Fancy cars, handmade crafts and specialty vendors will all be part of the Neal Senior Center's October Fest, set for Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. The festival will include a car show and a pop-up vendor fair. All proceeds will benefit the Council on Aging's programs and services.

"Due to Covid, it has been three years since we have been able to have this fundraiser event," says Heather Ledbetter, Neal Center nutrition coordinator. "We have missed seeing the cars, the vendors, and - most importantly - the community members who come out each year."

The October Fest will take place from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Neal Senior Center, located at 100 T. R. Harris Drive in Shelby. Judging for the cars will take place at 11 a.m., and the awards ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. The car entry fee is $15.

"Those with cars, trucks, motorcycles or other vehicles can either preregister or register the day of the show starting at 7 a.m." says Ledbetter. "This event has proved to be quite popular with local car enthusiasts, so we are expecting numerous hot rods, vintage cars, specialty cars and trucks, and even some race cars."

Those interested in preregistering for the car show should contact Ledbetter at 704-481-7390.

The pop-up vendor fair will include a wide variety of crafts, premium products and food.

"This is a fantastic fun family event, and we encourage community members to come out and participate," says Ledbetter. "There will be music and candy for the kids, and we definitely would love to see them come in costume!"

"Vendors will be outside in the front of the senior center building, so people can walk through the car show and then shop and enjoy the music and food trucks," says Ledbetter.

Food trucks at the festival will include Ms Annie's Breakfast and Lunch (starting at 8 a.m.), I.t.s. Happenin' Food Truck and Daisy's Donuts.

Anyone interested in participating in the pop-up vendor fair can rent table space for $15 per table by contacting Linda Geter at 704-481-7384.

"We are so excited to be able to have the event again," says Ledbetter. "We encourage people to check out our website, www.nealseniorcenter.org, or our facebook page at www.facebook.com/nealseniorcenter for updates and more details."