Whether your car has a faded and scratched paint job complete with rusty bumpers or a shiny and waxed paint job with chrome bumpers, it’s welcome at the eighth annual Rust or Shine Car Show and Music Festival on Sunday, Sept. 3.
Running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the car show will feature live music, a Chicago-style pinup contest, raffle prizes, vendors and food trucks, along with hundreds of vehicles.
Held at the Veterans Memorial Museum — located at 100 SW Veterans Way in Chehalis — nearly 400 registered cars were spread out in the parking lot and fields surrounding the museum at last year’s Rust or Shine, Veterans Memorial Museum Executive Director and event organizer Chip Duncan said.
The Chronicle spoke to Duncan after the Hub City Car Show in Centralia this past weekend, which he emceed.
Rust or Shine has become the biggest car show in Lewis County, Duncan said, and the second largest in Southwest Washington behind only the annual Rod Run to the End of the World Car Show in Long Beach the past two years.
“In 2021, we had 455 cars registered,” Duncan said.
The actual number of cars is higher, as Duncan mentioned some people show up to car shows but don’t pay the registration fees.
“With those 455, we probably had closer to 470 cars with those that don’t register. It’s no big deal. That happens every show,” Duncan said.
Weather could affect the turnout, though. Sunday’s current forecast in Chehalis shows partly sunny skies with a high of 71 and a chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Given that many vehicles will already have rust, rain may not be a deterrent for all. Duncan added the event is worked by volunteers including museum staff and some from local car clubs such as the Lewis County Quarter Milers and Hub City Cruisers.
Pre-registration for the car show is open online, though participants can still register the day of the event.
“We’re at over 100 cars registered right now,” Duncan said.
The actual turnout for the show is usually three to four times what the pre-registration numbers are, Duncan said.
“I’m expecting probably 400-ish,” Duncan added.
Duncan said pre-registration can save participants money. Registration the day of the show costs $20, while pre-registration is $17.
Additionally, participants can order their Rust or Shine T-shirts at a discount online for $20. T-shirts will cost $25 the day of the show. All proceeds from registration, T-shirt sales and the raffles benefit the Veterans Memorial Museum.
To pre-register for the Rust or Shine Car Show and order a T-shirt, visit https://www.veteransmuseum.org/our-events, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “pre-registration” and “T-shirt pre order” buttons.
The Veterans Memorial Museum is dedicated to honoring the men and women who served in America’s armed forces by displaying weapons, memorabilia, uniforms and more to preserve the service members’ history along with an extensive military history reference library.
For more information, visit https://www.veteransmuseum.org/.
