When Clark Blumberg looked at the empty carpool lot in Pemberton’s multi-modal hub, he didn’t see vacant parking spaces—he saw potential.
“There’s a nice park there, benches, a coffee shop across the street, lots of food all around... So that’s kind of central, and we’ll just do it there,” Blumberg recalled.
That “it” became Pemberton Cars and Coffee: a low-key, family-friendly car meet-up that’s grown from a trial event in May into a well-attended community gathering. The get-together is modelled after similar meetups across the Lower Mainland.
“We were just basically a bunch of car guys that were kind of attached to the Sea to Sky Car Club in Whistler,” Blumberg recalled. “But there wasn’t really a lot of activity going on with them … So I thought, ‘Well, we should do something.’”
Blumberg, a retired jet engine specialist, has hosted two events so far and recently launched a Facebook group to organize and share photos. The page now has more than 50 members. He’s also collaborating with local businesses like the Village Barber Shop to co-host larger gatherings, including an upcoming car show at the Downtown Community Barn in late August.
Blumberg said the group isn’t just for serious collectors or gearheads.
“Anything that rolls and goes is welcome to come out,” he told Pique. “We’re not like a snob thing. We want everybody to be involved.”
That inclusive spirit has attracted a wide range of vehicles—from vintage Porsches to old Beetles to motorcycles and even jacked-up bush trucks. At one event, a Unimog camper even rolled up. And while Blumberg admits the Pemberton collector scene is small—“probably about 25 oldies in this area”—he said you’d be surprised at the vehicles often hiding in the meadows and barns.
Still, it’s the human connections that seem to matter most.
“There’s a lot of young guys that are just getting into the hobby and really need help mechanically,” said Blumberg. “And lot of the people there are mechanics or technical people. Everybody’s always willing to share information … It’s not like you’re alone in your garage trying to figure it all out on YouTube videos.”
Blumberg also sees the get-together as an outing for young families. He'll often let kids climb through his bright red 1969 Beetle, a model he’s happy to open up for photos and exploration.
“You never know how you’re going to inspire somebody," he told Pique. "Maybe they get interested in the old cars or classic cars.
“Plus, they're always looking for someplace to take the kids out on a Sunday, [to] get them out of the house, change the scenery. I mean, kids need that. Parents need that, too.”
If there’s a mission statement for Pemberton Cars and Coffee, it’s simple: build community. And show off a little chrome while you’re at it.
“I’ve been very friendly with all the people coming,” Blumberg said. “It rubs off on them. And everybody’s talking to one another, having a great time. A lot of times, too, they’re not even talking about the cars—they’re just talking about whatever’s going on.”
Whether you're rolling up in a Harley or a half-rusted camper, there’s a spot for you.
Check out Pemberton Cars and Coffee’s Facebook page for information on upcoming events. The Village Barber Car Show returns to Pemberton on Aug. 24 at the Downtown Community Barn.
