WAMBO 29 is right around the corner

(WAMBO)

The annual Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing (WAMBO) is right around the corner. WAMBO is scheduled to take place once again for the 29th straight year on the second weekend of August, falling this year on August 11, 12 and 13, 2017.

Bill Wolsing, the chair of the event, said the volunteer WAMBO committee is excited and ready to welcome thousands of people to the community for their annual event.

“WAMBO is Wallaceburg’s grand event,” Wolsing said.

“It’s our weekend to show the visitors what we’re all about. Especially on Friday night downtown, it becomes a homecoming. It’s great to see the smiling faces and everyone is always excited to be here.”

The main stage musical entertainment on Friday night, Aug. 11 is The Jessika Rabbit Band, while the main stage entertainment on Saturday night will be Powerhouse, who features some great tunes, including hits from the band Chicago.

Following the opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. on Friday night, and, the opening of the downtown refreshment tent and the start of the K of C chicken dinner, the Terry Glover Memorial Cruise will begin at 6 p.m. The cruise will feature a brand new route this year. After going downtown and making the usual stops at Fairfield Park, Wallaceburg Retirement Residence and the Oaks Retirement Village, the classic cars will go along St. Clair Parkway to Sombra and back.

The classic car show on Saturday is going back to its roots as well. Vehicles being accepted into the downtown display need to be a 1983 model or older and the show will be capped at the first 200 vehicles. The featured car is a Cadillac this year, so anyone coming to WAMBO with a classic ‘Caddy’ will get in for FREE.

The Sydenham River is expected to be filled with boats for WAMBO once again, as the boat show will once again be a prominent display for the event.

A wide range of vendors, who are still being accepted,, will be located throughout the downtown core during WAMBO.

A fire truck display and parade, toy display, children’s activities on the south side of Wallaceburg, karaoke, K of C breakfast, soap box races, cardboard boat races, Art in the Park, crafts, antique tractors and activities at the Wallaceburg and District Museum will all be featured once again on the Saturday of WAMBO.

Some WAMBO “swag” will also be available for purchase at the event.

WAMBO is active on social media and the committee is encouraging everyone with smart phones to utilize the hashtag #WAMBO29 to help create a buzz around the event. WAMBO can be found on Facebook and Twitter, and is new this year to Instagram and Snapchat. Plans are in the works to have a special WAMBO 29 Snapchat filter as well.

The weekend is wrapped up with an interdenominational church service from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and a barbecue with MPP Monte McNaughton and MP Bev Shipley on Sunday, August 13.

WAMBO would not be possible every year if it wasn’t for their giving and dedicated sponsors.

Among the dozens of local businesses who have jumped on board with support, mPower Electric, Crabby Joe’s in Wallaceburg, Ogies Lift Truck Service and E.R. Schepens Electric have stepped up as Presenting Sponsors for WAMBO 29.

“We cannot thank them enough,” Wolsing said. “The business and community support, without them, there wouldn’t be WAMBO. We rely on their generous donations to make the show as clean, safe and successful as possible. It speaks volumes when you have our community come together and help us in that aspect because we need them and it’s so greatly appreciated.”

Another backbone for WAMBO is the dedicated group of volunteers, who put in the time and effort year-round to make the event happen.

For more information, visit: www.wambo.ca


– Photo credit: WAMBO

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