The fourth annual Little Chicago Show ‘n’ Shine attracted over 300 vehicles and hundreds of automotive enthusiasts to downtown Moose Jaw despite steady precipitation throughout the event, with rain, drizzle, and showers seemingly taking turns.
Alex Carlton of the Downtown Moose Jaw Association said organizers were impressed by the turnout given the challenging weather conditions.
“Of course, it would have been great for Mother Nature to be a little more kind, but I think we’re all blown away about how many people showed up,” Carlton said. “We have to have over 300 vehicles here. We had over 500 registered and there’s a lot of people and there’s a whole lot of cars.”
The event drew participants from across Western Canada, including a large group from Manitoba that made the journey specifically for the Moose Jaw show.
“We have people drive as far as a car club of a dozen cars from Manitoba today,” Carlton said. “They’re coming from all over and we’ve got a great turnout despite this weather.”
While many took shelter under umbrellas or in doorways, there were still hundreds stoically ignoring the rain to have a lookAttendees showcased a wide variety of vehicles, from classic muscle cars to sleek newer models to restored trucks. Edward, displaying a 1956 International truck, described his unique restoration project.
“It’s been modified. It’s sitting on a 2005 GMC chassis with the six-liter, it’s a three-quarter-ton rear-wheel drive,” he said.
Steve Klein from Swift Current brought his 1969 Coronet RT, a factory big block automatic restored 25 years ago. Despite the rain, Klein said he was pleased with the event’s atmosphere and looked forward to connecting with fellow enthusiasts during breaks in the weather.
Visitors Miranda Walston, from Vancouver, and Andrew Humphreys praised both the turnout and the quality of vehicles on display.
“I always love how well attended this event is,” Walston said. “People show up, and I love the cars that show up from all over the place. … I personally love VW Beetles, I’m always on the lookout for a good Beetle, and there’s a few here today.”
Humphreys keeps an eye out for older Ford trucks, along with anything especially powerful. But he said he appreciated the passion evident in all the restored vehicles.
“I like seeing the craftsmanship on a lot of these cars. The details that go into it. It’s incredible how much time and work people put in,” he said.
Carlton noted the diverse range of automotive interests represented at the show, emphasizing the inclusive nature of the car community.
“I don’t really have favorites that I look for, per se. I think it’s more just to see how many people are car enthusiasts and that people like all sorts of different things,” he said.
The Little Chicago Show ‘n’ Shine continues the Downtown Moose Jaw Association’s efforts to bring community events to the city’s historic Main Street area, building on Moose Jaw’s reputation as “Little Chicago” during the Prohibition era.
The weather challenge helped showcase the dedication of automotive enthusiasts, with hundreds of people shrugging off the rain to take in the event.