EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – ShrinersFest in Evansville first originated in 2011 to replace the annual Freedom Festival, and was a big hit with air shows, including the Blue Angels and seaplane racing.
It has been canceled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned to Riverside Drive this weekend.
“It’s great to be back in our community and have friends and family, and all the supporters who come here, especially the kids, go out and enjoy a festival like this,” said Richard Hubbard of Hadi Shrine 2022 Potentate.
One of the biggest events this year was the car show. More than 100 cars were included and there were many neat ones to look at, everything from a 1932 Chevrolet to a 1967 Plymouth satellite. People who bring their cars to these festivals say it’s definitely a work of love.
“I inherited the disease from my father, known as the love of cars. He had everything old [1930s] and [1940s] street bars and hot rods at the time, ”said Mick Gottman, president of Area Chrysler Enthusiasts. “Cars of this era and older cars, they all have much more character. When you get close to something, you can almost choose the year, the brand and the model, because they changed cars on an annual basis at the time. ”
For Gotman, these car shows are more than just cars. They are for the friendships he makes.
“You will make friends, whether it’s in your car club or in the car community,” Gottman said. “” You will see them routinely at bigger events. You see them locally and then many of us will attend other events that are regional or national.
What about the coming years of ShrinersFest?
“A lot of things happen in the economy, so we do it slowly like everyone else,” Gottman said. “Sponsorships are declining. We know that. The business is still suffering and trying to recover after the last two years, so we will do it step by step and adjust it a little bit every year. ”
Bierstube and live music ended at 11pm on Saturday, and there is a half pot that will be drawn in a few weeks on July 11th.
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