The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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May 18, 2008

Downtown antique businesses organize June car show

By Holly Green





The Huntsville Antique Dealers Association and the Main Street Program will sponsor the first annual Flag Day Classic Car Show this summer, giving residents a chance to celebrate the ’50s.

The show, featuring car clubs from Huntsville and surrounding areas, is scheduled on June 14, beginning at 9 a.m. with a small parade of cars.

Laura Bruns, Huntsville antique dealer with the Bluebonnet Square Antique Mall, said the parade will start at 15th street and wind down University Avenue to the downtown square.

The cars, reflecting different decades of automobile history, will be on display from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

“We’re looking to have anywhere from 20-40 cars included in the show,” Bruns said. “The association wanted to offer an event for the community that happens when not much else is going on. June is not quite as hot, and one of our members suggested having an event on Flag Day, so we wanted to try to incorporate our event with that.”

Bruns said the Huntsville Cruisers, an established car club in Huntsville will participate.

“The Huntsville Cruisers have already agreed to get involved and lots of other clubs are hopeful to get on board from surrounding areas like Livingston, Conroe and Navasota,” she said. “We wanted to get something together and see if there’s an interest there in our community.”

Residents are encouraged to “stroll back to the past,” dressing in ’50s attire along with the participating businesses.

“A booth centrally located on the square will provide information regarding the event, related activities and shop specials,” Bruns said. “Downtown businesses will accent the times by dressing up in styles from the era, offering specials and sales for people attending. The six antique stores will also jazz up their shops to reflect the times through decorations and special merchandising.

“Residents are encouraged to wear their ’50s attire — poodle skirts or their jeans and T-shirts.”

The show will also include a ’50s-style fashion show at 11 a.m. at the gazebo, a hula hoop competition at 1 p.m. and a dance contest at 1:45 p.m.

Bruns said a disc jockey will also attend the event, entertaining residents with music from the era; downtown restaurants will also provide food for the festivities and a raffle will be held by various downtown establishments for prizes.

“Awards will also be given to the car owners whose vehicles are chosen as outstanding by our different judging sponsors,” she said.

Harold Hutcheson, Main Street manager, said he is excited about progress of the downtown businesses.

“I’m very excited about this event,” he said. “All the people working on this are members of the Downtown Business Alliance. I don’t think something like would have happened without the alliance. People from our businesses are meeting each other and networking. They’re doing this all on their own and it’s exciting to me.”

Hutcheson said the Main Street Program will also attend the event, selling hot dogs and soft drinks to raise money for the downtown infrastructure grant program.

Bruns said the association is hopeful for a good turnout.

“We wanted to offer a community event where people can have a good time locally and perhaps shop a little, too. If it’s successful, we hope to make it an annual event and perhaps celebrate other decades like the ’60s or ’70s.”

For more information about the classic car show, contact Kathleen Nitschman at (936) 436-0265.

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