The annual Relaxin in the Park auto show featuring hundreds of vehicles is set for Friday and Saturday at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park along Old Hwy. A in Festus.

The Relaxed Atmosphere car club puts on the event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. On both days, a car cruise related to Relaxin in the Park is scheduled to follow the auto show on Festus Main Street.

In case of inclement weather, Sunday has been set aside as a rain date.

Spectators may attend the Relaxin in the Park car, truck and bike show for free.

“We’ll have probably 450 to 500 vehicles,” said Jason Barbaglia of Arnold, one of the event cofounders. “There are some (vehicles) worth $200,000 or more. We’ll have lifted four-wheel drive trucks. There’ll be hot rods and SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association) vehicles.”

An awards ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, when the car club will distribute 125 awards in various vehicle categories.

It costs $40 to enter a vehicle in the show.

Barbaglia said a portion of the money raised from registration fees and raffles will be donated to local charities. Over the years, the event has raised more than $12,000 for charitable causes.

“We’ll give to Jeffco Shop with a Cop and other children’s charities,” he said.

Barbaglia said Relaxin in the Park has found a home at Crites Park after starting out in St. Louis County.

“This will be our fourth year at Crites Park,” he said.

“Absolutely, it’s been a great location. The Festus people have just been great to work with.”

The Relaxin in the Park event will include a children’s coloring contest, and food vendors will be on hand.

Barbaglia said Relaxin in the Park draws good crowds, with people coming from a wide region to show off their rides.

“I would say the total for the weekend is usually 1,500 to 2,000,” he said. “We sell out all the hotels in the area. About 60 percent (of show participants) come from more than two hours away.”

The Festus Tourism Commission awarded a $5,500 grant to help cover costs to put on Relaxin in the Park.

During the event, the park will be closed to all traffic not related to the auto show. Parking is available in the lot near the ballfields on the south side of Old Hwy. A and the lot between the lake and the barn in the park.

For more information, visit the Relaxin in the Park page on Facebook.

Jefferson R-7 Convoy Cruise

A new event called Jefferson R-7 Convoy Cruise also will be held on Friday.

Participants will gather between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the parking lot of Jefferson Center Plaza in the 1200 block of North Truman Boulevard in the Twin Cities. The convoy will take off about 6 p.m.

“It’s really for semi-trucks,” said event organizer Patrick Bruno of Festus. “Cars, pickups, bikes, low-riders and whatever are also allowed.”

There is no cost to take part in the cruise.

Bruno said the Convoy Cruise will travel from Jefferson Center Plaza south on Truman Boulevard (Hwy. 61-67) and then south on Hwy. 61, south on I-55, north on Hwy. TT and then returning north on Hwy. 61 to Truman Boulevard and back to Jefferson Center Plaza.

He said the cruise could last anywhere “from 40 to 75 minutes,” depending on traffic conditions.

“This is my first time ever putting on something like this,” Bruno said. “Just come out and have a good time.”

Bruno said he owns the original surviving Mack tanker truck from the 1978 film “Convoy.”

For more information, call 314-304-8346 or send emails to [email protected].