EVERETT – Yesteryear and as many as 30,000 people will descend on downtown Everett this weekend to experience a sock hop, old-time rock ‘n’ roll and hot rods galore.
The fifth annual Cruzin’ to Colby weekend has rolled around bigger and better this year, with more cars than ever and the addition of an oldies concert and an auto auction at the Everett Events Center.
Seattle Rod-Tiques, a nonprofit club for Northwest auto enthusiasts, organizes the annual event.
“It’s gotten bigger and bigger every year,” said club vice president Lonnie Meadows. The added events “go along with the cars, and everything ties in with our theme.”
The club may have Seattle in its name, but most of its members are from Snohomish and Skagit counties.
Meadows said the club’s mission is to promote family events while helping the community, including local charities.
Some of the proceeds from the weekend’s events will benefit Camp Fire USA, Providence Hospice, the Snohomish Food Bank, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Explorers.
Last year, nearly 1,000 cars parked along or rode down Colby Avenue, and the club expects more participants this year.
There will be a three-hour parade of old-time cars around downtown Sunday afternoon.
Hot-rod lovers can get a closer look at the cars Monday at the Show ‘n’ Shine, or attend the Silver Auto Auction.
But there’s more to the weekend than cars. This year, the cruise will open at 7 p.m. Saturday with The Diamonds and Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts playing at the Everett Events Center.
The Diamonds will play their hits from the ’50s and ’60s, including “Little Darlin’ ” and “The Stroll.” Tickets are $20.
The sock hop on Sunday night will see the Everett Events Center ballroom full of bobby socks, saddle shoes, hair grease and poodle skirts. Retro dress is suggested but not required, and the dance is open to the whole family at $5 a ticket.
“Our club has always been and always will be a family-oriented club,” Meadows said. “And I think this is a great opportunity to create revenues for the restaurants, hotels and shops in Everett.”
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