Start your engines, the Okotoks Show & Shine is rolling into downtown this weekend.
Organized entirely by volunteers from the Kinsmen Club of Okotoks, the event is back for its 13th year, bringing together car enthusiasts of all ages.
"We want to offer a fun, community-based event that's friendly for families as well as for the demographic of the car-show-guy," said volunteer and Kinsmen member Krystof Lindenback.
This year's event is made up of three parts – a burn out competition, a poker rally and show day.
Saturday will play host to the burn out contest and poker rally.
Motorists interested in shredding some rubber are encouraged to come to the site next to the Okotoks Best Western behind Costco for the 11 a.m. start. Drivers are permitted unlimited runs for a cost of $20.
Following the burn out competition, the poker rally will begin. Starting at 4 p.m. at the 1/4 Mile Carwash, participants can show up in their vehicles to be given a map of all the sponsor stops. Upon visiting each stop, which includes some local seniors' homes, motorists will be given a card to hold on to, with the goal of having the best poker hand. At the end of the route (101- 31 Southridge Dr.), cards will be analyzed by organizers to award prizes for the best hand. Entrance fees for the rally will go into a 50/50 fundraiser for the Kinsmen.
To cap off the motor-revving weekend is show day on Aug. 21. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., members of the public are invited to stroll the streets of Olde Town Okotoks which will be filled with hundreds of cars, food and refreshments from local businesses and food trucks, a family fun zone hosted by circus school Spectacle Blue and beer gardens served by Big Beaver Brewing, Buffalo 9 Brewing and Hard Knox Brewery.
There will also be awards up for grabs by car owners, including the Mayor's Choice, which will be awarded by Mayor Thorn
New this year is an open mic, which will be located outside The Royal Duke. Patrons will be free to step up and tell jokes, sing or whatever suits them.
Kinsmen member Kyle Davies moved to Okotoks in 2019 and was looking for a way to connect with people during the pandemic while also helping out the community – especially for the group's biggest event of the year.
"It's a lot of people coming together," he said. "It has evolved into a community event where there is more to see than just a car show."
After a brief hiatus due to COVID, Fill a Truck for the Food Bank is back. Visitors are encouraged to bring along a non-perishable food item or a cash donation for the Okotoks Food Bank.
"This is a great opportunity for us to give the food bank a really nice leg up prior to school starting," said Lindendback.
Volunteers are still needed to assist with day-of operations for the event. High school students are eligible to get credit for hours served during the event. For more information about volunteering, visit [email protected].
With heat warnings projected to continue into the weekend, patrons are encouraged to bring plenty of sunscreen and water, and consider leaving pets at home.
Parking will be available in the Okotoks United Church parking lot on Riverside Drive, as well as at Cameron Crossing School. A five-dollar donation is recommended as funds collected by the Kinsmen will go toward the 2023 Alberta Summer Games, the Okotoks Food Bank and the children's lunch program.
Bird scooters can be used to get to the event, however they will not be allowed inside the event zone.
Lindenback said the event is the perfect time to experience Okotoks' vibrant and active community scene.
"I think it's also an opportunity for people to see how beautiful our downtown is," he said.
For more information about the upcoming event, visit okotoksshowandshine.ca.
