The Time Travellers Car Club celebrated the 25th anniversary of its annual Car Show in Airdrie on Saturday, posting a turnout organisers described as one of the biggest in the event’s history. Club officials said 424 cars were registered, vehicles began arriving early and overall attendance was estimated at about 20,000 people across the day.
Early start, wide reach
Volunteers and club members were on site by 5 a.m. to prepare for the day, and cars started rolling in around 7 a.m. The event attracted participants from across the country, including visitors from Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario, reflecting the show’s growing regional profile.
“It was a very big show, very busy,” said club president and car show chairman Kaleigh Clow.
Clow estimated that at any given point during the day there were more than 8,000 people on site. The club’s total attendance estimate of around 20,000 underscores the scale of the event and the draw it has become for collectors, enthusiasts and families.
Vendors, charities and community impact
Organisers said the crowd translated into strong commercial results for onsite sellers. The club’s own concession ran out of food, and several independent food vendors also reported selling through their stock well before the show ended. Vendors told organisers this is often their top event of the season.
Community groups were an integral part of the show. The Airdrie Food Bank collected donations during the day, though final totals had not been provided to the club at the time of reporting. The event also raised funds and awareness for local organisations including Iron Horse Park, Volunteer Airdrie and the BGC Airdrie Club.
- Registered vehicles: 424
- Peak onsite attendance estimate: 8,000+
- Total attendance estimate: 20,000
- Community beneficiaries: Airdrie Food Bank, Iron Horse Park, Volunteer Airdrie, BGC Airdrie Club
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Registered cars | 424 |
| Estimated peak crowd | 8,000+ |
| Estimated total attendance | 20,000 |
Organisers cautious but encouraged
Organisers said the strong turnout bodes well for the future of the show. While specific fundraising totals for the charities involved were not yet final, the club said representatives from beneficiary groups were pleased to be part of the event.
Clow noted the reach and enthusiasm of attendees as signs the show is continuing to grow year over year, drawing both long-time fans and first-time visitors. The club plans to tally the award winners across the show’s 21 categories and announce them later in the week.
For Airdrie, an event of this size brings short-term economic activity to local vendors and hospitality providers and raises the profile of community organisations that depend on public support. The volunteer-driven nature of the show also highlights the role of civic engagement in staging large public events.
Organisers said they will review operations and vendor demand as they plan for next year, with an eye toward accommodating continuing growth while maintaining the volunteer spirit that launched the show a quarter-century ago.
