Sandpoint ready for a classic celebration
SANDPOINT —This weekend Sandpoint will be filled with classic cars, penny loafers and poodle skirts as the town once again turns back the hands of time and celebrates the early days of rock ‘n’ roll with the 19th annual Lost in the ‘50s weekend.
Kicking off the festivities will be the Vintage Car Parade at 6 p.m. Friday in downtown Sandpoint. Old classics already have begun rolling into town in anticipation of the weekend, and many local car buffs have been shining up the chrome on the classic cars they kept in hibernation over the winter months. The parade starts at Sandpoint High School, where cars can begin lining up at 5 p.m. Friday, and will travel through the downtown area.
Following the parade, rock ‘n’ roll fans of all ages can attend a street dance on Main Street in downtown, with music by disc jockey Bashful Dan. The dance is free.
For those 21 years and older, the Bonner County Fairgrounds will be rocking on both Friday and Saturday night with the music of Lou Christie, best known for his songs “I’m Gonna Make You Mine,” “Lightning Strikes,” and “Rhapsody in the Rain”; The Chiffons, whose most memorable tunes are “One Fine Day” and “He’s So Fine”; and Rocky and the Rollers, who will appear here for the ninth year.
The doors at the fairgrounds will open at 6:30 p.m. both nights, with the dance and show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22.50 per person.
On Saturday morning, people can head downtown, where both the Shriners and the Eagles will be cooking up a hearty breakfast. The Shriners will be on Second Avenue and the Eagles will be at their newly remodeled lodge on First Avenue.
Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. car enthusiasts can stroll the streets of downtown, visit the shops and view the entrants to the car show. The local Lion’s Club will offer free screenings for vision, hearing, glaucoma, diabetes and blood pressure. Northwest Blood Center will be at Tomlinson Black Realty from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for people wishing to donate blood.
On Sunday morning, Second Avenue Pizza will host a pajama party breakfast. Prizes and trophies will be awarded for the wildest pajamas. There will be a 5K Aspirin Run leaving from Second Avenue Pizza at 10 a.m. followed by the car rally at 11 a.m.
And finally, if you’re looking for a souvenir of this memorable weekend, you can purchase a raffle ticket for a ‘50s T-shirt quilt. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Wishing Star Foundation.
For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.sandpointonline.com and follow the links to Lost in the ‘50s.