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September 2, 2024 – Casper’s Labor Day tradition shifted into high gear this year as El Mark-O Lanes rolled out its annual Food-a-Palooza, paired with a classic car show that brought together collectors, families, and curious onlookers. The parking lot near the bowling alley turned into a living museum of chrome, fins, and roaring engines, with more than 40 vehicles on display ranging from a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air to a 1970 Dodge Challenger.
“This is the highlight of my summer,” said Mike Henderson, a local retiree who brought his 1965 Ford Mustang, a car he has restored over three years. “You see the same faces every year, but there’s always a new car or a new story. It’s about the community as much as the cars.” Henderson’s sentiment was echoed by many attendees, who said the event has grown from a small gathering of friends into a staple of Casper’s holiday calendar.
The car show was organized by the Casper Cruisers, a local car club that has been active for over a decade. Club president Donna Reeves said this year’s turnout was the largest yet. “We’ve got people from as far as Gillette and Rawlins,” she noted. “And the weather was perfect—clear skies, mid-70s. That helped bring out the spectators.” The show also featured a People’s Choice award, won by a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS owned by a high school teacher from Mills.
Food-a-Palooza, a separate but concurrent event, offered a lineup of food trucks and local vendors, from barbecue to funnel cakes. Families set up lawn chairs in the shade, and a small stage hosted live music from a local bluegrass band. The combination of vintage cars and comfort food created a relaxed, nostalgic atmosphere that organizers said fits the Labor Day spirit perfectly.
This year’s event also included a new element: a “Wrenching Workshop” where volunteers taught basic car maintenance to teenagers. The workshop, sponsored by a local auto parts store, aimed to pass on mechanical skills to the next generation. “It’s not just about showing off shiny cars,” said Reeves. “It’s about keeping the passion alive. We had 12 kids sign up, and they were all smiles when they changed their first oil filter.”
The classic car show was free to attend, with proceeds from a raffle going to the Casper Humane Society. The raffle raised over $2,000, according to event co-organizer Tom Hartley, who also runs a classic car restoration shop. “We want to give back to the community that supports us,” Hartley said. “And what better way than combining cars, food, and charity?”
Casper’s Labor Day event has become a model for small-town holiday celebrations, drawing attention from the Wyoming Office of Tourism, which featured the show in a social media post last week. The event’s growing popularity reflects a broader trend: according to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), classic car show attendance in the Rocky Mountain region has risen 15% since 2020.
For attendees like Linda Parsons, who brought her grandchildren from Denver, the show is a chance to slow down. “Kids today are glued to screens,” she said, watching her grandson snap photos of a 1966 Mustang. “Here, they can touch real metal, smell the gasoline. It’s a different kind of history lesson.” Parsons’ grandson, 10-year-old Ethan, said his favorite car was a “super cool” 1971 Plymouth Road Runner with a giant hood scoop.
The event wrapped up at 4 p.m., with car owners slowly idling out of the lot, horns honking. Already, plans are in the works for next year’s show, which organizers hope will include a judged competition and a larger rally point. For now, the simple formula of classic cars, good food, and a long weekend remains a winning combination for Casper.
