Revved up for community service, car show

Cars will line the north side of the Lake Wobegon Trail on First Street Northeast and Barracuda Avenue Northeast, 5-8 p.m., Friday, June 17, as part of Spunktacular Days. 

The Avon Lions have coordinated this car show for four years, organizer John Buttweiler said June 9. 

“Our goal was to draw people to town, and we decided to have a family fun event for mom, dad and the kids, that everybody could enjoy,” Buttweiler said when asked why a car show was started. “It’s amazing the people who show up.”

And the cars. The first year they had close to 40 vehicles with a high of 100 another year. 

“It’s a free car show and you don’t have to preregister,” Buttweiler said. “We welcome you with open arms. You can park your car and show it off.”

There have been a variety of vehicles displayed – old, new and even one made completely out of wood. 

He said the car show is a way to bring people together enjoying community camaraderie. 

“And we give away popcorn and pop,” he said. 

Supporting and serving during community events, like Spunktacular Days, is what the Avon Lions are all about. 

For their long-standing support, the Lions have been named grand marshals of the Spunktacular parade at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 18. 

The theme for the June 17-18 Spunktacular Days is “Welcome to the Avon Jungle.” The week kicked off with a medallion hunt June 14-17 with one clue posted per day at Avon businesses. The Natheology Band will perform Friday night, with kids games and a food court and beer garden opening 5 p.m. Saturday’s events include a 5K and 1K run/walk, the 11th annual Lady Slipper Nature Ride, a craft fair, petting zoo, pony rides, games, pedal pull, turtle races, food and refreshments, the parade, evening music by Pandemic and fireworks at dusk.  

Buttweiler said the Avon Lions’ parade float will feature some of their current members who range in age from 28-86, including charter members Dave Blattner, Jerry Litchy and Donald Heurung when the club was first organized June 6, 1966, by the St. Joseph Lions Club.

Currently, they have 70 members, volunteering during their community projects, like the Easter event that has evolved into an Easter parade, where Lions members in side-by-sides follow the Easter bunny riding on top of an Avon fire truck, throwing out candy. 

“We have just as much fun as everybody else,” Buttweiler said.

The Lions sponsor a fish fry for senior citizens in the spring, hand out awards to community members and donate to community projects, including new pickleball courts that are in the planning stages. Money they raise from meat raffles and horseracing is donated toward community projects.  

“The Lions are a group of people who give of their time, generating money to better our community,” said Buttweiler, a Lion for 10 years. 

On Friday, he will be near the Lake Wobegon Trail organizing the car show with hopes that people will enjoy it as much as he does. After all, he is an auto body man. 

“It’s fantastic,” he said.  

The Avon Lions are revved up for community service – and the car show.