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This upcoming Father’s Day weekend is going to be extra special.
Dads like cars, and dads like helping people.
This Father’s Day weekend will bring it all together.
Caledonia Founder’s Day is scheduled for June 15 through June 18 in Caledonia, Minn.
On Saturday, June 17, the Randy Klinski Memorial Car Show will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This 10th annual event, organized by Kevin Jacobson, is dedicated to Randy Klinski – a huge AMC fan. Along with the car show, there will be a host of other fun activities for attendees to enjoy. There is a $10 entry fee.
The next day, Sunday, June 18, officially recognized as Father’s Day, car enthusiasts are invited to partake in the first-ever Father’s Day Cruise for a Cause, an event hosted and sponsored by Visit Bluff Country Magazine. This will be a 101-mile tour through Bluff Country. Registration will start at 10 a.m. at 103 S. Kingston Street in Caledonia, Minn., with the cruise beginning at 11 a.m.
Cruisers will take in the unspoiled beauty of Historic Bluff Country – the undisturbed natural wonders of the Driftless Area. Along the way, cruisers will want to check out places to grab lunch or ice cream, while stopping to check out the variety of unique vehicles participating in the event. There will be planned stops in towns along the route. There are so many great places to experience in Historic Bluff Country, this one-day car cruise is merely a glimpse of the possibilities.
Participants will enjoy a memorable day full of windy roads, rolling hills, bluff scapes, and hilltop views of Bluff Country.
Highlights of the route will include the following:
•Hwy. 76 from Caledonia to Houston, known as Badger Hill by locals.
•Hwy. 16 from Rushford to Lanesboro, following the bends and bluffs of the Root River.
•County Road 12, a.k.a “Roller Coaster Hill” on County 12, between Lanesboro and Harmony/Preston.
•A tour through the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minn.
•Inspiration Point Wayside Rest, Hwy. 16 between Preston and Lanesboro.
•Lanesboro Dam, visible alongside Lanesboro’s main drag of Parkway Avenue.
All types of vehicles are welcome to participate; cars, truck, and motorcycles. And, you don’t have to bring a classic car or a sports car. Everyone is welcome.
The purpose of this event is to enjoy a drive through Bluff Country while also raising funds for seven-year-old Kendall Hammell, a Chatfield girl who is battling leukemia. You can follow her story on the Caring Bridge website. She’s been undergoing treatments at the Mayo Clinic. There is no cost to participate, but donations will be accepted the day of the cruise. Turns along the route will be flagged with hot pink and light blue balloons, Kendall’s favorite colors.
So, Saturday will be a great day to check out classic cars, muscle cars, and sports cars at the car show. Then, Sunday will be a day to take to the road for the car cruise.
The event is anticipated to conclude around 4:30 p.m. in Chatfield, Minn., with a final stop at Karst Brewing in Fountain, Minn.
Pre-registration is suggested for both the car show and car cruise, so event organizers can be more prepared. To register, please visit visitbluffcountry.com/carshowcruise. Questions can be directed to info@visitbluffcountry.com or (507) 765-2151.
For those who register for the Father’s Day Cruise for a Cause by Wednesday, June 14, 2023, there will be a drawing for $100 in gift cards from businesses located in Bluff Country. You must be present to win. The gift cards will be given away at the end of the cruise to one lucky winner.
For those who cannot attend the Father’s Day Cruise for a Cause, but would still like to make a donation, there is an account set up at Root River State Bank in Chatfield, Minn. Checks can be made payable to Kendall Hammell Benefit.
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