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There is probably only one spot on planet earth where you can eat a livermush burger, groove to great music, and hang out with hundreds of cool cars on August 17 this year.
That would be downtown Forest City.
The 28th annual Hot Nights Cool Rides Car Show is set for August 17, but the Friday night before, August 16, will be a good time had by all.
Both Elvis and Babe Ruth died on August 16 and fans of both are welcome at the festivities.
Adding to the heat on Friday night at 6pm will be Ocean Blvd., a beach and oldies band guaranteed to twist the night away. Their concert will be in the new POPS Pavillion. It will also be an opportunity for car show participants to do last-minute registration.
Over 400 cars, trucks, and motorcycles are already registered and 65 different car classes are recognized. This show is one of the largest in the Southeast. The event is sponsored by the Forest City Merchants Association and the Town of Forest City.
Robert Martin, who along with his wife, Anita, will be serving kettle corn at the car show, said, "We started this about ten years ago. My wife got some at the fair in Shelby. Our son-in-law, Justin Silvers, kept saying, 'Just try it. Just try it.' She finally did and she fell in love with it. After that, anywhere we went, she had to have some kettle corn, so I said, 'Well let's buy the equipment and start making it.' We did and we make the best there is. We've been told it's better than Dollywood and any of our competitors, We have our own recipe and we won't give that out."
Amy Bridges, who works with the town and Merchants Association said,
'Even if you don't have a show car to bring, we invite everyone to POPS to enjoy the live music and to visit with family and friends. You may even want to show off your shagging dance skills. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and come enjoy."
Folks bringing show cars are asked to park on either side of the Rutherford County Farmers Market. Local food trucks, along with the POPS concession stand will be open to serve food. Parking for the public is along Main Street and in the free, public lots between Main Street and Trade Street.
The 28th Hot Nights Cool Rides car show is a free event. It begins Saturday, August 17 at 9am and will continue until 8pm. It is an alcohol-free event and no pets are allowed. Folks wishing to register their cars can Friday, August 16 from 2pm-8pm at Main Street Meeting, 108 East Main Street. Registration will continue Saturday, August 17 from 9am until 2pm. Registration is $25 per vehicle and includes a commemorative t-shirt.
Main Street restaurants along with other food vendors will be serving a variety of food items, including hamburgers, hotdogs, wings, fish, barbecue, turkey legs, livermush burgers, pizza, funnel cakes, ice cream, kettle corn, fudge, and fresh lemonade.
Live music on the entertainment stage begins at 11am with regional television personality Jack Roper and the Weatherman Band. The Kill Devils take the stage at 2pm and closing out the entertainment is the Night Move Band playing from 5pm until 7pm. The trophy ceremony for the car show will immediately follow the Night Move Band.
The movie "Smokey and the Bandit" will be shown at POPS after the trophy ceremony. The movie will start at dusk (approx. 8:30pm). Come early and have your picture made with a Pontiac Trans AM, like the one that Burt Reynolds drove in the movie. The POPS concession stand will be open.
For information call the Forest City Events Line at 828-247-4430 or the Town of Forest City at 828-247-4417. Or like us on Facebook at "Hot Nights Cool Rides Forest City Car Show" or "Forest City Events".
