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August rocks and rolls

Classic car fest and fundraiser kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 6

In this city, August is never just August. It’s Rock’n August, thank you very much. It’s the month that St. Albert has been breathing with an American Graffiti vibe for 22 years in a row, soon to be 23.

You’ve probably already seen a classic car or two or 12 driving around on the streets. It’s the kind of anachronism that’s impossible to miss, like someone talking into a cellphone during a black and white movie.

Just you wait until July is finished, hopefully taking its roller coaster weather with it. The eighth month is for the sun to shine on all the easy riders, low riders, leadsleds, rat rods, shoeboxes and more. The word ‘antiques’ doesn’t quite do them justice.

This grand time all kicks off from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, with a night out at Century Casino. You want classic cars? You got ’em.

“That's usually one of our biggest events ... outside of Saturday,” hinted Cheryl Mackenzie of the St. Albert Cruisers, the organizers of all the festivities.

She expects around 300 cars (and their drivers) to show up for the launch, and it is a sight that everyone simply must behold at one point in their lives. Because great music usually follows great cars around, the event will also feature swing, rock, and doo-wop band the Rockin’ 58s on stage. While you’re there, drop a fiver and pick up a button. Rock’n August is also a huge fundraiser and 100 per cent of button sale proceeds will go to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. Their goal is $150,000 this year alone.

That Tuesday is just the start of several days of ‘button’ events with pancake breakfasts, poker runs and roadeos lined up, not to mention the glorious Friday night cruise and the ever-popular street dance featuring headliner Dash Riprock and opening act The Dice Cubes. Are you ready? It’s nearly time to party like it’s 1959.

Oh, and that Saturday that Mackenzie mentioned earlier ... it starts with a massive show’n’shine at Lions Park.

“It’s a big one. Last year, we had bad weather. I'd say 500 cars came into the River Valley area. If we have a sunny day, that can be 1,000 cars. Our fingers are crossed.”

It all ends with everybody’s fave: the Rock’n August Dance – “a sock hop,” she calls it – with Two Bad Apples to get the crowd boogying in front of the Legion.

Check out rocknaugust.com for all the details.


Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About the Author: Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ecology and Environment Reporter at the Fitzhugh Newspaper since July 2022 under Local Journalism Initiative funding provided by News Media Canada.
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