Come get 'Lost in the '50s'

Are you ready for Sandpoint's biggest party?

You're in luck if you are as Lost in the '50s kicks off today with the annual classic car parade through downtown Sandpoint.

Don't sit down because the annual street dance quickly follows near the Jeff Jones Town Square, and a not-to-be-missed concert at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. And that's just on Friday.

The fun continues Saturday with hundreds of classic cars packing Sandpoint's downtown and the second of two concerts, also being held at the fairgrounds.

Cars begin staging at Sandpoint High School at 5 p.m., leaving the parking lot to make their way downtown.  As cars leave the high school, they will turn onto Division Avenue, turn onto Cedar Street until reaching Forest Avenue, where they will turn right onto Church Street. Cars then head down Church Street until reaching First Avenue before turning back onto Cedar Street until they reach Fifth Avenue.

"(Y)ou are on your own where you end up," Lost in the '50s organizers said in a social media post outlining the parade route.

It isn't unheard for some cars to make a second lap of the downtown to ensure classic car fans get a proper look.

Following the parade the fun heads over to the area near the town square for a street dance for the kids, great music and plenty of fun. At the fairgrounds, and Gary Lewis & the Playboys join "house band" Rocky & the Rollers with the doors opening at 6:30 and the rock 'n' roll turning the fairground's main exhibit hall into one of the best  concert venues around.

From "This Diamond Ring" to "Count Me In" to "Save Your Heart for Me," Gary Lewis & the Playboys quickly won fans with their classic rock sound. According to Wikipedia, the band's 1965 performance on The Ed Sullivan Show was a smash success, making instant stars of the band.

In all, the band had eight gold singles, 12 Top 40 hit singles and four gold albums.

After dancing the night way, be sure to get up early and head downtown as the cars you admired from the sidewalks will fill the downtown core, giving everyone a chance to get a close-up view of cars from the early days, classic rides from the 1930s and '40s and muscle cars from the 1960s and '70s. 

Cars start getting parked at 7 a.m. with the downtown open to classic car fans at 9:30 a.m. for a day-long celebration of great cars, great music and plenty of fun. Awards are announced at about 3:45 p.m.

However, don't think that that is the end of the fun as the second of two great concerts again turns the fairgrounds into the best concert venue around as Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, and Peter Rivera and Celebrate, join Rocky & the Rollers.

Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels have over 50 charted hits, including "Come See About Me," "Just a Little Bit", and "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" (Jesse Hill). Among the hits by Peter Rivera and Celebrate are "I Just Want to Celebrate."

"The walls will be bursting with great music," Lost in the '50s officials said.

    Participants have fun at a past Lost in the '50s car parade.
  

    A few of the thousands of classic car fans and owners who turned out for a past Lost in the '50s are seen reflected in the hubcap of a classic Buick. The event returns the third weekend in May after a two-year absence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 700 cars are expected to take part in the event.