A section of Kimmswick’s streets will be lined with vehicles of various makes, models and vintages on Father’s Day.
The Mississippi River town will hold the 17th annual Kimmswick Father’s Day Car Show on Sunday.
Registration is scheduled from 8-11 a.m., and the show will be held from noon to 3 p.m.
Awards will be presented near the end of the show.
Jim and Jodi Mathis along with their son, Brett, started the annual car show in 2009. The show is open to all makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles.
The entry fee is $20, and the first 100 vehicle owners receive dash plaques.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Kimmswick Visitor Center, and the show is sponsored by the Kimmswick Merchants Association.
Betteanne Smith, Kimmswick Visitor Center board president, said Jodi Mathis had the idea to hold the show on Father’s Day.
“Father’s Day was pretty quiet down in Kimmswick,” said Smith, who owns Mississippi Mud Gallery and Gifts, 118 Market St. “Mother’s Day was rocking because the moms wanted to come to Kimmswick, but Father’s Day, not so much. We thought, ‘How can we get the dads to want to come to Kimmswick on Father’s Day.’ Jodi thought we should host the car show, and she was right.
“It brings fathers, sons, grandfathers and the whole family. It has been a really great idea of Kimmswick.”
Smith said 235 vehicles entered last year’s car show, and approximately 1,000 people attended the show throughout the day.
“It was big,” she said. “That was a good day.”
Smith said the Visitor Center collected about $2,000 from the car show. She said the money is used to help pay for the center’s operating expenses.
“The only income we have is from fundraisers or when we sell jams or jellies,” she said. “(The car show) is important to keep the doors open.”
Smith said vehicles are parked on both sides of Market Street and in the field next to City Hall, 6041 Third St. She said Market Street is closed to traffic during the show, and portions of Third and Second streets that lead to Market Street also are closed to traffic.
“You can still get to the businesses and other parts of town,” she said.
Smith said registration is accepted until there are no more available parking spaces.
“The most we have ever had was 260 (vehicles), and that was really tight,” she said. “There is a limit to what we can handle. If the field is muddy, we do an overflow onto Second Street.”
The Father’s Day Car Show has a unique award system. There is no judging for awards; instead 25 business and restaurant owners select their favorite vehicles.
Smith said this year’s awards feature images of Jim Mathis’ show car and the Windsor Harbor Road Bridge. Jim Mathis died in November 2023.
“The award is really cool because Jim had a beautiful show car, and it features the Windsor Harbor Road Bridge because it is currently closed to foot traffic because it needs a lot of repairs and the bridge is on our minds,” she said.
“The merchants have all of their names on the plaque, and they each choose their favorite car. I always enjoy walking around and choosing a car. It is fun.”
Smith said Pitfire BBQ will sell food during the show, and the town’s restaurants and shops will be open.
A DJ will be at Veterans Park, near the corner of Market and Second streets, and strawberry lemonade, jams and car show merchandise will be sold outside the Kimmswick Visitor Center.
Smith said a license plate featuring Jim Mathis’ car and the Windsor Harbor Road Bridge will be sold for $10 this year.
“The license plate is like a collector’s item,” she said. “It can be a fun gift.”
During the show, some businesses will participate in a bingo game, Smith said. Shoppers will have the chance to win prizes of $150 or $250.
“When you make a purchase, you will get a bingo card and chip,” she said. “We have done this for other events but not the car show. It is an added fun thing for people who don’t want to be out in the hot sun all day. They can shop and try their hand at bingo.”
Smith said she is looking forward to the car show and that it is fun to see all of the different vehicles come into town and set up for the event.
“We open it up to all makes and models, so you have the loud hot rods, classic Model A cars and T-Birds,” she said. “You just have a variety of cars. It is almost like a parade in itself as they roll down the street and get to their designated parking spots.”
For more information, go to gokimmswick.com or call the Visitor Center at 636-464-6464.