Three area events this summer include a theme involving classic cars, including an awareness-raising cruise-in at Habitat for Humanity, a 100th birthday party for Maid Rite and the 11th Annual Powerlight Abe Lincoln Car Show. Here are brief summaries of each:
Spring Cleaning Cruise-In
Wednesday, May 29
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Habitat for Humanity
2744 S. Sixth St.
The name describes this new event perfectly. Habitat for Humanity – Sangamon County, which has its ReStore retail shop on South Sixth Street, is seeking donations of what executive director Colleen Stone calls “hard goods,” such as small appliances, kitchen dishes, pots and pans or knick-knacks. Habitat would like any items that can be used in a home, although no soft goods such as clothing, towels or sheets.
“I would also love to have large appliances donated, too,” Stone says, although she doubts many would haul a large appliance there in a classic car. While this is the first time for this event, Stone hopes it will become an annual highlight.
With the partnership of the local Cool Cruisers Club for this cruise-in, Habitat hopes to attract classic cars enthusiasts and people who may never have been to the ReStore. But you don’t have to have a classic car to attend.
No advance registration is needed. Cars can register that evening for $5, and there will be games for kids, food for sale and shopping in the ReStore until the end of the event. Longtime local residents may remember the building as the former Furrow hardware store.
Maid Rite 100th Birthday Party
Saturday, July 27
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Maid Rite Sandwich Shop
118 N. Pasfield St.
Maid Rite Sandwich Shop, which claims to be the first drive-through restaurant in the U.S., is throwing a 100th Birthday Party, complete with classic cars, music and throwback prices. The restaurant first opened in 1924.
People are invited to bring their classic cars with no preregistration or entry fee. There will be plenty of room to park on site and across the street. Since the shop is along historic Route 66, it’s an ideal location to show off the classic cars.
There will be outdoor music, and guests can get a second sandwich for a nickel if they buy a Maid Rite at the regular price. The public is invited.
Powerlight Abe Lincoln Car Show Spectacular and Super Cruise
Friday, Aug. 2, and Sunday, Aug. 3
Cherry Hills Baptist Church
2125 Woodside Road
For this 11th annual event, Back to the Future movie star Claudia Wells, who played Jennifer Parker, will be there both days. Several area dignitaries are also expected at this event, which has more than 100 sponsors and donors and anticipates attracting more than 2,000 attendees, according to organizer Greg Cooper.
The event originated on the grass at Knight’s Action Park, but the concrete parking lot at Cherry Hills provides more flexibility in case of rain and to accommodate motorcycles, semis and race cars, Cooper said. The church building also serves as a cooling center and display building and provides the location for a meet-and-greet with Claudia Wells.
On Friday, vehicles will line up at 5 p.m. in the Horace Mann parking lot and the super-cruise will proceed from downtown Springfield to Cherry Hills Baptist Church. The super-cruise, which is free with no registration required, begins at 6 p.m. and will be led by Claudia Wells. The procession of vehicles is expected to arrive at 6:30 p.m. at Cherry Hills, where Wells will hold a meet-and-greet and Q&A at approximately 7 p.m. That event is also free, but autographs and selfies may be purchased at the end. The event will end at 9 p.m.
Saturday is the car show and air demonstrations. Registration will take place from 8 a.m. to noon, with judging from noon to 3 p.m. Awards will be announced at 3 p.m. Special features during the day include Claudia Wells’ presence from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a Saints Flight helicopter flyover and landing at 11 a.m.; and a vintage aircraft flyover and K9 demonstration from noon to 2 p.m.
The event is free to the public. Vehicle entry for the car show is $15 to be displayed and $20 to be judged.
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This article appears in Summerguide 2024.
