Get 'Lost in the '50s' and makes sure fun continues

Lost is the '50s is fabulous and fun.

And this year, the celebration is "legal" as Lost in the '50s revs up for its 21st year of taking the community back in time to cheer all things '50s — the music, the cars and the fun.

This year promises to be no different as founder Carolyn Gleason and her cadre of dedicated volunteers and fellow '50s fanatics put on one of the best parties you could hope to get an invite to. And the best part is we're all invited — to the "Rock 'n' Roll in Heaven show on May 18 to the classic car parade on May 19 to the annual concerts and dances featuring some of the best artists from the '50s and '60s.

Rising costs have hit the community celebration hard. Each year, traffic control, T-shirt production and artists' fees get more and more expensive. And, since Lost in the '50s is completely dependent on sponsorships, T-shirts and ticket sales, success in those areas becomes more and more critical.

You only have to head downtown on Friday to see the thousands of people lining up before the classic car parade to get a prime viewing spot. And on Saturdays, downtown is packed with thousands of people ambling from First Avenue to Cedar Street to drool over hundreds of breathtaking cars.

May just wouldn't be the same without the '50s. The sun wouldn't shine as bright, and the summer would be a little less special.

Without sponsors and donations from community residents, Gleason said Lost in the '50s would not be around. As costs go up, so does the need for the community's continued generosity.

If you've ever attended the parade, why not drop a few bucks off at "Lost" headquarters (Second Avenue Pizza) to keep the classic cars cruisin'. It's cheaper than going to the movies or going out to dinner and you can have a blast with the entire family.

If you've ever strolled past a revved up 1943 Ford or 1963 T-bird on a sunny May afternoon and dreamed that some day you'd have one of your own, why not give a few dollars so the munchkins of today get a chance to have that same dream.

If you own a business in Sandpoint, consider a sponsorship or donation. Consider all of the people who come into town just for Lost in the '50s, and think about how much business you enjoy as a result of the festival — and whether you can do without it.

Together, we can keep having a blast in the past for decades to come. If we leave it for "someone else," we may just have to say good-bye to the '50s forever.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.