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Show and shine rolling into town

Car buffs are polishing up their pride and joy to show off to thousands in Okotoks' downtown this weekend. Classic, vintage and custom vehicles will roll into town on Aug. 13 for the annual Okotoks Show and Shine.

Car buffs are polishing up their pride and joy to show off to thousands in Okotoks' downtown this weekend.

Classic, vintage and custom vehicles will roll into town on Aug. 13 for the annual Okotoks Show and Shine.

“A lot of these people put a lot of hours into them and they are very proud of these vehicles,” said Ben Stepa, chairman of the show and shine committee. “It is quite a feat to put a vehicle together. It's a lot of work with the trials and tribulations of finding parts.”

The Okotoks Show and Shine is now being run by the Okotoks Kinsmen, of which Stepa is a member.

Stepa said they're keeping many of the activities people have come to expect with the event the same this year. With warm weather in the forecast, he anticipates this year may see the highest numbers yet for both vehicle entries and viewers.

The event kicks off a day early on Aug. 12 with a poker rally and cruise night, where participants meet at NAPA Okotoks at 5 p.m. to register and enjoy a barbecue. The rally begins at 6 p.m. and takes participants throughout Okotoks to solve a series of clues to find the cards for their poker hand and cruise on back to The George.

Stepa said it's quite a sight seeing these restored vehicles cruising the town.

“You get to parade your car around town,” said Stepa. “It's not about winning, it's about cruising around. It's more of a pride thing.”

The following day, as many as 500 classic, vintage, custom cars and special interest vehicles will line the streets of downtown for the show and shine from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. before participants make their way to downtown via Northridge Drive to showcase their vehicles for the rest of the day.

“Any given Saturday or Sunday you will see '60s retro cars but you don't see rods and old trucks very often,” he said, adding even local auto dealers will have their latest and greatest models on display. “We expect about 500 cars – last year we had over 400. The trend for all of the shows has been going up. There seems to be more and more cars coming out of the woodwork.”

In addition to the hundreds of vehicles, those taking in the show and shine will have plenty to see and do.

Calgary's Dark Side Racing will hit Elizabeth Street with drag racing demonstrations. Musical entertainment will keep visitors grooving with classic rock and country tunes by Burningdays, Jennifer Fulton and Social Uprising.

Stepa said food vendors will also be in abundance, as well as local dealerships and other vehicle-related businesses with booths to sell their wares.

“There is something there for everybody young and old,” he said. “It's a nice day out.”

A truck will be on Elizabeth Street to collect donations for the Okotoks Food Bank. Proceeds from Kinsmen barbecue will also go to the food bank while proceeds from registration fees will go back into the community, said Stepa.

Running in conjunction with the Okotoks Show and Shine, Rumpledquiltskins is hosting its annual Quilt Stroll on the east side of downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring quilts, kits and demonstrations.

Car owners looking to participate in the Okotoks Show and Shine must pay a $10 entry fee. Anyone interested in volunteering at the event or for more information can go to okotoksshowandshine.com

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