Plastic rats, and other small-town fun
Keith Cousins | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 2 months AGO
<p>Tony Parker of Coeur d'Alene fields questions about his friend Shorty Maxson's 1934 Plymouth "Rat Rod" during Labor Day on the Grass in Spirit Lake on Sunday. The car show, which is in its fourth year, brought 75 classic vehicles to the town's city park. Tony Parker of Coeur d'Alene fields questions about his friend Shorty Maxson's 1934 Plymouth "Rat Rod" during Labor Day on the Grass in Spirit Lake on Sunday. The car show, which is in its fourth year, brought 75 classic vehicles to the town's city park.</p>
<p>At Labor Day on the Grass in Spirit Lake on Sunday it was all about the vintage automobiles, with 75 classic cars and their owners lining the city park. Attendees weaved their way through the cars during the fourth annual show. At Labor Day on the Grass in Spirit Lake on Sunday it was all about the vintage automobiles, with 75 classic cars and their owners lining the city park. Attendees weaved their way through the cars during the fourth annual show.</p>
<p>George Henry and his band played classic rock tunes throughout the day Sunday at Labor Day on the Grass in Spirit Lake. George Henry and his band played classic rock tunes throughout the day Sunday at Labor Day on the Grass in Spirit Lake.</p>
SPIRIT LAKE — Live classic rock music set the tone for a festive Labor Day on the Grass in Spirit Lake on Sunday.
Residents and visitors alike were at City Park, taking in the many vendor booths and enjoying a sunny day in the park. The event is in its fourth year and centers around a classic car show.
“This is wonderful,” said Cynthia Kroetch, a volunteer at the event. “It brings the whole community together and it’s just a really fun event.”
The highlight for many attendees was the car show, which featured 75 classic automobiles. Dean Massender, of Spirit Lake, said that four years ago, he and his wife had an idea to bring a classic car show back to Spirit Lake.
“We’ve got all these tourists and people who come through here all the time during the summer,” Massender said. “We just wanted to have something here at the park that would bring everyone together on Labor Day weekend.”
Shorty Maxson, of Coeur d’Alene, was at the car show with her 1934 Plymouth “Rat Rod.” The vehicle, decked out with plenty of plastic rats, drew the attention of many of the event’s attendees.
Maxson said the tradition of putting plastic rats all over the vehicle started with just one rat, Esmeralda, who she called “the Fairy Rat Mother.”
“This all started as a running joke with a friend,” Maxson said. “It’s kind of escalated from there and now the rats just keep coming in. The kids love Esmeralda and we love to have the kids come look around the car and learn about it. This event is just so much fun and it’s very relaxed. We’ve been coming for the last four years.”
At the end of the day, awards were handed out to the best vehicles on display during the event. Massender added that not only was the event a way to bring the community together, it also helped raise money for a good cause.
“We wanted to raise money for the local parks and stuff,” Massender said. “So we do a raffle every year along with the car show.”
This year, a Utility Task Vehicle was the big-ticket item at the raffle. Money received from raffling the vehicle, along with several other items, all went toward the construction of Fireside Park in Spirit Lake.
Other activities at Labor Day on the Grass included games for children, multiple local vendors who participated through the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce, and plenty of good food.