Tin Can Tourist Rally

Beyond tents, there’s a dedicated group of campers who have perfected the art of RV camping – gathering their things in a rolling home and traveling wherever the wind blows them. And while this old-fashioned vacationing has been touched by the modern effects of advanced technology, there are an elite few who hold fast to their motor coaches from the past, embracing their retro tin can as both the vintage vacation vessel and art form it is.

From Friday, October 5th to Sunday October 7th, the KOA Campgrounds in Petaluma will be the rally grounds for the Tin Can Tourist West Coast 5th Annual Regional Rally. From small metal trailers towed behind classic cars to large bullet shaped airstreams and everything in between, the grounds will be filled with these antique traveling museums that members of the Tin Can Tourists have restored and maintained. While the group has been holding rallies across the states since 1919 and on the west coast for the past 5 years, this will be a first for Petaluma thanks to Chris Aluia of Lions, Tigers and Hair in Petaluma – a gal who attended one of these shindigs and was adamant it belonged in Petaluma.

On Friday, October 5th, be on the watch for the Vintage Trailer Caravan rolling down Petaluma Blvd at 1 p.m. Trailers will begin at East D and Weller, then travel down the Boulevard to the Petaluma KOA where they will stay all weekend long. For those showcasing their vintage “tin cans”, the evening will also include a Friday Night “Road Kill Chili” and Welcome Party.

On Saturday, October 6th, 10am-2pm there will be an Open House and Trailer Yard Sale where you can peek into these classic RVs, gain some new-to-you vintage tchotchkes, and develop a case of trailer envy. Attendance to Saturday’s Open House is free, though if you plan on camping there’s a cost and you better make your reservations quick (like yesterday) as space is filling up fast.

For more information, visit the website at tincantourists.com. To make reservations for camping, call the Petaluma KOA at 707-763-1492. The Petaluma KOA is located at 20 Rainesville Rd., Petaluma.

All photos generously provided by Terry Bone.