Submitted by Ian M. Lange.

Since 2005, Lopez Islanders have held two annual classic-vehicle activities of note. Proud car owners have displayed their antique cars in the Lopez 4th of July parade and also showcased their cars at The Second Saturday in August, a car-viewing and parade event.

Before the pandemic, folks gathered with gusto to show off their vehicles (classic or not) and to view and gab about others’ cars. Finally, It’s time to get together again, so fill up your vehicle with gas (cheap these days) and celebrate with us the retirement of Helen Cosgrove from organizing car enthusiasts’ events since 2005.

Saturday, August 13, from 9:30 a.m. to noon is your chance to see some restored and unrestored beautiful machines, As in years past, you may park your car on Tower Street near Paper Scissors Oon the Rock on Eads Lane for close-up vehicle viewing.

Join us for the Old Car Parade which follows the viewing. Cars motor around Lopez village twice on their way to Odlin Park for a participants’ picnic immediately after the parade. It is there we will honor Helen Cosgrove, our previous organizer.

Grab a copy of the route map which Matt Mariett made for parade participants (to be distributed during the car viewing at 9:30 am), or just follow the lead vehicles as they parade to the picnic area. Vehicles will begin the parade at noon from the parking lot at Tower Street and Eads Lane. If you do not have a car, come and be a spectator.

One never knows who will show up and what unusual vehicle will appear on the scene (to salivate over, or perhaps, even buy). Before the pandemic, some folks from neighboring Orcas Island came to Lopez for this event with a snazzy, black, 1958 Chevrolet Impala and paraded with 70 other interesting old cars and trucks from both the San Juan islands and the mainland. We hope to see you (and that ’58 Chevy Impala) this year on Lopez Island.

For more information please contact either Matt at mattmariett@gmail.com or Ian at ianlange@rockisland.com.