Sandpoint, ID

Car buffs flock every year to the car show the day after the Lost in the 50’s parade in Sandpoint, usually the weekend before Memorial Day. It is the place to be if you love cars or want to show off your own hot rod. I always watch the parade on Friday night, however this was the first year that I have ever gone to the car show. I went to the show with my dad and his girlfriend, which I thought was going to be a quick trip around the streets, three hours later, a touch of a sunburn and we were still enjoying the car show.

The car show is located mostly on 1st avenue and Cedar street, with many of the side streets lined up with classic cars, which made me believe there were more cars in the show than in the parade. The streets were filled with people enjoying the vintage vehicles, most of the car’s owners sitting proudly behind them answering questions for any of the onlookers who had them. Many of the cars had photo albums, documenting the restoration too. Food vendors were found all around the streets, selling soft drinks, water, hot dogs and hamburgers. We stopped at the newly reopened Cedar Street Bridge for some ice cream and a brief walk around the shops. Back out on the streets there was music being played over the loud speaker but for the most part it was all about the cars.

As we walked around the show my dad shared stories about some of the cars from his childhood. There was a lot of interest around some of the cars, one of them, the 1969 Ford GT 40, which was surrounded by fans trying to shoot a quick photograph, while others stood admiring the beautiful car. I found many of my favorites, the 1966 and 1697 GTO’s, all kept in strikingly gorgeous condition. I enjoyed the car show throughly because unlike the parade, I could get up close to the cars and look at them, taking in all the classic beauty of the cars and all the hard work that their owners had put into them.

The car show is free to the public, as is parking if it can be found downtown. We parked near downtown and walked a few blocks to the show. The car show is always the Saturday after the car parade during the Lost in the 50’s celebration, running from 9am to 3pm. After my experience I would recommend for anyone who wants to join in on the fun next year to wear comfortable shoes and lots of sun screen!