MOOSE JAW — Chrome will be gleaming and engines revving once again on Saturday, Aug. 9, as the Grace Street Gentleman's Club rolls out the red carpet for the fifth annual Grace Street Show & Shine in Moose Jaw.
The grassroots neighbourhood event has now grown into a full-scale celebration of automotive culture, drawing well over 130 vehicles last year, with hopes of pushing 200 entries this August. The show is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Grace Street, running from Eleventh Avenue to Thirteenth Avenue.
Gates open ahead of the show at 8 a.m., and awards will be handed out at 3 p.m. There is no cost to attend the show as a spectator, but all vehicle entries will be charged $20 at the gate.
What began as a casual backyard chat among car-loving neighbours has become one of the city's most popular local showcases for classic vehicles.
“The neighbours across the street and a couple down this way all have (classic) cars. We were sitting there having an afternoon cocktail, and conversation came up about car shows. We just figured, ‘Hey, I wonder if the city would let us do one here?’” said co-founder Bill Hrechka. “So we went down, applied, and the city gave us a permit.”
What started with just 37 cars — including Hrechka’s own ’58 Chevrolet Impala and ’67 Chevrolet Nova — and “all of maybe two weeks to put it together” has steadily grown year after year. The second show drew about 70 vehicles, followed by 139 entries in 2024. Hrechka said momentum is still growing.
The registration fee helps cover the cost of insurance and other expenses, including on-site vendors and portable washrooms. It’s not just about showing off polished fenders and souped-up engines, of course — it’s also about giving back. Proceeds from the show will once again support the Moose Jaw Humane Society with a cash donation, and non-perishable food donations will be forwarded to the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank ahead of major fall donation campaigns.
The continued support for the local animal shelter is also a way to honour late co-founder Robert (Bob) Reid, who died in 2024.
“We gave (a donation to the Moose Jaw Humane Society) on behalf of Bob last year, as that was his favourite charity,” Hrechka said, adding that the 2024 donation from the show held in commemoration of the co-founder amounted to around $5,000.
The club, made up of around 14 members — mostly neighbours and close friends — continues to keep the event accommodating. Starting early, the Moose Jaw Elks will host a separate pancake breakfast on-site with hot dogs and hamburgers available later in the day, and additional vendor options include ice cream and snow cones. Portable washrooms have been added this year, and volunteers will be on standby to help co-ordinate parking and vehicle setup.
“We’re not trying to make money,” said Hrechka. “We’re just trying to make it go.”
Spectators and participants are asked to bring a non-perishable donation for the food bank, and although admission is free for spectators, an optional donation at the gate will help support the humane society.
Ahead of the show on Friday, Aug. 8, classic car owners are invited to attend a sunset cruise, starting at the Town ‘N’ Country Mall at 7 p.m.
For updates and further information, visit “Grace Street Gentleman’s Club” on Facebook.
