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Super Sunday added to Auto Fest 2017

  For well over 30 years, the Frankenmuth Auto Fest has added to and reinvented itself without losing the essence of the three-day show.

  This year, the Frankenmuth Country Street Machines organizers are adding a day that is for any make and model of vehicle.

  Auto Fest will run Friday through Sunday, September 8-10, with most activities originating in Heritage Park.

  Show cars in the past had to be manufactured before 1978 to be eligible for the show, including Friday’s Big Block Party. Recent pressure from newer model vehicle owners has created Super Sunday.

  “The time has finally come, the day that many of you wished for! You all talked and we finally made the decision to now accept show cars of all ages on Super Sunday,” Auto Fest organizers wrote on their web site.

  All vehicles must be clean and presentable. The Super Sunday is interested in antiques, street rods and muscle cars, including the latest models of imports and domestics, including late-model Challengers, Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, Firebirds, Vipers, Jeeps and Pro Streets. Special vehicles of unusual and interesting nature, race cars, low production, exotics and one-offs are permitted.

  Super Sunday registration will take place between 8-11am on Sunday, September 10.  Registration is $25 per car. German steins will be given in this specific category during the 1pm awards ceremony on Sunday.

  “If you do not fall under one of these categories, you can send pictures of your unique vehicle to our office either by email or mail.  You can also contact the Auto Fest office at 989-652-6964,” organizers add.

  While many vintage vehicle owners come to town by Wednesday and Thursday, Auto Fest officially opens on Friday with registration beginning at 8am at Schaefer & Bierlein dealership, the corner of Weiss and Curtis roads. Show car registration is $25 cash at Schaefer & Bierlein. Pre-registration is open by visiting www.frankenmuthautofest.net.

  Heritage Park opens at 9am at the main gate only. The other gates open at 9:30am. From 9am until 3pm, every 15 minutes a $50 Kroger gas card will be given away. A craft show will open at 10am behind the Frankenmuth Historical Museum.

  The day slowly revives up in town and the Big Block Party will take place from 5-10pm on Main Street, between Genesee Street and Jefferson Street. Over 2,000 vehicles will be parked on the street with assistance from the Auto Fest volunteers and Frankenmuth Police Depart-ment.

   The Big Block Party will feature music, food and merchants offering specials and extended shopping hours. For local residents, the Frankenmuth varsity football team has its first home game of the season on Friday, welcoming Essexville Garber at 7pm.

  Auto Fest 2017 t-shirts will be for sale all weekend, large to 3x, for $15 each.

  Saturday is the longest day of Auto Fest, with registration and the gates opening at 8am. Plenty of food and beverage vendors will be in Heritage Park, along with vehicle-related vendors. The Kroger gas card giveaways will continue every 15 minutes from 9am until 4pm.

  Saturday evening centers around the Harvey Kern Community Pavilion from 6pm until midnight. Food and beverages will be available and dancing to music from the Sound Alternative Band and Teen Angels. Admission is $15 per person.

  Teen Angels were founded in 1974 by five high school kids who discovered doo-wop music. They quickly learned that singing harmony together can turn five individuals into an inseparable unit.

  Much has changed since then, but founding member Jim Oliver has kept that fundamental idea of a vocal band alive, and it reverberates many times stronger with unparalled musicianship, comedy and charismatic showmanship that only experience can bring.

  The Sound Alternative was born and bred in Detroit’s musical heritage of Motown, R&B and funk. Sound Alternative is a nine-piece horn group that plays the best dance music from the 1940s through the present.

  All the members sing. The band has performed with Ambrosia, Danny and the Juniors, The Drifters, Fleetwood Mac, Leslie Gore, The Spinners, The Temptations, the Tokens and more.

  Super Sunday registration is 8-11am, the Lions Club pancake breakfast in Heritage Park will begin at 8am and $100 Kroger gas card giveaways will take place hourly between 9am and 1pm.

  Cruisers for Christ will conduct a nondenominational church service in the Jaycee Pavilion beginning at 9am.

  The military presentation and awards ceremony will take place at 1pm. Over 60 authentic German beer steins will be awarded by category -  not judged. Car jackets will be given to the top 25 picks.