This year’s annual De Soto Car Cruise on Saturday, Aug. 5., will include free admission to a showing of the 1977 classic comedy film “Smokey and the Bandit” at the Melba Theatre.
Organizer Todd Mahn, the third-generation owner of Mahn Funeral Homes in De Soto and Festus, said the first 300 people to come to the theater at 300 S. Main St. will be admitted to the movie for free. The movie is scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m.
Mahn said the car cruise is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Participants will gather at 5 p.m. at the Historic Texaco Gas Station, 900 N. Main St., next to Mahn Funeral Home.
He said there is no enter fee to be part of the cruise, and the first 100 participants will receive a commemorative coin.
Mahn said the cruise will celebrate his son, Daniel, recently graduating from college. He said traditionally the event is held to celebrate his son’s birthday in June.
Mahn said the car cruise, which started about a decade ago, is just for fun, but the goal is to encourage people to eat at restaurants and shop at the stores in De Soto.
A DJ will play music from 5-9 p.m. at the Texaco Station.
Mahn said this is the first year he’s sponsored a movie as part of the car cruise, and concessions will be sold. He also said the theater is asking for a canned good donation to benefit the De Soto Food Pantry.