• St John, Virgin Islands

      LOVE CITY CAR SHOW

    • Upcoming Show

      LABOR DAY WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 3rd & 4th

      SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

      The 2017 Love City Car Show will be held on the Coral Bay Ball Field and run in conjunction with the Labor Day Events and Parade. Vehicles registered in the car show will be permitted to participate in the parade Monday morning.

       

      The move to Coral Bay has allowed space for St Croix and Tortola to be invited to participate with 200 vehicles expected from four different islands. Trophies in 12 categories will be awarded. Live music and a DJ will provide plenty of great sounds. Also plenty of food and drink vendors. There will be activities for the younger attendees including a matchbox racetrack.

      Admission $5.00 Adults ---- Children 12 and under $2.00 (includes free matchbox car)

       

       

       

    • LOVE CITY CAR SHOW

      ST John, Virgin Islands

    • Our Back Story

      How the smallest US Virgin Island came to host the fastest growing car show in the Caribbean

      An Idea was born

      "BIG" Al

      "Big" Al Smith a native St Johnian has always had a passion for cars. He has way too many sitting in his garage, car port, under tents and in the driveway! Al loves finding and restoring all sorts of vehicles. His trophy winning 1975 Camaro was inherited from his Grandfather on St Croix. He shipped it off to the states and had it fully restored from the frame up. It is truly is a winner. Al met Jay Swartley when Jay and his wife Athena moved to St John 15 years ago.

      Jay

      Jay has owned some nice cars over the years but living on St John and being in construction he now has a pickup! Because Jay works in construction he met and works with a St Thomian named Steve Joseph who operates a backhoe. Steve shared many stories with Jay over the years. He spoke of growing up on St Thomas and being involved with cars, racing and restoring bugs (Volkswagen Beetles), Steve's specialty.

       

      Steve often said to Jay how being involved with cars as a youth kept him out of trouble and gave him an opportunity to apply himself to something he really loved. This gave Jay the idea that with Al's help they could hold a car show on St John (known locally as Love City). The show would attract many car owners throughout the Virgin Islands who work hard to locate vehicles that can be restored or modified to true show pieces. The car show provides a venue to display them while attracting and involving the youth and car enthusiasts.

    • The Beginning

      How it All Happened

      The Show must Go On!

      When Jay started thinking about who he knew that had a real passion for cars he couldn't help but approach "Big" Al. When Jay asked Al if he would help with the organizing of the show "Big" Al jumped at the opportunity. The premise for the show would be to include St John cars, trucks, motorcycles, dune buggies, etc and find a location that would attract the most visitors.

       

      The show involves locals, tourists and most of all the young people. Expanding to include St Thomas was important and now this year 2017, we are inviting St Croix and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

       

      The first year (2015) Al and Jay had the help of St John Festival Committee in locating and organizing the event. St John Festival Committee are the organizers of St John Festival (carnival) every year and have experience with large events. Winston Wells Ball Field in Cruz Bay was selected because it is convenient for St Thomas and the larger Cruz Bay population however the field became crowded with over 70 vehicles the first year.

       

      The Second Annual Love City Car Show moved to the center of the island utilizing Chester's Getaway (local restaurant) and "The Landing" a St Johnian establishment founded for it's local crafts, food and culture. Again the space proved to be tight and with the Labor Day rain participation was down.

       

      For the Third Annual Love City Car Show the venue has been moved across the island to the Coral Bay Ball Field where there will be space for over 300 vehicles. St John Festival Committee hosts a Labor Day Parade and other family oriented activities in Coral Bay every year. So the decision was made to share the field and add some more attractions to the Labor Day Event with the help of the Love City Annual Car Show.

    • What We Do

      Our mission is to provide a community event featuring a car show involving the youth of St John and the Virgin Islands.

      ST JOHN YOUTH

      ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO A ST JOHN YOUTH ORGANIZATION

      Because we were founded on the principal of supporting our local community, we donate all of the proceeds and sponsor donations to a St John Youth Organization each year.

    • Who We Are

      We are an inclusive event.

       

      Cars, trucks, motorcycles from St John, St Thomas, St Croix and Tortola, BVI are all invited!

      Jay Swartley and "Big" Al Smith

      St John friends Alston Smith and Jay Swartley

      Jay and "Big" Al started the Love City Car Show on St John in the Virgin Islands. It began with an idea to bring the St John youth out and involve them in a constructive community event.

    • Who's Talking About Us

      Take a look and enjoy!

      2016 LOVE CITY CAR SHOW DONATION RECIPIENT WAS

      THE LOVE CITY PAN DRAGONS

      The Love City Pan Dragons was founded in 1998 to provide a healthy positive extracurricular cultural experience for St. John students from elementary through high school

      LISTEN TO OUR LIVE RADIO INTERVIEW on 90.0 FM 8/19/2017

      https://drive.google.com/uc?id=0Bxpwd2RwG9SCUTQ3T09JUTY4ajg&export=download

      click link above and then listen to our radio interview

    • Gallery

      Previous Car Shows

    • Connect With Us

      villacoralvi@gmail.com

      jay.swartley@gmail.com

      340-715-3002

      Jay

      340-690-0605

      Al

      Facebook

    LOVE CITY CAR SHOW © 2017