91原创 Good Times Cruise-In board members Kyla and Chris Cowx will be coming around early Sunday morning to meet all the vendors at the Swap Meet and Car Corral.
Kyla said she enjoys having a chance to shake hands with the vendors and car sellers who help raise money for Cruise-In charities.
鈥淢y favourite part of the whole Cruise-In, is when we get to give the money,鈥� Cowx said.
But she admits Sunday morning is a close second fave, when she takes the opportunity to visit and scope out all the cool stuff people have brought to the annual gathering that attracts thousands of car folk looking for parts and bargain hunters who enjoy auto-related tchotchke.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know until the day [what will be on offer],鈥� she said.
Except that the items can be described as car culture and related memorabilia.
鈥淵ou always see unique stuff that collectors have had for years,鈥� she said.
Cowx said people, of course, come from around the South Coast but also from the other side of the border.
The swap meet and car corral started in 2003, a replacement for the chili cook-off that used to be held at the airport. The cook-off became too labour intensive as Cruise-In grew.
It seemed a natural fit, after Saturday鈥檚 big car show, which attracts many from out of town. Why not hold a swap meet where people could sell parts, find parts, and even sell entire vehicles?
The event started out small but has grown each year and is now much anticipated.
鈥淲e usually have between 30 and 50 different vendors that show up,鈥� said Cowx, who joined the board in 2015 but had volunteered at Cruise-In for many more years than that.
There鈥檚 also typically two dozen vehicles for sale at the car corral.
The vehicles come in all conditions. Some need a lot of work, while others are show ready but must be sold for a reason.
Technically the Swap Meet and Car Corral is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., but Cowx said vendors and auto sellers have been known to start showing up around 5:30 a.m.
It takes place the day after the Cruise-In car show, and is held in the Aldergrove Community Secondary parking lot, 26850 29th Ave.
This event officially runs until 3 p.m., but organizers advised that prime time is usually 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Public parking is at the community centre or on area streets.
Again, the cost for vendors is $20 a stall, and admission for shoppers is a recommended $2 per person donation.
As is the case with all proceeds raised by Cruise-In, all money generated goes to the four main charities of choice, plus a number of other causes.
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