Classic Cars And Fanfare Await You...

WAITSBURG - For the first year ever, the Waitsburg annual parade and Classic Auto Show will be held on the same weekend, so dust off your parade floats and wash and wax your classic car because it's going to be an event like this town has never seen.

This Friday and Saturday will be jam-packed with autos, music, parade entries, candy and plenty of vendors and activities.

This weekend marks the annual occurrence of Waitsburg's horse races, the Days of Real Sport. Because the past two years have not included horse racing events, the auto show was moved earlier on the calendar to join the parade and make the weekend a bigger event.

The fun starts with the classic auto cruise at 6 p.m. at Preston Park. After the cruise, there will be an ice cream social at Betty's Diner on Preston Avenue.

On Saturday, the big parade starts at 10 a.m. and will feature local clubs and organizations, classic cars and local veterans. The parade marshals this year will be Mr. and Mrs. Roger Hevel, longtime Waitsburg residents.

Parade entries will be taken until May 18.

After the parade, the auto show will take place at Preston Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be music and vendors in the park. Also, vendors will be set up at Town Hall at Main Street to provide more shopping opportunities.

Come out on Friday and Saturday and see why Waitsburg is "One of a Kind!"

Ready For The Show

Bert and Bitzi Baxter are ready for the auto show this year. They have washed and waxed their old 1961 Falcon Ranchero so it is prepared for the big show.

In 1961, the first car Bert ever purchased was a 1961 Falcon Ranchero.

"It's cute," Bitzi said. "There aren't very many of them around."

The Falcon boasts one of the smallest, six-cylinder engines Ford has ever made, Bert said, and they both loved that car because of the memories made in it.

At age 17, Bert and Bitzi went on their first date in the Falcon to a drive-in movie. Bitzi said she had to spot him some money for popcorn and Bert later fell asleep during the show.

"I should have known," Bitzi said with a laugh.

The car also took the couple on a trip to Mount Rainier. They were going to take it on their honeymoon, but they accidentally lost the spare tire.

"He even used to open the door for me," Bitzi said.

The car had no seat belts and when their son Bart was just an infant, Bitzi got in a car accident in the Falcon and that was a sign that the car needed to be sold. The Falcon was traded in for a station wagon.

"There's no room for a baby in a Ranchero," Bert added.

Years later and many cars in between after the Baxters moved to Waitsburg in 1991, the couple was driving through Milton Freewater, Ore., and Bert spotted a Falcon like his first car for sale on the side of the road. Bert made them stop and purchase the old car. This Ranchero was blue and silver, "ugly," the Baxters said. So, they painted it maroon and silver. Now, they take it out during the summertime and show it off at car shows in Eastern Washington, including Prosser and Washtucna.

About 600 people just like the Baxters will be out showing cars this weekend or just perusing other's autos. Bitzi said she also likes to enter the raffles held at the event and hopes she can win something.

The Baxters have shown the car in the annual event for four years and they love that the auto show brings money and new faces to their town.

"We just have fun and show our cars," Bert said.

Annual "One Of A Kind" Parade & Classic Auto Show

Cruise-In 6 p.m. on Friday, Parade 10 a.m. Saturday, Auto Show 10 a.m. - 3p.m. Saturday