Airway Heights holds annual car show and festival July 31

By RYAN LANCASTER

Staff Reporter

Sunset Park will become an 11-acre lot of spotless autos this Saturday, July 31 during the 27th annual Ford Open Car Show and Airway Heights Festival.

All vehicle makes and models, including motorcycles, can be entered in the show, which is sponsored by the Inland Northwest Fords Unlimited and Inland Northwest Thunderbirds car clubs.

“If you have a hot car sitting in your garage bring it on out,” Airway Heights parks and recreation director J.C. Kennedy said.

More than 140 first, second and third place trophies will be awarded in multiple categories, with the exception of special awards such as best paint, best engine, best non-Ford in show and best Ford in show. Registration is $15 and is open from 9 a.m. to noon, with judging from noon to 2 p.m.

Besides the car show, about 15 vendor booths will offer food and crafts and a “Kidz Zone” will feature a bouncy castle, jousting and other inflatable delights for the youngsters.

Children age 17 and under are also welcome to participate in the “Chalk it up” sidewalk art contest, with a first prize award granted in three age categories. Registration will open at 11 a.m., after which contestants will be given colored chalk and will have three hours to finish their artwork before judging starts at 2 p.m. Winners must be present to claim their prize.

For adults, a beer garden will offer three varieties from Airway Heights' own Golden Hills Brewery. Lizzie's Lager, Clem's Gold and 2010 World Beer Cup award winner Ben's Brown will be on tap, with all proceeds benefiting the Airway Heights Youth Scholarship Program. Kennedy said this offers kids from qualifying low-income families 50 to 75 percent scholarships toward enrollment in city sports or adventure programs.

Rounding the evening out from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The Honeybuckets, billing themselves as “an almost renowned band” from Cheney, will provide an upbeat blend of classic country, folk and rock music.

Kennedy said organizers chose the date of this year's festival carefully to avoid conflicts with other car shows or area events. “For the last several years we've been in direct competition with another car show and were the same weekend as the Medical Lake (Bluewaters) bluegrass festival,” he said. “Changing the date is a win-win for everyone.”

Uncertain weather kept last year's attendance at around 6,000, but the event has on the whole seen a much higher turnout in recent years, from 1,000 people in 2002 to a peak of 10,000 in 2007. Organizers credit their partnership with the two sponsoring car clubs for the attendance boost.

Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].