August is a time for Rock'n

Summer in St. Albert wouldn’t be the same without the classic car extravaganza that is Rock’n August. It’s a kind of festival of automobile nostalgia, complete with hundreds of sweet rides parading through the streets.

The weeklong event that attracts enthusiasts from across Western Canada and the United States comes back to the city for its 17th annual run from next Tuesday through Saturday. It’s billed as the finest festival of cars and music in western Canada.

Ken Jones is a member of the St. Albert Cruisers, the organization behind the rumbling engines and all that glorious chrome. He’s excited for the long weekend to be over so that things can kick off rain or shine. He prefers shine.

“We’re hoping to get rid of all of this ugly weather we’ve been having. We’re hoping that it’s going to be nice,” he began, adding that even the Friday night concert could possibly be wet outside but still wouldn’t be a washout inside Servus Place.

“We’re not weather-dependent on that concert. We could be inside and enjoy it whether it rains or snows, whatever it does that weekend.”

That concert has been pushed back a week from the main slate of events. It is set to take place on Friday, August 16. It will feature April Wine and Troopers as the headliners, along with special guests The Campus Thieves. Already, more than 60 per cent of the tickets have been snapped up for what will surely be a rocking event.

“I think we’re going to have a sellout with that. It’s going to be successful. If we can sell all 2,000 tickets for Servus Place, we’re going to be able to net some pretty good dollars to add to the normal money that we raise.”

The annual event is a major fundraiser for the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. It typically raises around $100,000 to donate to diabetes research and education. This year’s goal is $150,000.

“Hopefully, one of these days we’ll find a cure. Or if they don’t find a cure, find a fix for diabetes. As we understand it, they’re getting pretty close.”

You could think of it as a colossal charity event but you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of the vintage automobiles.

Last year's main event hosted 723 classic car entries to the show and shine that saw more than 50,000 people in attendance. That makes it one of the city’s major events year after year. Apart from that, there is a series of other events that are sure to please people of all ages. If all you want to do is eat pancakes or watch a movie, well Rock’n August has got you covered. It has two pancake breakfasts and a one-night only drive-in movie at Servus Place.

“The drive-in this year is going to be Smokey and the Bandit,” Jones announced. “I think everyone can relate to that.”