Forest City, NC – The 33rd Hot Nights Cool Rides Car Show is fast approaching! Each year thousands flock to the small Western North Carolina town of Forest City on the third weekend in August (this year August 15 and 16). With over four hundred cars, trucks, and motorcycles registered and eighty different car classes recognized, this show is one of the largest in the Southeast! The event is sponsored by the Forest City Merchants Association and the Town of Forest City.
To kick off this year’s event, a free cruise in and concert will be on Friday, August 15 from 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Forest City Pavilion on Park Square (POPS), just a short walk from historic Main Street. The Ocean Blvd Band will take the stage at 7:30pm. Even if you do not have a show car to bring, we invite everyone to POPS to enjoy the live music and to visit with family and friends. You may even want to show off your shagging dance skills! Don’t forget to bring a blanket or lawn chair! Folks participating in the cruise in are asked to park on either side of the Rutherford County Farmers Market. Volunteers will be on hand to assist show cars with parking. Main Street restaurants, local food trucks, and the POPS concession stand will provide delicious food and snack items. Parking for the public is along historic Main Street and in the free, municipal lots between Main Street and Trade Street.
The 33rd Hot Nights Cool Rides car show is a free event for spectators. It begins on Saturday, August 16 at 9am and will continue until 8pm along historic Main Street. Folks wishing to participate in the car show can register their show car on Friday, August 15 from 2:00pm-8:00pm at Main Street Meeting, 108 East Main Street. Registration continues Saturday, August 16 from 9:00am-12:00pm. Registration is just $30 per vehicle and includes a commemorative t-shirt. Only registered show cars will be allowed on Main Street.
Main Street will close at 7:00am on Saturday to everyone but show cars. Volunteers will be on hand to assist show cars with parking. Intersections must remain open throughout the day. Spectators are asked to park in municipal lots between Main Street and Trade Street and in the municipal lots around POPS. Spectators can access Trade Street via Main Street/McNair Drive and Main Street/Elizabeth Avenue. Parking will also be available in the large, grassy area across the street from First Baptist Church.
Main Street restaurants along with other food vendors will be serving a variety of delicious food items. True Oldies Downtown Radio WAGY FM 107.5/1320 AM/www.WAGYFM.com will be broadcasting live throughout the day. And don’t forget to visit and shop with our Main Street retail businesses! The trophy ceremony will begin at 7pm on the stage at the Main Street/Cherry Mountain Street/Park Square intersection.
“Pit Road/Vendor Alley” returns this year as part of the car show on Saturday! A large variety of vendors, including arts/crafts, home-based businesses, commercial businesses, community organizations, sports groups, school groups, political groups, and church groups will be set up inside POPS during the car show on Saturday.
For more information contact Amy Bridges at 828-447-1730 or 828-248-5200. Or like us on Facebook at “Hot Nights Cool Rides Forest City Car Show” or “Forest City Events”. Information is also available at the Town’s website: www.townofforestcity.com.
