Annual Langley Cruise-In visit brings California burgers to Aldergrove

If you want an In-N-Out Burger meal, most of the time you’ll have to drive for quite a while to get there.

The closest In-N-Out location to British Columbia is in the town of Keizer, Ore., about seven hours away from Langley by car. Eight hours, if you take the scenic route.

But once a year, In-N-Out comes to Langley, as part of the Langley Good Times Cruise-In car show in Aldergrove.

In-N-Out will be back this year, with manager of special foreign events Luis Hernandez overseeing the operation for the fourth year in a row.

“We had a really good turnout last year,” Hernandez said.

His team of 15 staff served up about 1,500 burgers, and plans to do about the same number this year.

The burgers have been so popular that locals line up hours before the burger stand opens to get the tickets that entitle them to their meal.

One die-hard began turning up at 3 or 4 a.m., according to Cruise-In organizers.

But last year, although there were eager early birds, people who came by a bit later were still able to get tickets. Instead of selling out immediately, there were some tickets left until the end of the day, Hernandez said.

“Super die-hard fans show up, and we love it,” he said.

The event is a big deal for the Cruise-In – the burger chain contributes a sizable donation from the annual event, all of which goes towards the Cruise-In’s charities of choice – but also for the young crew members who make the two-day drive from southern California.

“They’re all super-excited,” Hernandez said. “We’ve got a couple of first timers.”

Hernandez takes crews of In-N-Out burger makers all over the world for promotional events. They’ve gone to Japan and South Korea, Ireland, Germany, South America, and many other locations.

The crew members chosen for the trips are often making their first ever trip outside of the United States, he said.

Also excited are some of the people getting the meals.

Hernandez said he’s even seen some tears, usually from people who are reminded of eating In-N-Out burgers on trips with family members years ago.

“They’re excited, this is usually their one time a year to get an In-N-Out Burger,” he said.

As for the cars, the crew members with the burger restaurant will only have a little time each day to check out the cars.

This year, Hernandez said he’s bringing a small drone to get some aerial shots of the cars and the crowds himself, so the staff can see just how big the annual event is.

He’s also getting into car culture himself, after visiting several years in a row.

“I’m starting the like the classic looks, all those trucks,” he said.

Langley Good Times Cruise-In is a charity car show held in downtown Aldergrove. This year, the event runs Saturday, Sept. 6, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the main drag blocked off and an estimated 1,300 classic, custom, and vintage cars expected to be on display.

More information and pre-registration available at Langley Good Times Cruise-In.