Gear up for Depot Day!
Photo by CHANSE WATSON Classic cars line Sixth Street in Wallace last year in front of the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Museum. The annual event kicks off festival season in Wallace.
WALLACE — It’s that time of the year again for classic car fans to flock to Wallace and check out what is lined up downtown.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Museum is all set to host its 34th annual Depot Day festival & classic automobile show on May 11 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event is known as one of the first in Wallace’s list of seasonal festivals and is the biggest moneymaker for the Depot Museum.
“This is the major fundraiser for the Depot,” said Shauna Hillman, NPR Depot Museum director. “The Board of Directors for the NP Depot foundation do all of the work for this. This is where NPRDM gets to brag about a working board. Not many museums have that!”
Those who attend can once again expect rows and rows of classic cars to be parked up and down the streets of downtown Wallace along with vendors, games and a craft fair being provided on the Depot’s lawn.
Hillman said that more than 100 cars have already preregistered and more are expected to show up on the day of with the warm weather.
“The weather looks to be nice and there is going be a record number of crafters at the craft fair as well.”
Last year’s event had roughly 2,500 people swing by throughout the day to check out 275 classic cars on display down Sixth and Cedar streets.
This year’s vehicle competition includes a new category called “Pro Street” which can include a “car, truck, or street rod with its back half tubbed.”
The new category joins a list of 18 others that vehicle owners will be competing against each other to win. As usual, a first through third place trophy will be awarded for each category except the people’s choice and best in show categories.
Those who wish to bring their vehicle out to the show are invited to preregister online at http://www.npdepot.org/depot-days.php or by calling NPRDM at 208-752-0111.
Day of registration will be from 7-11 a.m. Judging will begin right after registration ends and trophies will be awarded around 3:30 p.m.
If you are entering a vehicle and wish to park next to someone in particular, it is recommended that you arrive with that person.
With everything ready to go, Hillman is excited to see who shows up for the new category and have a fun event in town.
“I’m looking forward to seeing that new street pro (category),” she said. “It’s an outrageously good time and on a bright sunny day, nothing but the best for Wallace.”
If results are received before deadline, Depot Day automobile show results will be included in the May 15 edition of the News-Press.