The Woolwich Community Lions Club is bringing back a vintage classic. To help raise money for the Elmira District Community Living accessible van project, the organization is planning an all-day fundraiser on Aug. 11 with the musical Grease as a main theme. The event will feature a classic car show, beer garden and live music, finishing off with a late-night “Grease Lightning” dance. Ford will be attending the event and offering test drives of their vehicles.
The day’s events start with the Test Drive a Ford Event and the vintage car show running alongside from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Foodland parking lot at 315 Arthur St. in Elmira.
Ford will donate $20 each for the first 300 test drives of the company’s various car models, potentially contributing up to $6,000 for the event. This is part of Ford’s Drive One program that collects money for various non-profit ventures and gives the company a chance to showcase its product by letting the public test drive vehicles for a good cause. The entire day’s profits will go towards a Ford wheelchair van for the Living Van Project. Local car owners have also been invited to showcase their classic vehicles for the event.
Event chair and Woolwich Community Lions member Linda Litt explains that her organization has been working hard to invite participants.
“We have posters and flyers out, we’ve gone to local car shows all over the area and we are hoping that they will come,” said Litt.
Visitors and car enthusiasts are then invited to the Lions Hall in Elmira at 4 p.m. for a continuation of the car show, a beer garden, live music and a barbecue. They will be able to enjoy the Lions Club patio, sectioned off for the event. The beer garden will feature a bar, barbecue provided by the Elmira Lions food trailer and performances by local band Cowboy Up. At 8 p.m. The Lions Club will be holding a ’50s-themed dance with music by DJ Bull Frog Productions and encouraging participants to dress up as their favorite Grease characters.
The Drive a Ford event and car show at Foodland are free. Tickets for activities at the Lions Club location are $10 in advance and can be purchased through a Woolwich Community Lions member, at the Pampered and Polished Spa, Brown’s Menswear or by calling 519-669-5800. Visitors can also by tickets for $12 each at the door.
