Cars lined up for the 2017 Fairview Band Car & Tractor Show; this year’s show will be on Aug. 11 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Tribune file photo)
FAIRVIEW – On Saturday, Aug. 11, Randall Shedd Community Park in Fairview is set to be filled with classic cars, tractors and a variety of vendors, games and music. The fourth annual Fairview Band Car & Tractor Show take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. It will feature live music, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, free inflatables for kids and free health screenings from Cullman Regional in addition to the vehicles on display.
The show originally began as a fundraiser to replace the band's marching uniforms after 15 years. Now that the band has its new uniforms, the proceeds from this year’s show – and all following shows – will be split evenly: half will be used for the band's general costs and equipment maintenance, and the other half will go into a uniform fund for future purchases.
Michelle Watwood, who works with a group of band parents to organize the show each year, explained some of the more pressing equipment issues the band faces.
"Our tubas are extremely dented. They're at the point of not being able to be played. The cases for our drums and tubas are being held together with ratchet straps. The music stands that the students use during concert season are falling apart on us. It's pathetic," she said.
Watwood also explained that the car show is one of the only ways the band gets funding.
"The band does not get any funding from the state, the County or the school," she stated.
All the band's costs – paying for bus fuel for away games and competitions, buying and printing the sheet music, repairing instruments, etc. – are all paid for with fundraisers and student fees. Watwood said the band will have more fundraising events throughout the school year.
To register a car or tractor for the Aug. 11 show, contact Watwood at 256-531-2548; pre-registration is $15, and registration the day of the event is $20.
Find out more at www.facebook.com/annualfairviewcarandtractorshow.
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