The Ponoka Piston Poppers vintage car club will be busy during Seniors Week, holding their seventh annual Seniors Parade on June 6, and two show and shines on June 7.
The parade will begin at 1 p.m., leaving from the Ponoka arena parking lot and ending at the Ponoka Drop-in Centre at 3 p.m.
The county and district fire truck will lead the parade through residential areas, downtown, past seniors' facilities and ending at the Strawberry Social at the drop-in centre.
Stops at seniors' facilities will include Legacy Place, the Golden Leisure Lodge, Long Term Care at the hospital, Reid Manor, Slater Place, the Legion Arms, Northcott Care Centre, Seasons Ponoka, and the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury.
There will be up to 30 antique, classic, Hot Rod, and muscle cars and trucks in the parade.
The members of the Piston Poppers will have their collector and specialty vehicles at the football field between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 7 in support of the Ponoka bantam and peewee Broncs Football Jamboree.
Then the Poppers will move their cars to the grassed area east of the Ponoka Legion for a show and shine fundraiser for the legion.
From about 1:30 and 4:30 p.m., the club will be serving hot dogs and salads for purchase.
“We have enjoyed a long history with the Ponoka Legion, and are most happy to offer our services to support their fundraising efforts," said Piston Poppers event coordinator John Tofsrud in a press release.
"Come out and enjoy a meal, play the meat draw, and support the local legion."
“While the Piston Poppers are more of a social club, than a service club, we definitely take opportunities to give back to our communities," said president Bruce Erickson.
Non-members who have a speciality vehicle can are also welcome to join in on the events, the release noted.
The Ponoka Piston Poppers have been active in Ponoka for 46 years, bringing together automobile enthusiasts, and giving back to Ponoka and surrounding area.
The club has 40 members that come from Ponoka, Lacombe, Three Hills, Armena, Millet, Stettler, Lacombe, Ferintosh, Clive, and Bashaw.
One highlight of their year is their annual hog root and rod run, which will take place this year on July 4-6 at Calumet Curling Club.
June 6 parade route
Meet at Ponoka arena before 12:45 pm for staging – To leave promptly at 1:00 pm.
1:00 pm – leave arena parking lot north on 54Th st.
1:01 pm – east on 48th ave to 52nd st.
1:02 pm – north on 52nd st. (Past Reid Manor) to 60th ave
1:05 pm – east on 60th ave. to 51st. st.
1:06 pm – south on 51st. to 58th ave.
1:07 pm – east on 58th ave to 50th st. (Railway Street).
1:08 pm – south on 50th. St. to 57 ave.
1:09 pm – west on 57th ave. (Past Lacombe Action Group) across Hwy 2A to 56th st. (Legacy Place).
1:11pm – Legacy Place (leave parking lot on west exit and turn right)
1:12 pm – Rimoka lodge (enter from 57th ave. leave by west exit from Parking and turn RIGHT)
1:13 pm – follow parking lot behind hospital and leave north past Long Term Care on the right.
1:14 pm – Right on 57th ave. and west to 60th. St.
1:16 pm - South on 60th st. through 4way Stop to 48th ave. (Boston Pizza, Servus Credit Union)
1:18 pm – East on 48th ave through lights on Hwy 2A to 51st st.
1:20 pm – North on 51st. st. through two sets of lights and one stop sign to 54th ave.
1:25 pm – Right at 54th ave past Slater Place, and Legion Arms to 50th st. (Railway street).
1.26 pm – south on 50th st. to 53rd ave. (left across North Bridge) to 4 WAY STOP.
1:28 pm – Right at 4 WAY STOP to 49th street.
1:29 pm – left at 49th st to Northcott Lodge
1:30 pm Turn right into Northcott Lodge, around entry circle and out.
1:40 pm – exit Northcott and leave to right and north on 42nd street to 52nd ave.
1:42 pm – right on 52nd ave to 38th street
1:43 pm – south on 38th st. to 40th ave.
1:44 pm – right on 40th ave to 43rd st street
1:45 pm – left on 43rd st. onto Highway 53
1:46 pm – west on Hwy 53 one block then left onto 44th st and follow it around to Riverside Drive.
1:48 pm – Left onto Riverside drive going south to Centennial Centre to Service Road
1:50 pm – Take first exit into Centennial Centre and be prepared to stop at the side of the road.
2:00 pm – Start Parade (follow the leader) We will make two passes through the Parade Route
2:25 pm – Leave Centennial Centre and return north on Riverside drive to 37th ave.
2:27 pm – Right on 37th ave. and follow around to left to Hwy 53
2:28 pm - Right on Hwy 53, move into left lane, and turn left onto 45th st.
2:29 pm - North on 45th st. to 40th ave.
2:30 pm – East on 40th ave. to 40th st.
2:32 pm – North on 40th st. into Seasons Retirement Living Parking lot north of building
Double Park in lanes in parking lot for fifteen-minute stay for folks to check out our cars
2:50 – Leave for Ponoka Seniors Drop-In Centre for Strawberry Social (5015-46 ave.)
