Smokin’ cars and cool carnival rides are coming soon. Urbana Volunteer Fire and Rescue (UVFR) will play host to two back-to-back events in mid-July.
The fourth annual “Smokin’ Car Show” will kick off the week of events on July 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration, $10 per vehicle, begins at 10 a.m., and those who participate will judge the entrants. The top five will win prizes, and another car will be awarded with the second alarm hottest title.
“It’s a good time for everybody,” said UVFR President Dennis McGrew. “It’s bringing something different to Urbana.”
About 130 vehicles, mostly cars, are set to participate.
“People bring whatever they want,” McGrew said. Last year, participating cars included several Corvettes and muscle cars from the 1960s.
McGrew said he often notices the camaraderie among the vehicle owners because they are all interested in classic vehicles.
The event will also feature food available for sale, a DJ, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.
The following day, the annual carnival will run from July 16 – 21.
Instead of filling up the night’s sky with fireworks this year, the company decided to bring in several well-known bands including The Van-Dells (July 16), The Hub Caps (July 18) and The Reagan Years (July 20).
A variety of rides will be available with pay-one-price-and-ride-until-closing from July 16 to 18.
“We try to keep the carnival very family-oriented,” he said.
A raffle on July 21 will include prizes such as a Carnival Cruise Line voucher, a 55-foot flat screen television and an iPad.
Besides the standard cotton candy, funnel cakes and sno cones, the company will serve buffet dinners inside the banquet hall. Prices and food vary each night. Platters, sandwiches, pizza, ice cream and French fries are several other items volunteers will be serving during the week.
Many of the volunteers are members of the company, but some are residents who just want to help out during the carnival.
“We get a whole array of people [to volunteer during the week],” McGrew said.
Proceeds from both events will go into the company’s general fund. A Rosenbauer fire engine was purchased two years ago, and the UVFR is still making payments on the apparatus.