The second annual Bordertown Working Truck Show & Shine will be held in Amherst this weekend, and Bill Dowe is hoping to expand on the event’s successful debut last year.
“We’re anticipating and hoping for 50 trucks this year,” said Dowe, who coordinates the show with Mike Ouellet. “We’ve had a lot more coverage on social media, word got out last year about our event, and I think the central location helps us a lot.”
Held in partnership with Maritime Ride & Pride, the event took root last year after a long-running show and shine in Cocagne, N.B. ceased operation. Ouellet put out a call for other potential locations for a show, and Dowe answered.
“I knew nothing had ever been done in town like that before, and I thought, what a perfect opportunity,” he said. “I saw it as an opportunity to capitalize on and bring some people into our town for a new and different event.”
The two got together in Amherst, and agreed the parking lot behind Amherst Centre Mall and Canadian Tire would make a suitable location. Neither had ever put on a truck show. Despite that steep learning curve, the show brought in 32 trucks.
Comparatively speaking, the first working truck show ever held in Windsor had 10 trucks.
“I felt absolutely it was a success,” said Dowe.
This year’s show will stick with that formula, although with some new surprises. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and a parade will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Prize will be awarded, and proceeds from the event will go to Amherst Special Olympics, which will have athletes on site taking part.
New this year will include catering by an on-site food truck, musical entertainment all afternoon into the early evening, and a “top secret” fun event for drivers in the afternoon.
Dowe is expecting trucks from as far away as Sydney and Maine.
“If we can bring in 50 units, and there’s usually at least couple people with each truck, that’s 90-100 people from out of town coming to spend, shop and relax,” he said. “It’s good for all our local businesses.”
