The 53rd annual Antique Auto Days event on Saturday and Sunday, July 15 and 16 will feature dozens of classic, vintage, antique, hot rod, and muscle cars, and much more, all parked on the village green at Boothbay Railway Village in Boothbay.
The 53rd annual Antique Auto Days event on Saturday and Sunday, July 15 and 16 will feature dozens of classic, vintage, antique, hot rod, and muscle cars, and much more, all parked on the village green at Boothbay Railway Village in Boothbay. This is an all-makes and all-models show in partnership with the Maine Obsolete Auto League.
Anyone who owns a classic, antique, hot rod, or muscle car, or a rat rod or other cool vehicle, is invited to show it off on the village green either one or both days. Those who are not members of the Maine Obsolete Auto League are asked for a $10 entry fee upon arrival, which includes admission to the Boothbay Railway Village museum for two; no preregistration is required. Car owners will receive a commemorative dash plaque. A People’s Choice trophy will also be awarded.
The fourth annual Rails, Tails & Ales: Midcoast Craft Beer Festival, featuring 14 participating breweries, will take place on Saturday, July 15 from noon-4 p.m. at Boothbay Railway Village. The brewer’s tables, instead of being stuffed inside a tent, will be spread throughout the museum’s exhibit buildings, including the livery stable and 1847 town hall. The tasting ticket includes access to the car show and everyone will be treated to a steam train ride. But the most important distinction is that Rails, Tails & Ales is family- and dog-friendly. Proceeds will benefit the not-for-profit Boothbay Railway Village museum.
Many of the breweries will have their master brewers on hand to answer burning questions from beer hobbyists and home brewers. There will be a People’s Choice award for most creative brewery display, and additional merchandise like T-shirts, hats, and glassware will be offered for sale by the breweries.
Representatives from Alna Hop Yard and Maine Malt House will be available to talk about the importance of local ingredients in the production of high-quality Maine beer. The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is bringing back games and prizes for those that promise to drive sober or use a designated driver. The folks who operate the Maine Brew Bus will also be on hand again to talk about their fun itineraries in Greater Portland and Southern Maine. With a long list of awards and accolades piling up, these tours are an excellent way to explore Maine’s brewing scene.
The food court will include wood-fired pizzas from Crust, barbecue from Fahrenheit 225, the Burgers & Freys food truck, and Victory Lane Ice Cream.
There will be live music on stage both days. On Saturday from noon-4 p.m., attendees can enjoy the Scott Davis Blues Band, a versatile, hard-charging band of five seasoned, professional musicians playing a mix of blues, rock, and swing tunes. On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., music will be by the Downeast Soul Coalition, playing blues, funk, soul, and R&B.
Visitors are invited to build their own valve-cover racer and bring it along to test it out on the track right in the middle of the car show field. Maine Obsolete Auto League members and others will also demonstrate their creations. Valve-cover racing is a competitive event similar to the pinewood derby, but vehicles are made from a valve cover from an internal combustion car engine, rather than of wood blocks. This hot new hobby for auto enthusiasts is fun for all ages.
The show will also feature an auto-parts flea market and a handful of vendors with products directly related to either the car show or the beer fest. Those who wish to set up in the flea market need to register in advance. A form is available at railwayvillage.org. The fee is $10 for a 10-foot-by-10-foot space for the entire weekend.
The Sunday afternoon parade will depart the museum grounds at 2 p.m. This year, the route has been expanded to its original length and will pass through St. Andrews Village and downtown Boothbay Harbor and then out to Ocean Point. Guests are encouraged to come see the show before that time, as many of the cars head directly for home after the parade.
Boothbay Railway Village and the car show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with train departures from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for a wristband to enjoy 10 four-ounce beer tastings from noon-4 p.m. is just $35 (for those 21 and over) and include museum admission as well as a unique souvenir beer mug. Tasting tickets are on sale now at railwayvillage.org. Admission to the museum, including the car show and train rides, is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $6 for children. Contact Boothbay Railway Village for more information at 633-4727 or railwayvillage.org. Boothbay Railway Village is located at 586 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay.
