The 29th annual Autorama show-and-shine plans to pull out all the stops on Sunday, May 29.
The fundraiser, organized by The St. Albert Cruisers, returns for a spring-time event after last year's show took place in September.
Bob Fisher, a spokesperson for the Cruisers, said spring is the ideal setting.
"It’s a good time when most car enthusiasts and people in general like to get out. The cars are out of the garages, they’re out of storage, and now they’re getting ready for a show and shine," he said.
Every year, all of the proceeds raised at the car show are donated to Stop Abuse in Families (SAiF), the St. Albert-based organization that helps people experiencing family violence. In 2021, Autorama raised almost $8,000 for SAiF.
Fisher and the Cruisers focus specifically on SAiF's elder abuse program.
“Abuse has more flavours than we would like to have," Fisher said. "When Areni [Kellepan, the executive director of SAiF,] came and spoke to the club a number of years ago, she said, 'looking out in the room I see a large number of the car club members would be classed as over 65, and just understand there is a need of funds for our elder abuse program.’
"A number of the guys said, ‘Well that makes sense to us we will certainly support that,'” Fisher said.
Aside from the car show, Fisher said there will be food trucks, hula-hoop contests (for all ages), memorabilia vendors, a silent auction, a 50-50 raffle, and an opportunity to meet the A&W Root Bear.
The Cruisers also have two new surprises in store for this year's show: a "family classic vehicle hunt" where attendees must look for different vehicles, gather information about them, and then submit an entry for a chance to win a prize.
As well, the Cruisers will showcase some designs of derby cars set to race in the upcoming Soap Box Derby on June 18.
For car owners, Fisher said Autorama has the capacity for about 250 vehicles at the Green Grove Drive location near Fountain Tire, and registration is between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sunday, and costs $20.
“All classes, all makes, all models are welcome,” he said.
Fisher said car owners who register will get an entry into a draw for a framed poster, a picture with their vehicle, and could be selected for one of 10 event trophies.
"With many car people not able to attend events over the past two summers, expectation is for a strong attendance," he said.
Autorama starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.
