Just when it seemed the Father’s Day Car Show was headed for the scrap yard, the Rotary Club of Bracebridge has her rebuilt and back on the road.
The Car Show had previously been hosted by the Bracebridge BIA on Manitoba Street but the show was permanently cancelled in 2023, citing a lack of volunteers and increasing costs. The Rotary Club recently decided to breathe new life into the show and host it at the Rotary Centre for Youth and the surrounding parking lots on June 16, 2024 from 8 am to 4 pm.
“The Car Show offers something for almost all ages, the young seem to marvel at the older cars and how much different they are from today’s transportation and the older folks have a chance to see cars from years past,” says Darcy Hammond, who helped spearhead efforts to revive the show for the Rotary Club. “It’s also a chance for those who put in so much effort into collecting and restoring these vehicles to get a venue to show off.’
The Car Show will be held at 131 Wellington Street and will incorporate the parking lots for Georgian College and the Dewey Institute, as well as the Rotary Centre for Youth.
“We’re hoping to create a bit of a walking tour of the vehicles,” says Hammond. “This is our first effort at organizing one of these, so the site was chosen for its central location in town. There’s no need to close roads and create traffic challenges but we’ll still have excellent visibility for those driving through town.”
No spectator parking will be allowed on site but a free shuttle will be available from 505 Highway 118 West (Bracebridge Restore parking lot). The shuttle will run every 20 min.
Food options will be available on site for purchase and a breakfast will be served between 7 am and 10 am in the Rotary Hall. Food vendors will also be on site.
Prizes will be awarded to fan favourites.
There will be a draw for a Crown Varity MCB-36 Pro BBQ (approx value $5000) and tickets will be sold on-site and leading up to the event.
“Any opportunity to bring people together outdoors to walk about and be social is extremely important both for community and personal well-being, ” says Hammond. “The Club is always trying to offer events for the public to come and join in, whether it’s the musical, selling Christmas trees, Canada Day or any of the other events we host. We also want to thank everyone who takes part, whether it’s registering their vehicle or simply coming out and enjoying the show.”
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