The Street Dreams Car Club is celebrating 20 years of bringing the Autumn Daze Car Show to downtown Bradford on Sunday.
The show, in its 20th year, will have the theme “Thanks for the Memories.”
“People love this show in Bradford,” said Gary Hoy, president of the Street Dreams Car Club. “It’s a premier show in Bradford.” He noted that people enjoy returning to see people they met the year before or to enjoy the “nice friendly atmosphere” of an event that offers “good wholesome family fun.”
Registration will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the trophy winners will be announced around 4 p.m. A number of trophies will be awarded.
According to Hoy, the stage — a 50-foot flatbed — will be set with favorite stage scenery from previous years. For instance, a Petticoat Junction display of a painted train will make its way back to the stage this year, along with other pieces visitors will recognize from past shows.
There will be photo albums with pictures from previous car shows, too.
Hoy said it’s impossible to say how many people will bring their prized vehicles out to show; the number rests largely on the weather.
“It’s all weather dependent, and not just weather in Bradford,” he said, explaining that car owners have come from places like West Virginia, Ohio and Pittsburgh to take part. Even if it’s nice in Bradford, the weather may not be nice out of the area.
The most cars he’s ever had participate were 341 — a tough fit for the limited space provided in Bradford’s downtown for the show.
Bradford is a “good 200-car town,” Hoy said.
He expects Main Street will be lined with vehicles from the exit of McDonald’s to Veterans Square.
“We should have some really nice cars coming up that will be vying for the best of show trophy,” said Hoy, who noted, “We have some very unusual cars.”
Hoy always finds a unique way to present the most coveted prize at the end of the event, and this year is no different.
“I’ve got a kind of cute idea for presenting the Best of Show,” he explained. People will have to attend to see the presentation.
In addition to the cars, visitors will see entertainment by the No Name Trio featuring Jim Copeland and Lisa Platko, as well as the Queen B Performance Troupe from Studio B Dance Academy.
The stage will be set up on Main Street, and show cars will be set up along Main Street and side streets. Food and craft vendors will set up on the sidewalks. Food vendors will include CJ Bar-B-Que, a sausage booth, Dairy Queen and Krispy Kritters.
“It should be very interesting,” he said.
Fire department union Local 655, which will be on scene to help with traffic control on Sunday, will receive the proceeds from the show this year. Hoy explained that the department uses such donations to purchase specialized equipment.
“They’ve been fantastic,” said Hoy. “It will be nice having those guys there.”
Spectators get in free; organizers will raise the money to donate to Local 655 through a fee to vendors and people showcasing vehicles.
The main sponsors for the event are WBRR and the Blaisdell Foundation, and secondary sponsors are Northwest Bank and Bill Chapman with Ameriprise.
