Oakboro Cruise-In organizers have big plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the monthly event.

Volunteers have meet many times a month since April to plan for a two-night celebration.

On Sept. 22, the Cruise-in will begin at 4 p.m.

Valhalla will perform on the stage beside the hardware store on Second Street.

Starting at 7 p.m. and going to 8:30, there will be a Celebration of Power at the intersection of College Street and Third.

After this activity, all cars interested in closing the evening with a Showcase Cruise are invited to gather in the parking lot of Oakboro School and head to cruise through Oakboro, circle through the park and cruise back up through town as they head on their way home.

Dwight Hatley and Eli Troellie, also of Locust, check out the engine on a Chevrolet Nova during the cruise-in. (Photo by SETH MABRY)

Sept. 23 begins with the opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. on the stage beside the hardware store on Second Street.

The Car Corral will be opened on College Street for car clubs to park together for the days events.

A live auction, hosted by the Petty Family Foundation, will begin at 11 a.m. and will feature NASCAR items, autographed items.

The Esther House of Stanly County will do two 50/50 drawings during the day, the first from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., when the first winner will be drawn, and the second will be from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., when the second winner will be drawn. Both pots will be separate.

Former “American Idol” competitor Dustin Curlee will perform on the stage several times throughout the day and there will be DJs playing songs at various parts of the town.
For the kids, there will be bouncy houses on site.

The event will close with the Celebration of Power from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Another Showcase Cruise starting at 9 p.m. at Oakboro School will close out the event.

Editor’s Note: A cover story on the formation of the cruise-in, including an interview with founder Jerry Crayton, will appear this month in the next issue of Stanly the magazine.

More photos of the cruise-in can be found in one of these three galleries.