Classic cars and classic rock ’n roll are the hallmarks of one of the city’s most-loved festivals. Rock ’n August, which has cruised through St. Albert for the past 19 years, is five days of entertainment, food and, of course, classic rides. Free pancake breakfasts and barbecue lunches are on tap, as are ’50s/’60s sock hops, drive-in movie family fun, a classic rock concert headlined by Loverboy, and cars, cars and more cars. The fun runs the course beginning Aug. 4 and wrapping up on Aug. 8.
“We always pack in as much as we can for the five days – we draw thousands of people, and we make a conscious decision to be a destination event – we make it a reason for people to come out,” said long-time organizer Mike Howes, crediting volunteers and some 60 sponsors that make the event possible, including the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce and Apex Casino.
Howes said volunteers and businesses alike step up in a big way for the yearly event, a fundraiser for the Alberta Diabetes Foundation, which has raised some $600,000 to date. “We’ve upped the entertainment too,” said Howes, pointing to the big-name double-bill featuring Loverboy and Chilliwack on the festival’s final night, Saturday, Aug. 8 at Servus Place.
A few local service clubs are behind the efforts that make Rock ’n August happen – the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Cosmopolitan clubs and the St. Albert Cruisers Car Club. All have the same goal to help eradicate diabetes, and are looking to escalate donations dramatically this year, to $150,000 this year from last year’s $8,000 tally for diabetes research and education.
“We expect 800 cars this year – it’s one of the largest classic car events in Western Canada, with people coming in from all around the region and even the U.S.,” Howes said. “Online pledges for car registrants could take us into the hundreds of thousands – that’s our aim.”
As for events through the week, Howes said car owners will enjoy the new poker rally this year, where registered drivers get playing cards from local sponsors throughout the day, with the best hand taking the prize. A couple of thousand people are expected at each of the later-week events, the family-friendly drive-in movie night (Herbie the Love Bug) and the weekend finale of classic rock music courtesy of Loverboy and Chilliwack.
“Kids don’t even know what drive-ins are about, but parents do. It’s such a fun evening, with hundreds of cars, food and people enjoying the show in or out of the car,” he said.
A signature event of Rock ’n August, which routinely draws thousands to downtown St. Albert, is the Friday Show and Shine. With the mayor in the lead car, hundreds of classic car drivers will weave crisscross patterns through and around Perron Street.
“It feels like going back in time – all departments of the city get behind the cruise, and people just love it,” Howes said. “The entire week – people embrace it all. Whether rain or shine, it’s just a wonderful summertime tradition.”
