There are probably some situations where a large, unplanned hole in the middle of the street is not desirable. Some random pedestrian, possibly someone’s grandparent, could fall in while walking to breakfast, tumbling further and further down the chasm until their last memory of daylight has faded, and the only thought they can muster is “Have I always been falling?” Or worse, someone could twist an ankle. Fortunately, the large, unplanned hole that appeared at the top of 1st Street in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, just weeks before Northeast Unity’s third year was actually pretty chill, and even a little helpful.

When Rachel Levey (@rachel_l_l) and Nick Kramarczyk (@mygolfisslow) initially cased the quiet riverfront drive in their hometown back in 2021, it was the grassy, shady wonderland between the road and the water’s edge that beckoned them. The scattering of big ol’ trees on either side of the walking path would provide protection from the terrible sunshine and offer some incredible leaning opportunities, and the picturesque backdrop of the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge would be… picturesque. Unfortunately, the property didn’t belong to the town, and the implication was that a temporary Volkswagen parking lot would be a tough sell. So, patience was the play, as is often the case. The plan was to get a few years of responsibly organised and respectfully attended Northeast Unities on record before eventually approaching the power company about borrowing their beautiful lawn.

But after just two years of good behaviour, fate intervened. A portal opened under the start of 1st Street, causing the pavement to crumble away like a Rabbit floorboard. The reduced availability of parking for show cars was a perfect excuse to inquire about the open woodland area, which had already provided an amazing atmosphere in years prior, just by being nearby. With the town’s support and a little extra insurance, the space was secured, and the dream was fully realised on the 21st of September, 2025.

Incidentally, September 21st also happened to be the most beautiful day of the year in New England, which is not surprising, now that the planning is old hat for Rachel and Nick. After a slightly rainy first year, several people suggested they do the show with no rain at all, which has now become a permanent change. Add to that the hoodie temps and the adorable little downtown with its adorable little coffee shops and breakfast joints, and it’s the undisputed cosiest event of the year on the East Coast of the United States. Turners Falls is the kind of wistful spot you discover on the way home from a larger, colder place and decide to keep to yourself.

Registrations increased by about 50 cars in 2025, making the waterfront area an essential addition. The sinkhole really did swallow up some of the parking at the top of the street, but on the plus side, the townsfolk were already used to the road closure by show day. The initial plan was to position previous Top 25 winners on the newly accessible lawn, but with most of the registered cars arriving well before load-in time, it quickly became a bit of a free-for-all. Nick managed to direct the majority of the early water-cooled cars toward the trees with instructions to “find a good spot.” Fortunately, it was mostly docile old heads driving those cars, so the resulting layout was on point.

There’s no question that Rachel and Nick are VW enthusiasts first and foremost (PVW 12/25 & 4/20), but they’re also fans of any great build, regardless of make or number of wheels. As such, a choice selection of vintage Euro and JDM cars were on display (after pre-approval, of course), and the folks at Nova Motorcycles on 2nd Street opened their doors again this year to welcome bike enthusiasts and show off some of their rippers. The variety of VWs was certainly in keeping with the UNITY spirit, with all generations, cooling systems, and spice levels refreshingly well represented. Especially Mk2s.

Northeast Unity was once again stacked with too many standout cars to mention

To that end, Brett Sloan’s perfectly sorted 12v GTI was pulling all kinds of looks, with its immaculate paint and extraordinary European Porsche Clubsport Edition retrim. It’s still quite tough to beat a VR-swapped Mk2, particularly when it’s been curated as meticulously as Brett’s. The tediously sourced Schrick manifold is arguably one of the last truly beautiful VW engine toppers, made even more tasteful in wrinkle black.

The Sciroccos always seem to come out for Unity, too. Josh Le Borious is at least partly responsible for this, although the people who help him bring multiple cars every year are not blameless. This year it was the full Zender Callaway S1 and the only known 16v Callaway S2, sporting the most perfect application of Brock B2’s in the history of Brock B2’s. Fun fact: If you say “Callaway Scirocco” out-loud three times in a row, Josh will appear with a spare wheel and tyre, or whatever else you may need.

Swoops brought out The Brown Car, which significantly raises the level of any event. Likewise, Nick Becker’s Panama Brown Rabbit is never hard to look at, even if it’s wearing an emergency NOS BBS RZ spare wheel and tyre, courtesy of Josh.

Northeast Unity was once again stacked with too many standout cars to mention, all presented with careful consideration in the most dynamic, inviting, and postcardy show setting you’re likely to find. And as for the vibes, frankly there’s nothing else close. In fact, using the word “vibes” with respect to any other VW show is just inappropriate. Whether you’re coming from Massachusetts, California, or the other side of the Atlantic, you should start planning now for next year.