Jesus Martinez points out the interior of Elon Nelson’s red 1965 Ford Mustang to son Niko and sister Moraima as his father Alberto takes a look under the hood. Fans of classic cars, motorcycles, semitrucks and more were treated to a two-day event Friday-Saturday, June 18-19, for the 20th annual Dandelion Daze after last summer’s festivities were canceled due to the pandemic. Sponsored by Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, the fun kicked off Friday with fun activities at City Park and started again the next morning with a car and bike show-and-shine event at the courthouse until 3 p.m. A climbing wall, mechanical bull, inflatables and other activities were available at City Park, and vendors set up booths at both locations. New this year was the chrome show, in which 10 semitrucks were parked just south of the courthouse to show their shine. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publciations
Kirzi Flaa hangs on tightly to stay on the mechanical bull at City Park on Saturday, June 19. Inflatables, a climbing wall and other fun activities were available as part of Dandelion Daze last weekend. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Jacob Quintana, Xavier Santiesteban and Cesar Favela, from left, check out one of the semitrucks parked south of the courthouse for the chrome show Saturday. The chrome show was a new event for this year’s Dandelion Daze. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Top 15 finishers in the 2021 Dandelion Daze car show are pictured from left, front row, Nick Ferguson, Bill Bradley on behalf of Ron Hubbard, Charles Harvey and Debby and Lyle McBride; second row, Gary Kier; third row, Russ Lambert, Gayln Einspahr, Sheri Bussell, Elon Nelson and Rodger Hamilton; and back row, Bob DeBoer, Brad McArtor, George Sawyer, Walt Heinitz and Dean Fetzer. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Steve Terryberry is pictured with his 1964 Pontiac GTO, which won the Top Gun Award this year. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Teresa Brown is pictured next to this year’s People’s Choice Award winner, her pink 1979 Chevrolet Camaro. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Misty and Ozzy Torres, from left, are pictured next to their 1984 Peterbilt 359, which received first-place honors at the first Dandelion Daze Chrome Show. Second place went to Steve Frank, and J.D. Herrick got third place. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Tom Andersen is pictured with his 1994 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide Turbo, which won this year’s Top Bike Award. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Dandelion Daze back with classic car celebration
Holyoke was hopping with fun for everyone at the 20th annual Dandelion Daze on Friday-Saturday, June 18-19.
Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holly Ferguson said the weekend had a little bit of everything for everyone.
She added that after the last year of not being able to do much due to COVID-19, it was an amazing event that brought the community together.
She noted that she is grateful to be a part of this community, and that it takes a village to put on an event like this.
“It was an inspiration to me,” she said.
Forty-four cars, pickups and motorcycles all shined on the lawn of Phillips County Courthouse on Saturday, and vendors sold their wares along the sidewalks. Ten semitrucks also gleamed just south of the courthouse, where the first Dandelion Daze Chrome Show took place Saturday.
Holyoke Chamber of Commerce board president Casey Blake said he was really pleased with the event, and the turnout was great.
“It was good to see people out, and there was a lot of smiling going on. Cars do that to people,” he said.
He added that he was also very pleased with the first Chrome Show, acknowledging the great turnout for the event.
Ferguson echoed Blake’s enthusiasm about the new event. “The Chrome Show went off without a hitch — no pun intended,” she said.
She added that she is really excited to add the Chrome Show and the Friday night events to the car show that everyone’s grown to love over the last 20 years.
Party in the Park activities at City Park on Friday night featured music from different eras, a cornhole tournament, a performance by Dance Fuzion and music played by DJ Jason Kimble.
The following day there were inflatables, a climbing wall, a mechanical bull, face painting, games provided by Dozers Games, a Baby Bear Hugs cake walk game and more to keep the fun at the park going.
Citywide garage sales started at 8 a.m. on Saturday, and breakfast burritos were provided at the courthouse by Holyoke High School FBLA and FCCLA members.
Lunch was served by Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at the courthouse lawn. The Phillips County Museum and Holyoke Swimming Pool were both open in the afternoon for those who wanted to learn some history or cool down.
“We are lucky so many people are willing to donate their time, resources and services toward making it a success,” Ferguson said. She went on to thank the volunteers from the city, county and businesses who helped with the event.
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