Best Annual Event or Festival: Midnight at the Oasis

In this technologically driven era, you might think something from the early 1970s or before had become, well, dated.

But vintage vehicles that have been meticulously restored by their owners continue to capture the attention of thousands of admirers in an annual event in Yuma that has become anything but stale since it began nearly two decades ago.

The vehicles, all made in 1972 or before, are showcased in Midnight at the Oasis, a classic car show its organizers estimate draws between 45,000 and 65,000 people over the three-day event.

The event, organized by the Caballeros de Yuma, was chosen by participants in Yuma's Best, the Yuma Sun's annual poll of readers' favorites, as the area's Best Annual Event or Festival.

So why has the event retained its popularity since its inception year in the 1990s, when it was staged as part of a block party on Yuma's downtown mall?

“I think classic cars are a feel-good (phenomenon). When you see a classic car, it's nostalgic,” said Caballero member Jonathan Lines, for whom Midnight at the Oasis brings to mind fond memories of the 1955 Ford F100 he had as a teen.

“When you see the classic cars, their colors and the personality people put into their cars ... they're absolutely works of art,” said Lines, who has overseen the past two car shows.

Midnight at the Oasis — or MATO, as it is known by its acronym — proved so popular after its inaugural year that the Caballeros could no longer have it downtown. They needed more room — a lot more room — to host the hundreds of cars entered in the show, not to mention the tens of thousands of people those cars brought. Since then, the event has been held at the Ray Kroc Memorial Baseball Complex.

Up until the 2009, the event was limited to 850 entries, but over the past two years, the Caballeros have raised the ceiling to 1,000 entries, which come not only from the Yuma area, but the state and Southwest.

The lovingly restored vehicles are obviously the centerpiece of the event, but Lines said the Caballeros have introduced new events to the car show or made changes to existing ones to keep MATO fresh.

In keeping with the theme of nostalgia, the Caballeros had brought in bands famous in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, but Lines noted '80s bands have played at more recent MATOs.

Another recent addition are the pinewood derby races, split up into divisions for youths and adults. Racing legend Mario Andretti Sr. came to Yuma and MATO on the occasion of the inaugural year of this event.

This year, the event will take place March 4-6.

For more information, visit www.midnightattheoasis.net.