The Bluffton Lions Club Festival of Wheels is presenting its 54th annual Festival of Wheels Cruise-In on Friday, June 17. The car, truck, tractor, golf cart, fire engine, motorcycle and Cushman show takes place right down Main and Cherry Streets, which are closed to traffic.

The show attracts serious enthusiasts and those who simply dream of driving down the road in something more glamorous that the family minivan or grocery toter.

2:00-5:00 p.m. - Registration and parking of vehicles (printable form)
5:00-6:30 p.m. - Judging of vehicles
7:30 p.m. - Trophies awarded
8:00 p.m. - Cruise down S. Main St.

Vintage Chevy enthusiast Dan Groman--who notes he and his brother Darrell have only missed showing cars at a couple of Bluffton events since the late 1970s--says that participants enjoy the laid back atmosphere and opportunity to reconnect with each other.

Many different car makers and clubs will be represented at the show, likely including Mustang, Camaro, Ford Crown Victoria, Chevrolet and Franklin, among others. Groman sees a growing interest in muscle cars and explains that owners of older cars might have to make their own parts to keep a car in running order. "Restomod" vehicles (restored and modified) keep the body and eye-apeal of a vintage vehicle but feature modern brakes, air conditioning, engines, etc.

Joining the show? The fee is $12. Make checks payable to Bluffton Lions Foundation. For more information, visit www.blufftonlionsfoundation.org or phone 419-302-7715.

The 2022 event is being coordinated by a team of Bluffton Lions members. On the day of the event local football players and Boy Scouts will be assisting with setup and teardown, as well as parking.

Proceeds from the festival support several Lions projects, including scholarships for graduating seniors from Bluffton, Pandora-Gilboa and Cory-Rawson; Bluffton Boys State and Girls State programs; and other local charity work of the Bluffton Lions.

MAJOR SPONSORS

• AAA Auto Club
• Anderson Tractor Supply
• Bluffton Family Recreation
• Bluffton Hospital
• Bluffton Aeration
• Bluffton Flying Service
• Bluffton Golf Club LLC
• Bluffton Stone Comnay
• Bluffton Paving, Inc.
• CCR Realtor Lisa Wenger
• Chiles-Laman Funeral Home
• Citizens National Bank
• D&J Golf Carts
•  DNC Hydraulic
• Diller's Flooring & Interiors
• Edward Jones - Ryan DeMarco
• Ellerbrock Spine & Soft Tissue
• Ed Reichenbach State Farm
• Family Eye Car Clinic
• First National Bank
• Fortman Insurance Agency
• Greenhorn restaurant
• Henry's Restaurant of Ottawa
• Ken Luginbihl Auto & Truck Sales
• Luke's
• Masterpiece Signs & Graphics
• PromoHits Ltd.
• Reichenbach & Steiner, CPAs
• Richard Boehr Co.
• Samuel Diller Co., LPA
• Shannon Theatre
• Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Company
• Smith's Realty Professionals
• Springfield Fireworks
• The Food Store
• Tommy Tire Sales
• UAW Local 1327
• Vetter Lumber