Washington County Weekend Post

Festival and fair season heats up when the tempera- tures rise. Come summer- time, communities across the country play host to cul- tural, film, music, craft, hobby, or food festivals. With so many entertaining options on the horizon, fam- ilies and individuals with hectic schedules need to start scoping out their sum- mer festival options early. Here's how to navigate the bevy of offerings and get ready for several months of fun. • Explore your options. Consult local news sources for upcoming weekend activities. Fairs and festi- vals are often advertised in neighborhoods on signs and billboards, but they also may be mentioned in calen- dar-of-events pages in local newspapers. Visit the web- site of your local chamber of commerce or tourism board to see if they have listings of upcoming local events. • Choose your prefer- ences. Make fair and festi- val planning a family affair. Look for events that appeal to all members of the house- hold, or allow each member of the family a weekend afternoon to find events that cater to their interests. Take out the calendar and mark must-see festivals out as early as possible. • Sign up for updates. Many fairs and festivals are annual events. Visit their websites and sign up for an email mailing list so you can receive updates on events. Joining mailing lists may even make you eligible for coupons or entrance fee dis- counts on certain days. • Secure accommoda- tions. Increase the enjoy- ment factor of the fair or festival by not being pressed for time. Book a room in a nearby hotel or motel and turn a weekend festival excursion into a mini-vaca- tion. • Dress the part. Festi- vals and fairs typically take place outdoors. Dress according to the morning forecast. Layer clothing so that everyone can take off or add items to feel comfort- able. Wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses may provide relief from overhead sun. Plus, don't forget to wear comfortable shoes, as festi- valgoers tend to walk a lot. Apply and reapply sunblock throughout the day as neces- sary. • Plan your trans- portation. Typically fairs and festivals can get crowd- ed quickly, with ingress and egress roads being blocked by traffic. Also, parking lots may fill up fast. Plan to leave early for the fair, and consid- er public transportation, shuttle buses or a rideshare service to make the day more carefree. • Identify a meeting spot. In the event that a child or adult separates from the group, find a meet- ing spot where the family can gather. Children can also carry a note listing an adult's mobile phone num- ber for emergencies. Fairs and festivals are an annual ritual for many people. Now is the time to plan for these fun-filled excursions. 4A • WASHINGTON COUNTY POST • SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2021 GMTODAY.COM Plan your summer festival and fair schedule now Car enthusiasts appear- ed as soon as the automobile was introduced to the gener- al public in the 18th and 19th centuries. Through the years, certain vehicles have proven more desireable to customers than others based on their looks and other attributes. Auto hobbyists devote substantial time and effort to purchasing, restoring and displaying classic cars. While the hobby of restor- ing classic cars is not neces- sarily for everyone, its popu- larity suggests it's an activi- ty that's here to stay. According to an article in The Economist, in the wake of the recent reces- sion, investors were increas- ingly pulling their money out of stocks and converting assets into tangible items, such as classic cars. As late as 2013, collector cars were outperforming other tangi- ble investments like art, wine, stamps, and coins by large margins. Those ready to dip their toes in the classic car waters should understand a few key factors that can affect how much they enjoy this poten- tially rewarding hobby. • Environmental regu- lations. Some collectors face challenges when attempting to restore classic vehicles because the cars do not meet today's strin- gent clean air initiatives that govern automobiles. With the increasing number of new, clean cars on the road, vehicles that fail to meet modern emis- sions standards may pose a costly problem to classic car collectors. • Introduction of alter- native fuels. As govern- ments increasingly empha- size the importance of clean fuel options, classic car owners may find it challeng- ing to find more traditional fuels or face the added expense of adapting their vehicles to run on alterna- tive fuels. • Lack of mechanical expertise. Workers in the automotive trade are trained to manufacture and repair new vehicles. As a result, classic car owners without much mechanical ability of their own may find it difficult to find mechanics with the skills necessary to repair and restore classic cars. • Historic require- ments should be heeded. Each state has its own requirements governing classic cars. To qualify for historic vehicle registra- tion, vehicles may need to be 25 years or older, owned solely as a collector's item and used exclusively for exhibition and educational purposes. When driven for personal use, such vehicles may not be allowed to exceed 1,000 miles per year. Classic cars continue to attract hobbyists from all over the globe. Restoring classic cars can be a reward- ing pastime, but one that involves dedication and an investment of both time and money. Exploring the classic/ historical car hobby

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