Hen-a-Tron by Smitty Regula; Houston

The largest free annual event in Houston is a long block party. Along the route of the Houston Art Car Parade are strategically placed lawn chairs and coolers. Nothing is weirder than a couple of miles of personalized vehicles and a show of individualism. Henry Ford envisioned nothing like this.

The art car parade began in 1988 and participation has become a badge of honor for iconoclasts around the world. This year’s version of the rolling masterpieces happens over four days beginning on Thu., April 7, with neighborhood parades, through the awards ceremony on Sun., April 10.

Of course, the coup de cars is the legendary parade downtown beginning at 11am on Sat., April 9, and brought to us by the good folks at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. More than 250 mobile art pieces and two hours of silly entertainment. Because of construction on Allen Parkway, the displays of imagination will follow a new and condensed route. Check at www.thehoustonartcarparade.com for full details.

The following are some of the reasons from last year why you don’t want to miss this year’s parade:

Hen-a-Tron by Smitty Regula; Houston
Brunnehilda’s Encore by Megan Freemantle, Alexey Markin, Sean-Waldron, Mike Freese; Houston
La Nalgona by Abel Gonzalez, Leal Bros.; Corpus Christi
Fruitmobile by Jackie Harris; Houston
Sentrasaurus by Carrie Moschitto; Houston
Howie Roll by Mike and Amy Maize; Houston

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Gerald E. McLeod joined the Chronicle staff in November 1980 as a graphic designer. In April 1991 he began writing the “Day Trips” column. Besides the weekly travel column, he contributed “101 Swimming Holes,” “Guide to Central Texas Barbecue,” and “Guide to the Texas Hill Country.” His first 200 columns have been published in Day Trips Vol. I and Day Trips Vol. II.