OKOTOKS - Organizers of the Okotoks Show & Shine are expecting a banner year for vehicles as the popular summertime event moves to a new location.
Set to run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20, the show has been relocated from its usual home in Olde Towne to the area around Seaman Stadium.
Co-chair Blair Davies said the new venue provides more display space, but that’s not the reason he believes this year’s show could feature 400 to 500 vehicles.
“We've come out of COVID and people are now really wanting to get out. Last year there was still a bit of uneasiness coming out of COVID for the first year and so people are feeling much more confident and want to catch up on things that they used to love to do,” Davies said. “So, we're expecting it to be a banner year based on that.”
He said weather is always the wild card, as car buffs don’t want to bring out their babies if conditions are inclement, but strong advance registration numbers suggest the show will be well attended.
The move from Olde Towne, which was necessitated by a lack of volunteers, means trade-offs as there will be increased parking for spectators, but the show will lose a certain vibe it had at the downtown location used since 2009.
“The venue where we're at this year is easier to manage, but it doesn't give us the ambience of what the downtown show gives us, so it’s give and take,” said Davies.
“Some people complain that the downtown was too sprawled out, it was too far to walk, so that (a more condensed venue) will be nice for those people this year, but on the other hand, we don't have the shade trees and all the stuff that the downtown offers us or the downtown businesses themselves.”
Organized by the Kinsmen Club of Okotoks, the Show & Shine is the service club’s biggest annual fundraiser, allowing it to support many worthwhile causes in the community. Proceeds from $10 VIP parking will go directly to the Okotoks United Church’s lunch program, while attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable items to fill a truck in support of the Okotoks Food Bank.
Many local agencies will have tables set up at the show to raise awareness about their services.
The Okotoks Lions Club will be grilling burgers and offering other fare to raise money to support its initiatives in the community, a beer garden will be set up inside the stadium, which will also have its concessions open, and there will be several food trucks parked in the area.
The winning ticket of a 50/50 draw launched online earlier this month will be drawn at the conclusion of the show, which will have a prize of $10,000 if it sells out. Tickets are available at okotoksshowandshine.ca.
The show could still use more volunteers, so anyone interested can reach out through the website or by calling Davies directly at 403-702-3475.
Organizers, who were faced with the choice of moving the show or cancelling it due to a lack of volunteers, hope the move to Seaman Stadium is a temporary measure.
“Our plan is to be back downtown next year as long as we can get the volunteers to make it happen,” Davies said.