By Sarrah Peters/News Editor
Last year, Noccalula Falls held the Wheels on the Hill car show for the first time. The car show will return today, June 10 and continue until Saturday, June 11. The gates open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Tickets to the car show are $3, and entrance is free for children 3 years old and younger. Car registration is open until 12 p.m. on Saturday.
The main attraction of Wheels on the Hill are the many antique and classic cars on display.
“Spectators come out to see cars,” said Noccalula Falls Campground Manager Kaila Fair. “If you are interested in pretty cars of any sort, or starting your own car project to fix up, this would be the place to be.”
Vendors will be on hand selling and swapping parts for just about any car. Over 300 parts vendors will be attending the event. Food vendors will be selling food and a DJ will provide music for the event.
“Every piece of land will be occupied,” said Fair.
Awards will be given on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Haney Hall. The top sponsors of the event give awards to their favorites, this year there will be a Mayor’s Choice Award and awards given out by Greater Gadsden Tourism and John’s Classic Cars and Parts.
Door prizes donated by local Gadsden businesses will be given out throughout the event.Registered car owners and vendors will be entered in a money tree with a total of $1500. Money tree winners can win between $20 to $250. Tickets for a 50/50 drawing will be sold. Half of the money raised from ticket sales will go to the winner while the other half will be donated to the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center.
The Humane Society will have a roadblock to raise additional money. The Humane Society will also be holding Mutts and Butts, a YMCA and Humane Society sponsored wellness walk with your furry friend, Saturday morning. The group will leave from the Noccalula Falls Wedding Chapel at 9 a.m.
“It’s a good time,” said Fair. “Everyone who is here has been coming for years. It’s just like a big old get together for a lot of people and friends. They just come and hang out and talk about cars.”
Although Noccalula has only hosted the event for two years, the car show and swap meet has been held by various car clubs since 1957. From 1957 to 1964 the Model A Restorers Club held the meet at the Falls. In the end in 1965, several automobile enthusiasts discussed forming an antique automobile club in Gadsden, and in 1966 the Gadsden Antique Auto Club was formed. The meet was not officially a car show until 1971, although members of the Gadsden Antique Car Club showed cars at Noccalula. In 1971, cars were judged and awarded trophies for the first time. Noccalula Falls decided to continue the event due to the interest from Gadsden residents.
For more information about Wheels on the Hill Car Show and Swap Meet, call Noccalula Falls Campground at 256-543-7412.