Annual show, concert draw crowd to Seymour

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One of Seymour’s largest and most well-attended events each year isn’t just about cars, trucks, motorcycles and great music.

It’s also about community and something else.

“It’s fun. I like it,” said Lester White of Seymour of the 14th annual Cars and Guitars car show and concert in downtown Seymour.

White attended the event in downtown Seymour with his wife, Michelle White, and they brought along his 1980 GMC Cabellero.

“I think it brings everyone together,” he said. “There are a lot of people with common interests, and it lets them talk.”

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The show kicked off at 2 p.m. with 171 cars of every shape, size, model and era preregistered. Nearly 80 more actually showed up, said organizers Dan and Alicia Colglazier.

The vehicles ranged from classic and vintage automobiles to motorcycles, super cars, exotics, muscle cars, trucks and more.

Unlike many car shows, Cars and Guitars participants don’t win awards. They take home door prizes. That’s something many of the contestants appreciated.

“I like that there aren’t any trophies,” said Jack Pennington of Columbus, who attended the event and brought along his 2017 Challenger TA.

“Sometimes, the guys get too competitive,” he said.

Door prizes for the event were valued at $100 or more with some going as high as $400.

Additionally, the event featured a silent auction of car- and guitar-related merchandise donated by local businesses, along with a 50/50 raffle to help raise money.

“It’s something that needed to be done. It’s the second biggest event in Seymour next to Oktoberfest,” Dan Colglazier said.

The car show and concert began when Colglaziers and others were knocking around ideas for another event to help draw people to downtown shops and to bring the community together.

He said former Mayor John Burkhart suggested something for the hot rod and car fans, and that was how it all began.

Even if visitors don’t have a car they want to show off, they are more than welcome to just come, look and learn about the cars, the Colglaziers said.

“Kids would never get a chance to see some of these old cars,” said Ken Hedrick of Columbus, who attended with his ’57 Ford Thunderbird.

The event benefited kids in more ways than just allowing them to learn about vehicles from an earlier time.

Proceeds from the event has helped fund the purchase of playground equipment for special needs children at Seymour parks.

The entry fee the day of the show is $20, while early registration was $15.

Last year, the show raised roughly $7,000 for the parks department, Alicia Colglazier said.

“It takes about $25,000 to purchase a piece of play equipment for children with special needs that is up to government standards,” Dan Colglazier said.

The Colglaziers said they believe the event has raised about $82,000 in 13 years, resulting in multiple purchases of equipment for Seymour’s parks.

In 2016, the parks department used $25,000 from the fund to purchase playground equipment for Kessler Park.

“It’s just a great cause,” Alicia Colglazier said.

Since the show has funded equipment for the city’s three major parks — Shields, Gaiser and Kessler — the goal now will be to invest money to make the playgrounds more accessible by adding concrete walkways and rubber mats around the equipment.

At 7 p.m. The Retros, an Indianapolis-based band, took the stage on Chestnut Street.

The band performed hits from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

Spectators filled downtown Chestnut Street to watch the band perform.

“Overall, it’s just a great event,” White said. “The atmosphere, the people, even the weather is great this year.”

“It’s awesome, well-put together and very well-organized,” Hedrick said.

Planning for the event starts early each year and is organized by a seven-person committee and volunteers who work the event, donate time and resources to make the event happen.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help out can contact the Colglaziers or the Cars and Guitars committee through social media.

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