Charles City Rotary Club’s Santa’s Shine & Show, the Charles City BBQ Challenge, and Christmas in July combine for fun day
Press photo by Bob Steenson
By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com
A kaleidoscope of colors awaited visitors to the Charles City Rotary Club’s Second Annual Santa’s Shine & Show along Main Street Saturday.
Vehicles of every shade – and every make, model, year and condition – lined Main Street as the car, truck and motorcycle show filled both sides of the street from the Main Street bridge to the post office.
The vehicle show was part of a community event trifecta that also included the annual Charles City BBQ Challenge later in the day and a Christmas in July retail shopping event involving many stores located downtown and elsewhere in the city.
More than 125 vehicles were entered in the Rotary event, and there was a steady stream of people throughout the morning and early afternoon checking out the displayed cars, trucks and motorcycles, talking with the owners and also taking part in the other amenities of the day, which included an assortment of food trucks and stands and a beer garden.
Best of Show winner in the cars was Bob Adams’ 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible. Best of Show in the motorcycles went to Duane Ranker. John Ebert showed the top Rotary Club member entry.
Food trucks and vendors on site included Cedar Valley Express, Chris’ Kettle Corn, Island Grill, All About Cheesesteaks, Shiver ‘N Squirrel and Black Dog BBQ.
Stores participating in Christmas in July included The Rustic Corner, Unique Country Store, Aromas, Darbe & Co., Dean Jewelers, Charles City Electronics, Prologue Books & Wine, Birdie and Bo’s, Cardigan, Otto’s Oasis and The McCoy Smoothies and More.
Capping the day’s events was the annual Charles City BBQ Challenge, organized by the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Big Cedar BBQ successfully defended its title Saturday, earning the top score in the competitive judging category, as well as taking home the People’s Choice award.
A scoring mix-up initially resulted in the Butt Masters team of Darin Tusler and Steven Johnson being announced as the winners at the end of the event held throughout the day adjacent to Central Park.
However, the corrected scoring put the Big Cedar BBQ team of Robert Lines and Jamey Welter over the top, 170.3084 to 166.8572. As a result, each team received the first-place prize of $750, but the title went to Big Cedar.
Third-place and a $100 cash prize went to LTS BBQ from Waterloo and the duo of Steve Carfrae and John Heiar.
In addition to the competitive judging using Kansas City Barbeque Society rules, people could sample and vote for their favorite ribs among the competitors. Big Cedar BBQ garnered the most votes among the eight competing teams and also took home the People’s Choice trophy and another $100 cash prize. This year’s event drew competitors from as far away as Cedar Falls and Waterloo.
Sponsors for the 2022 BBQ Challenge were Fareway, Arnold Motor Supply, Cedar Valley Sales & Storage, the Charles City Lions Club, CUSB Bank, Daniels Auto Collision, Dean Jewelers, Diversified Fastening Systems, Edward Jones (Mark Sindlinger, Jesse Sindlinger and Jeremy Heyer), L&J Industries, Ross’ Guns & Ammo, Mike Molstead Motors, Sisson & Associates, Stewart Realty Company, Swartzrock Implement, T-J Service Inc., Valero Renewables and Zoetis.
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