Excitement is building for Innisfail’s upcoming Main Street Show & Shine and Shoot Out - an event left for dead two years ago but resurrected with the growing community-wide momentum to revitalize downtown.
“Last year the Chamber pretty much let it go and it died,” said Debra Stoski, local businesswoman and spokesperson for the new Downtown Association, which will soon be officially called the Innisfail Development Enhancement Association (IDEA). “I thought the event was a good way to make money and we brought it back as part of the overall beautification of downtown.
“This will be the first time it has been downtown and that is exciting,” she added.
For many years the town’s Show & Shine and Shoot Out was held at the Innisfail Curling Club. But with the well-publicized efforts by the town and business community to revitalize the downtown core it is hoped the event, which will be held Sept. 10 and 11, will become a primary annual attraction on Main Street, said Stoski.
“I want too see this happen every year and make it a community event. It is successful in Three Hills, High River and Lacombe. The business communities there make so much money with this that it carries them for the year. The banks are even open on the Sunday of the event,” she said.
During the July 25 regular meeting of town council Stoski, representing the Downtown Association, said “almost all” businesses on Main Street were approached and there was “100 per cent” agreement the Show & Shine and Shoot Out be held in the downtown core.
Following the presentation council approved the request to host the event in the downtown core.
The event will be run by Red Deer’s Thru the Windshield magazine/Just Ride Productions (TTW/JRP) and will include a show and shine along 50 St. between 49 Ave. and 53 Ave. on Sept. 10, and a street festival on 49 Ave. hosted by the Coffee Cottage. The weekend event will also feature performers, face painting, tattoos and more for kids of all ages.
On Saturday evening there will be a Test & Tune for shootout drivers at the Innisfail Arena and then later on in the evening there will be a drive-in movie at Henday Mall.
The weekend will finish off with side-by-side 100-ft. shootout races at the Innisfail Arena. Racing will start at noon and the spectator gates will open at 11 a.m.
A section of 50 St. will be closed for the duration of the event.
Stoski said proceeds from a dance at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 104 on Sept. 10 would go to the Downtown Association Revitalization Project. TTW/JRP has also agreed to donate 10 per cent of proceeds from the event participants (drivers and show and shine participants) to the association.
Council unanimously approved the closures and agreed to provide barricades, detour signs, bleachers and garbage cans for the event.
The show ‘n shine is free for spectators and $10 for registered entrants. The drive-in movie
charge is $10 per car and citizens can watch and listen in your car or come with chairs to watch and listen outside. The event gates open at 8 p.m. and the movie is at dusk. On Sunday, the charge for shootout spectators is $5 and kids 11 and under are free. Driver registration for the shootout is $25.
Spectator gates for the shootout will open at 11 a.m. Racing starts at around noon.
If citizens want more information they can contact Just Ride Productions at 403-341-3044 or by
email at [email protected]
The event website, www.innisfailweekendofwheels.com will be active after Aug. 12.
