SETTING A DATE

This is one of the most important aspects of planning your event because there may be competing events. Avoid competing events the best you can to optimize your turnout. Saturdays are most common during the months that it is still pleasant to spend several hours outdoors with a low chance of rain. This generally means late Spring into early Fall (if you live in Florida, you can do it any time of year). You’ll also need to determine if your event will be “rain or shine” or if you will have a rain date (usually the following Saturday). If you have a rain date, ensure you note that on your flyers and everywhere else you advertise your event. Try to schedule your event in the middle of or near the end of the car show “season” so that you have time to research earlier events and pass out flyers for your event at the earlier events.

Many events “claim” the same month and weekend every year for consistency and to get established in each car owner’s “personal car show circuit.” Car owners pretty much have their calendars marked with the events they’ll attend before the season gets underway and add a few more during the season as they learn about them. Hopefully, you’ll be able to establish a regular date such as “the cruise-in that’s always on Saturday of Father’s Day weekend” or “the car show that’s always the third Saturday of August.”

In coming up with your date, thoroughly research where and when there will be other competing events so that you avoid (or at least minimize) competing with other events nearby. Your local newspaper may have a regular car show listing in its automotive or community happenings section. See Appendix 3, Classic Car Show Websites for past and upcoming events near you. Note the dates and weekends of past events from the year prior because more often than not, the same event will be held again the same month and weekend in the following year. You can contact the organizer of the past event to confirm if and when they will have this year’s coming event. Your local convenience store or grocery store may have those “Cars For Sale” booklets in a rack or vending machine near the exit and some of those list car show events. Your local auto parts store, chicken wing restaurant, sports bar/restaurant, etc. may have flyers posted about events. Note: Wherever you find information about events in your area is where you want to post information about your event when you get the details ready. You’ll likely find that a few other churches in your area are conducting them as well. If you must conflict with other events, do so with events that are as far away as possible from yours and try to avoid conflicting with other churches.