Record numbers for upcoming Beach Cruise
Penticton’s most popular car show returns this coming weekend with a record-setting number of entries.
There were 835 cars registered for the 18th annual Peach City Beach Cruise as of Monday morning, according to president Wayne Wood, representing a significant jump on the 762 seen in 2017.
“Last year was our biggest year and this one has blown it away — it’s crazy,” said Wood, who’s hoping to push registration to 850 cars.
Vehicles from as far away as Manitoba and Texas will be competing in about two dozen categories, capturing everything from rat rods and classic restorations to big rigs and modified muscle cars.
The event kicks off Friday with a parade down Main Street that leaves Skaha Park at 5:30 p.m., after which the vehicles will be parked on Lakeshore Drive for viewing and judging through Saturday.
Gyro Park will be alive throughout the weekend with music and other entertainment, admission for which will cost just $3, while a variety of events are planned for registrants, including wine tours and cruises.
Awards will be handed out Sunday morning in Gyro Park.
Billed as Western Canada’s premier three-day car show, the event has more than doubled in size since Wood got involved 10 years ago, and represents a sizeable economic driver for the Penticton area.
“Each one of these cars here will spend $1,000 to $2,000 — easily — just in accommodation, meals, things they buy,” he said.
Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit agreed the economic impact is “significant,” but said the size of the local cash injection has never been measured.
“Anecdotally, it’s a great event for the community,” added Jakubeit, who described the Beach Cruise and the Penticton Elvis Festival, which also starts Friday, as “the kick-off to the summer festival and events season.”
More information is available online at www.peachcitybeachcruise.com.