An estimated 1.5 million people and 40,000 cars come to Michigan for the cruise each year, making it the world’s largest one day automotive event.

Frog Follies – Evansville, IN

At the end of August the E’Ville Iron Street Rod Club hosts the annual Frog Follies at the Vanderburgh County 4H Center in Evansville. So named for its inclusion a bullfrog race at its first installment in 1975, the Frog Follies attracts around 4000 pre-1949 street rods annually. In addition to the cars and vendors, the Frog Follies continues its offbeat tradition with a yearly valve cover race – kind of like a soap box derby for car parts.

Daytona Turkey Run – Daytona Beach, FL

The birthplace of speed plays host to this rod show every Thanksgiving weekend. Put on by Daytona Beach Street Rods, over 5,000 participants in this event shake off the post-meal lethargy with a late season show and swap meet in one of motorsports’ coolest and most famous venues – the famed infield of Daytona International Speedway. Slow drags, a car teeter-totter and trike races add some spice to the evening hours.

Autorama/World of Wheels/Cavalcade of Customs – Various Cities

Throughout the winter and early spring months, Championship Auto Shows hosts the Autorama-World of Wheels-Cavalcade of Customs. Billed as “America’s Premier Custom Show Car Series,” the tour travels to indoor venues from coast to coast; attendees include cars as diverse as ’60s gassers to the original Batmobile. Celebrity appearances generate some non-automotive related interest at each event, and the Ridler award, named for creative promotional guru Don Ridler, is handed out each year at the Detroit Autorama event to an imaginative new creation shown for the first time.

Donut Derelicts – Huntington Beach, CA

This one isn’t exactly the biggest show, but they’ll be plenty of people there who have been a part of automotive television history. Located at Adams Avenue Donuts in Huntington Beach, CA, and occurring early every Saturday morning, 6:00 am to 9:00 am to be exact, this weekly ritual is billed as the “The Oldest, Best Free Car Show in America.” Known as the Donut Derelicts, frequent attendees range from Reggie Jackson to Chip Foose, and the show boasts the latest and coolest in street rod fashion.

Bonus:

Carlisle, PA and Pigeon Forge, TN

So many shows take place in these towns that we couldn’t pick just one. Throughout each year specific events are available for fans of everything from the Big Three to bikes, trucks and imports.

Do you have a favorite show? Let us know below!