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Patriotic and Proud

ELKINS – Downtown Elkins is preparing to shift into high gear to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mountain State Street Machines Auto Extravaganza this weekend.

The yearly July 4 weekend event will rev up with the cruise-in at 5 p.m. Friday. The event will keep on cruising at the Elkins City Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“This is an event that I’m very excited to be a part of,” Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jess Arbogast said. “Friday will be a great evening to celebrate Independence Day, the beginning of the 30th Annual Car show, and how much the community has welcomed and supported this event over the last 30 years.”

“We will actually have fireworks on the Fourth of July and the display is set to be even bigger than in years past. It will be a special weekend, as we celebrate one of the largest and most beloved car shows in the state in the Elkins City Park, a favorite spot among many of our participants,” she said.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary, each participant will receive a commemorative pin when they register and there will be a large cut-out of the new Mountain State Street Machines logo that can be used when event photos are being taken.

When participants register they will also be entered to win various prizes throughout the weekend, including gift certificates to local restaurants and tourist attractions as well as car-themed prizes and accessories.

Arbogast said the event will feature a special anniversary celebration at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

“We will recognize our sponsors, whose support allows us to continue this event, year after year. It will also be a time to celebrate the volunteers who dedicate their holiday weekend and months of planning to pull this event together,” Arbogast said.

“Jim Knicely, one of the founders of the Mountain State Street Machines Auto Extravaganza, will be there to make a few comments about the history of this event. Mr. Knicely and the Mountain State Street Machines Car Club planned this event for 25 years before passing the wheel to the Chamber of Commerce,” Arbogast added. “And it’s not a proper celebration without cake, so we will have cake available, thanks to Wal-Mart of Elkins.”

The event is expected to feature 500 vehicles from eight different states along the east coast, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, as well as a wide array of vendors.

Numerous food vendors will be available at the park, including Zul’s Frozen Lemonade, Beanders, Mt. Concessions Kettle Corn, Kidwell Funnel Cakes, Old Fashioned Homemade Ice Cream, and a new vendor, Yum Yum Hoagies, that will also provide breakfast items.

This year’s event will also feature automobile vendors, including Lowery’s Custom and Advanced Auto Parts.

“I encourage the community to come out and enjoy the weekend festivities,” Arbogast said. “You are bound to have a great time! Some of our participants have made it a tradition to come to this show each year. Some have been coming for more than 25 years and for some this may be their first. And spectators make it a tradition to come and see all of the cars and hear some great stories from our participants.”

“Whether you’re strolling down memory lane with visions of that 1967 red Chevrolet Camaro SS you used to drive, or you’re a car enthusiast who’s been wanting to see a 1926 Model T Streetrod, or you’ve never been to a car show in your life, we’ve got something for you,” Arbogast said. “It is a great support to our local economy and the community always comes out in support of this event, so we’re looking forward to celebrating 30 years together.”

Elkins Mayor Van Broughton said the annual event is nice for both area residents and out-of-state visitors because it provides a fun and festive atmosphere.

“It brings a lot of people to town and into our community. It is a three-day event and we have people from out of state that make this part of their vacation and they really enjoy coming to Elkins,” Broughton said. “The citizens of Elkins enjoy looking at the cars and it makes for a nice festival-type atmosphere with the cars, vendors and concessions.”

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