33rd annual Old-Fashioned Saturday Night set for July 18; event promises several activities

By Candie Fix

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The third Saturday in July always brings community members together as crowds gather downtown for the annual Haxtun Old-Fashioned Saturday Night. The night, which promises a car show, vendors, burn out and other activities is now in its 33rd year as a local favorite

The event, started in 1988 by Dale and Sherrilyn Smith, is sponsored each year by the Haxtun Chamber of Commerce and brings with it an atmosphere of an old-fashioned fun with music, friends and family along with the car show and cruising.

This year’s event also features a partnership with the Haxtun Volunteer Fire Department to help raise funds in the absence of their annual Firemen’s ball. Firemen’s boots will be located at the fire hall and at the information tent on main street for donations.

The day opens with town-wide garage sales in the morning and ends with cruising on main street as music blends in with motors and laughter in the summer air.

Residents interested in participating in the morning’s garage sale should contact Chris Kuehn at (970) 580-9101. The deadline for people wanting to sign up to have their name added on the list, which can be found the morning of at C-Mart and Haxtun Super’s should register by Wednesday, July 15.

Vehicle registration for the car show will begin at 3:30 p.m. on main street at the information tent. The show will feature entrants through 6 p.m. at which time awards will be presented on main street followed by cruising. Categories include classics, motorcycles, millennium, works in progress and young adult.

Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners of the car show. First place will take home a $750 cash prize, $500 for second place and $350 for the third-place winner.

A poker run is back in its second year after several years off. Riders should register on main street at 11 a.m. with pegs up and riding to begin at noon. The run will take riders to Bully’s Pub and Grub in Fleming, Spurs Grill at the Akron/Sterling exit on I76, Henry’s Pub in Sterling, RDs in Sedgwick and a final card draw in Haxtun on main street. The winner will be announced at 4:45 p.m.

Riders can also pre-register at bit.ly/OFSNpokerrun.

At 6:30 p.m. the annual burnout competition begins at the intersection of Colorado Avenue and Strohm Street. The burnout will take place in front of the fire hall and will feature a $500 cash prize for the one who pleases the crowd most with their black smoke.

The Haxtun Volunteer Firemen will again offer their usual pulled pork dinner at the fire hall from 5-7 p.m. Due to restrictions, the free-will offering meal will be carry out only.

Vendors, including beer vendors, will be located along Colorado Avenue throughout the afternoon and into the night along with music from DJ Gary Wisdom. Music and vendors are allowed to stay open until midnight. Vendor applications can be found at bit.ly/OFSNVendorForm.

For more information about the 33rd annual Haxtun Old-Fashioned Saturday Night, contact Haxtun Chamber of Commerce Director Jenn Oberle at (970) 467-0194 or visit the Facebook page Haxtun Old Fashioned Saturday Night.