SEQUIM — Registration is revving up for the third Sequim Prairie Nights on Saturday.
Dozens of classic cars and trucks are anticipated to fill downtown Sequim followed by a cruise through the area later in the day.
Larry Perry, Sequim Prairie Nights event organizer, said he anticipates at least 170 classic vehicles this year.
“Downtown Sequim inspires people to come out,” he said.
“It’s a different venue, and this year will be its first international affair with at least six classic cars coming down from Victoria.”
As is tradition, Sequim Police officers close the two-block stretch along Washington Street from Sequim Avenue to Third Avenue starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
The show runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the non-guided cruise following the show.
Registration remains ongoing at www.sequim prairienights.org, and entries can register their 1979 or earlier vehicle even on show day from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.
Advance registration is $25 online or $30 the day of the event.
Proceeds from vehicle registration go to scholarships for students graduating from Sequim High School looking into careers in automotive and construction trades and related computer sciences.
Perry said it’s been a desire of his to have an event like this for awhile, and that community support continues to grow particularly among those in the automotive and building community for helping students go into the trade industries.
Each vehicle entry receives a commemorative hat and dash plaque. A limited supply of hats and T-shirts will be available for purchase, too.
Participants and attendees are encouraged to bring jars of peanut butter for the Price Ford Peanut Butter drive.
For more information on the show, see www.sequim prairienights.org or email info@sequimprairienights.org.
About the show
Vehicles from 1979 and before will park downtown in front of local businesses for visitors to peruse at their leisure.
Some of the highlights of the show and shine include:
• A 1950 Ford Convertible used in “Happy Days” for Joanie’s car in Season 8, Episode 5 from Dec. 9, 1980.
• A 1966 Chevrolet Corvette “Tanker” recently featured at the Corvette Legends Invitational.
• Alan Thornock’s “VooDoo Child” funny car.
• A salute to veterans with several vintage military vehicles on display along with nonprofit Pennies for Quarters.
Some of the many features include Amanda Bacon opening the event, artist of record for the poster Todd Fischer, Sound Community Bank’s orca whale car Echo, the Dungeness Bay Sea Hawkers and KSQM 91.5 FM broadcasting live from the event.
Sheila Everett, program director for Olympic View Community Foundation, the fiscal sponsor of the event, said she’s amazed at how many Sequim people are participating with so many cool cars.
“I think the end result will be awesome,” Perry said.
Periodic drawings will be held throughout the day for unique car and non-car related items. Winners will need to be present to claim their item. Unclaimed items at the end of the day will be subject to additional drawings until a winner is had or held over to the next event in 2020.
After the Show and Shine, participants are invited to attend the local non-guided cruise from downtown Sequim out to the Dungeness Spit area and back into Sequim. Local residents will be encouraged to cheer the cars and drivers as they cruise by, organizers said.
The Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club’s Community Quilts program also donated a patriotic quilt to support the show’s scholarships.
Raffle tickets cost $5 each and will be available at the show and offered in advance at KSQM’s office, 609 W. Washington St., Suite 17, and In Graphic Detail 175 W. Bell St., through Friday.
Snapshots of the quilt are on the show’s Facebook page.
For more information about the show, visit www.sequimprairienights.org.
Olympic View Community Foundation (OVCF) supports charitable causes, serving as an umbrella nonprofit to provide tax-exempt status for small groups like Sequim Prairie Nights so long as it aligns with the foundation’s goals.
“OVCF is thrilled to support projects like Sequim Prairie Nights that support the educational goals of youth in our community,” said Leslie Lauren, OVCF executive director.
For more information, visit www.ov-cf.org.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
