It has been a while since I’ve done a write-up on a local car show, but this one felt like it deserved it.
I left the house around 5:30 this morning to pick up a buddy before heading out for Fort Smith, Arkansas, for The River Valley Gathering. This was the first year for the show, and I would say it was a total success.
The trip ended up being about 275 miles round trip, but days like this make the miles worth it.
By the end of the day, 237 vehicles had registered and more than $15,000 was raised for the Almost Home Animal Shelter in Fort Smith. That’s a pretty impressive result for a first-year event.
We saw vehicles come in from Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kansas, and of course Arkansas, which made for a great mix of rides throughout the show.
I was especially curious to see how things would work out because the organizers, Larry Breeden and Travis Yarbrough, tried something a little different from most car shows. There was no entry fee for participants, but spectators were charged $10 at the gate.
All of the event expenses were covered through sponsorships, allowing the proceeds from the day to go directly to support the animal shelter.
Before heading out, Larry mentioned that the plan is for this to become an annual event, and based on how well things went this year, I would say it’s off to a great start. Everything seemed well organized, the turnout was strong, and most importantly, everyone appeared to be having a good time.
That’s about all you can ask for on a day spent around old cars and good people.
We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this one and plan to be back next year.
Jump over to our Facebook page to see all the pictures from this show. While you’re there, give the page a like so you can keep up with the rest of our car show coverage.
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