Get ready to enjoy Show and Shine at Preston Trout Days Car Show on Saturday, May 17! Trout Days festivities have featured a car show for 35 years according to the current show organizers, Justin Jones and Craig Bond. Originally, the show was an actual judged car show when it first began; now it is a Show and Shine.
How is a Show and Shine different from a judged show? There are few regulations or rules; no pre-registration or registration fees are required. Participants can just show up with the vehicle they want to show. This includes project vehicles still being worked on, finished, customized specialties or simply a car that the participants are proud of and want to share with others. The change from a judged car show to a Show and Shine has brought more vehicles and people to the show.
Two trophies are awarded – one is a “Committee’s Choice” selected by the organizing committee and the other is a “People’s Choice” selected by attendees at the car show. Craig Bond commented that you can never predict the People’s Choice winner. Each year, photos of the two trophy winning cars from the previous year are featured on the posters and flyers for the upcoming show. Last year’s winners were a sleek, black Ford Mustang and a very customized car whose owner traveled from quite a distance in Wisconsin for the show. Dash plaques will be presented to the first 100 entries.
Justin Jones and Craig Bond from Preston Service Plus have been in charge of the car show since 2015. Justin makes sure trophies and posters get ordered, distributes flyers and posters and posts news of the upcoming show on Facebook. The morning of the show, Justin gets out and posts directional signs for the show at 7 a.m.
Craig covers the show during the display hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. D.J. Dewey will once again be providing musical entertainment during the show. Trophies will be awarded at 1:30 p.m. After the announcement of the winners, Justin, driving his gold 1978 Trans Am, will lead a parade of cars from the show to the veterans home. This tradition began last year; residents of the home fully enjoy seeing both the cars and drivers.
Attendance at the Show and Shine varies. The worst year occurred on a snowy, sleety day. That year only seven participants braved the weather to attend. The best year boasted 150 vehicles; this happened in 2021, the year after COVID hit. On average, 70-75 cars are displayed.
Participants in Show and Shine come from all over including mid to northern Wisconsin and the Twin Cities, There is a healthy mix of repeats and new cars each year. A contingent attends from Harmony; many of the Preston Show and Shine participants also attend the Harmony car show on the Fourth of July.
Attendance continues to grow at the Show and Shine. More younger people are attending and more foreign cars are showing up at the show. Show and Shine started using just one street; recently another street had to be added to accommodate the overflow. The show appeals to all ages from little kids dreaming of a car of their own to elderly people with eyes sparkling as they reminisce about cars from their youth.
Justin shows his Trans Am at the Show and Shine; he also takes the Trans Am to other area shows such as the Lime Springs Sweet Corn Days, Meadowfest in Grand Meadow, Harmony’s fourth of July, Ag Days in Spring Valley and Fins and Films, which is also held in the Spring Valley area.
When asked his favorite car that he’s seen at Show and Shine, Justin declared there were many, but then decided on a beautiful red GTO. Justin shared that he especially enjoys the cars that the owners purchased brand new and have carefully conserved for years and years.
Hearing the stories behind the cars and seeing the wide variety of vehicles appeals to both Craig and Justin. The duo run Show and Shine for the pure enjoyment of the interaction with the owners and the appreciation of the vehicles.
Both Craig and Justin feel that the Trout Days committee does an awesome job organizing Preston’s celebration. Justin also helps with the ambulance steak fry. They noted many other offerings such as the fire department’s beer garden and music and the Servicemen’s Club Bloody Mary bar and chicken, the parade, fireworks and more.
Be sure you take full advantage of Show and Shine this year during Preston’s Trout Days. Whether you bring your own car to show or just check out the cars and vote for your favorite to receive the People’s Choice award, you are sure to enjoy attending Show and Shine!
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