ALTUS – Approximately 10,000 people are expected to attend the 25th anniversary of Main Street Altus’ Rock-n-Rumble car show, poker run and cruise May 3-4.
The annual celebration will also be dedicated to longtime Altus employee and Rock-n-Rumble volunteer Freddie Perez who died in December, Main Street Executive Director Lynna Wilmes said.
“He played a huge role in the car show,” Wilmes said. “He was our go-to guy. He always helped us get things set up and cleaned up. We knew it would be a challenge without him.”
Perez’s family has been selected to choose the Best of Show, she said. Perez worked for the city for more than 20 years, including a stint as director of the parks department. Perez also served as a board member for Main Street Altus.
May 4 will serve as the car show extravaganza with a Smokey and the Bandit theme, a 1970s movie that f eatured actors Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and Sally Field. Reenactors from the movie will lead off the classic cruise 5:30 p.m. Saturday followed by the open cruise at 7 p.m.
About 200 cars typically are registered for the show that “includes a little bit of everything,” Wilmes said. Vintage cars, sports cars and motorcycles are among the hottest entries.
Other events at the show include live music on May 3 and pinewood derby races with local Boy Scout troops, a Hot Wheels show and Power Wheels cruises for kids.
The poker run for motorcyclists takes off from Altus at 9 a.m. Saturday with riders returning at approximately 2 p.m. Registrations are needed for all entries into the show, including the cruises and poker run. Online entries are available at www.mainstreetaltus. org. Entry fees range from $25 to $35 de pending on the category.
“This is the biggest event in Altus,” Wilmes said. “The streets are packed and a good estimate is around 10,000 people.”
Proceeds from the weekend car show are used to promote Main Street Altus activities, including Christmas lighting, downtown appearances, plus façade and sign grants for downtown businesses.