The celebration of vintage cars, pinup fashion and Americana music returns to Park Circle Nov. 17 through Nov. 19 during the 10th annual Rockabillaque.
“We try to keep it as mid-century as possible,” said the festival’s creator, Simon Cantlon. “The music that we book is rockabilly, roots rock, honky tonk or Americana. But it’s really eclectic, so there’s something for everybody. It’s also a great way to shine a light on Park Circle and what an amazing neighborhood it is. All the different bars, restaurants and breweries take part and open their doors, and it’s a really fun day.”
The weekend-long festival offers a classic car show with more than 400 classic cars and bikes from before 1989 taking over the main strip on Montague Avenue. The event is free to attend, and guests can enjoy a vendors’ market with more than 70 unique artisans and makers. There’s also performances by over 30 bands from all over the U.S. and Canada.
And don’t miss the contests: Enter the pinup contest for a chance to be crowned Miss Rockabillaque, or sign up for the best tattoos or beard and mustache competitions. Fees to enter the contests will raise funds for the Movember Foundation, a nonprofit organization which raises awareness of men’s health issues.
The celebration kicks off with a party at Commonhouse Aleworks Friday night, where guests can find this year’s special beer, a Strawberry Milkshake Cream ale, harkening to the flavors of a 1950s diner. Starlight Motor Inn hosts a $15 ticketed pool party from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday with music by DJ Slowcountry, cocktails, games and more.
The festival was created by Simon Cantlon, who also organizes Park Circle Pride. He moved to Charleston in 2011, and in 2012 co-produced the first year of a Rockabilly festival in New Mexico called “Rockabilly On The Route.” Cantlon said after his time in New Mexico, he returned home to Park Circle and decided he wanted to bring a similar celebration to his new home.
“I thought, how great it would be to see classic cars parked all along the historic main strip in the Park Circle, taking the neighborhood back in time to its days as a bustling neighborhood center?”
The idea for Rockabillaque was born: a classic car show and a celebration of mid-century Americana music and culture with Rockabilly and roots rock bands playing throughout the neighborhood. For the first festival in 2013, Cantlon worked with Scott Cloud, owner of now-closed Barbeque Joint in Park Circle — Rockabillaque (rock-a-bill-a-que) is the combined name of rockabilly-music-meets-barbecue.
That first festival drew 1,200 attendees, which Cantlon considered such a success, he started offering it annually. Four years ago, he even expanded to create a sister event, Florida Rockabillaque, which will be held this year in January 2024 at Seminole Casino in Immokalee, Fla.
Now in its 10th year, the Charleston festival draws nearly 20,000 annual visitors of all ages. “It has grown to be the biggest festival of its kind in the Carolinas,” Cantlon said.
Find the full music line-up and more details at rockabillaque.com.
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